When to Stop Driving
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
May 4, 2007 8:09pm CST
This is a very touchy problem to bring up or discuss with someone you love or even to think about for yourself. I am posting this as it may help you help someone else. For more signs and available help I have also posted the link to this article.
We want to continue driving as long as we can do so safely. However, for many of us the time may come when we must limit or stop driving, either temporarily or permanently. The following advice may be able to assist you or someone you care about.
Warning Signs
What are the warning signs when someone should begin to limit driving or stop altogether?
Feeling uncomfortable and nervous or fearful while driving
Dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs etc.
Difficulty staying in the lane of travel
Getting lost
Trouble paying attention to signals, road signs and pavement markings
Slower response to unexpected situations
Medical conditions or medications that may be affecting the ability to handle the car safely
Frequent "close calls" (i.e. almost crashing)
Trouble judging gaps in traffics at intersections and on highway entrance/exit ramps
Other drivers honking at you and instances when you are angry at other drivers
Friends or relatives not wanting to drive with you
Difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead
Easily distracted or having a hard time concentrating while driving
Having a hard time turning around to check over your shoulder while backing up or changing lanes
Frequent traffic tickets or "warnings" by traffic or law enforcement officers in the last year or two
If you notice one or more of these warning signs you may want to have your driving assessed by a professional or attend a driver refresher class (see resources at the bottom of this page). You may also want to consult with your doctor if you are having unusual concentration or memory problems, or other physical symptoms that may be affecting your ability to drive.
How Can I Help Someone Else Limit or Stop Driving?
Most drivers monitor themselves and gradually limit or stop driving when they feel that a certain driving situation or driving in general is not safe. However, some people fail to recognize declining abilities, or they fear stopping to drive because it will make them permanently dependent on others for the necessities of life, and it may reduce their social and leisure activities as well. Conditions such as dementia or early stages of Alzheimers' disease may make some drivers unable to evaluate their driving properly.
http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_safetyissues/a2004-06-21-whentostop.html
4 people like this
8 responses
@gapeach65 (805)
• United States
6 May 07
My mother-in-law had been having trouble driving for quite a few years. She's retired and only 62, but she acts like she's 82 (some times, other times, she acts like she's 2). About 7 years ago, she was driving three of my four children somewhere, and when they got home, the two older ones, who were about 10 at the time, got out of the car fast, ran up to me and said "Grandmom drove in the ditch!" I was horrified and wanted to know where their baby brother was, and if they were all ok, then my husband and I went to talk to her. She lives with us, and has a separate door to her place, so she quietly went into her house. We met her in there and asked what happened, she acted like it was no big deal, she said she just took a turn too wide and drove off the road and that no one was hurt (it was almost dusk, and the roads were dry). That's when we decided she shouldn't drive too much any more, and especially when my children were with her. About 2 years ago, she started to have bad eyes and decided that she didn't need to be driving any more, which we agreed too, when she hit one of the big orange barrels that they use when they are doing road work. She recently had eye surgery to remove a cataract, she will be having the other done in another week. She thinks we're going to let her drive again. My husband and I have discussed it, and we're not going to allow her to. She's not in the best of health, she's a large woman and can't reach the pedals well, she was driving with the tip of her toe (she's always telling us and the doctor that she can't even feel her feet). She has uncontrolled diabetes, congestive heart failure, arthritis, and she doesn't sleep regularly, she's even been telling me lately that she's dizzy and lethargic. I don't know about you, but I don't want her behind the wheel of a car.
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
15 May 07
It is a sad thing when you realize that your parent has reached that time in life where the family really has to take charge.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
5 May 07
This is a touchy issue with my husband too. He is a Police Officer & strongly believes in the old age driving test. I'm not sure what it used to be, maybe 72 years, & they had to be tested every 2 years I think. Thje rules changed a feww years back regarding the testing of aged drivers, so now they can stay on the eopad unless a Doctor submits a medical report suggesting otherwise.
My husband feels that the elderly should be officially tested a certain ages.
I am two minds about this. My Father is 73 years, & had a reoutation as an excellent driver. Unfortunately he has been showing signs of memory problems over the past few years, which is most likely the dreaded A... disease.
The car makes them independant. Without driving, they would be stuck with buses, which aren't that great in Adelaide.
The loss of my Fathers drivers license would be a terrible loss for them.
My Father can't even remember where one of iur main roads are, so my Mother attempts to restrict his driving.
It's an issue I am staying very low key about.
So your discussion is very relevent.
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
6 May 07
Excellent discussion and good information. My Mom gave up driving when all four of her daughters feared getting in the car with her when she drove. She always was a "nervous Nellie" when she drove. My Dad was always a good driver. My inlaws stopped driving when they realized they shouldn't be driving any more. No one had to tell them. I hope my husband and I are the same way. I don't do as much driving as my husband does, and I don't enjoy it as much as I used to before our roads got too big and congested, but I do still drive. I'm a safe driver and should know when to give it up. I just hope it won't be for years yet.
1 person likes this
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
5 May 07
Thank you for posting this one my friend. It's late here and I don't have time to read the link, but I did forward it to my email address so I would have it to search through tomorrow. My mother is 75 and her driving scares me, what's so bad is she has custody of my 10 yr. old neice. She drives too slow, she falls asleep at the wheel, or she has before and she did wreck her car, but....she only hit the curb thank God. I have talked to her, an officer pulled her over recently and threatened to take her license for running through a caution light. He didn't though b/c she had no prior record. So this is something we all need to know about. I thank you once again for this discussion.
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
5 May 07
Excellent topic and very good advice. I was lucky with my parents, never had to argue with either of them on this subject. Mom stopped driving of her own accord because she was uncomfortable driving. My dad never lost the ability. My mother was always a terrible driver so we used to keep her from it as well as we could. It must be hard to be in this situation because a lot of people would never admit to not being able to drive.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
11 May 07
This has happened to my father. He was a danger, not just to himself but to other road users as well. I was living with dad when his driving ability began to decline. Dad used to be a travelling salesman so he's been driving a lot for a long time. He was an excellent driver. I tried to tell my family of his failings in order to get some support but they didn't believe me and my brother said "It's not as bad as that, is it?" I was simply stating the facts. Then dad failed his yearly test...twice and called the examiner a lying b*tch. Still the family took no notice.
Of course, they eventually had to accept it. My Dad had 12 months to get his skills up to scratch before his third and final attempt at a driving test. He was very anxious but I thought he would be ok because my sister was staying with him. She left, the day before his exam!!! Can you believe it.
He ended up giving me his car and so I left him mine so he could drive around his property. My sister insisted that I remove the car asap. Now Dad is isolated on the farm. I know he can't be a road user any longer but his dependance has been forced down his throat in a very unkind fashion. He has to rely on thers and this is hard for a proud man to do. Too sad really.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
15 May 07
A very timely reminder hun, and one that should be taken very much to heart these days. There are a lot of the more elderly drivers on the roads, many of whom are perfectly capable drivers, but I wonder how many actually realise that their faculties are gradually deteriorating and that they are, actually, becoming a danger to themselves and to other road users. Thanks for this one hun
