Tips and Safety Issues for Senior Drivers

As the population ages, the issue of how old is too old to be behind the wheel will continue to be an issue. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our skilled and compassionate auto accident attorneys want to share some tips on how you can have a challenging conversation with an elder driver about being safe and sharpening their driving skills.

1If you have a parent who is over age 70 and still drives, you may have some concerns about their safety and the safety of other drivers with whom your aging parents share the road if you have noticed changes in your parent’s ability to navigate the roads safely. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 5,560 people age 65 and older killed and 214,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2012 (most recent figures available). The elder drivers made up about 17 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S., and 9 percent of all motor vehicle crash injuries that year.

As people grow older their driving patterns change. If they are retired then they no longer commute each day, but they probably have other activities that require then to drive their car such as visiting friends and family, shopping, visiting the doctor and leisure travel. Their ability to drive plays a significant role in maintaining a feeling of independence. However, as we grow older, there are some deficits in vision, hearing, reflexes and reaction time. Illnesses and diseases related to aging can also have an impact on a senior’s ability to drive safely. Pain and stiffness can make driving difficult as can drowsiness from certain medications.

How do you know if your senior parent is a safe driver?

Take a ride with them and casually observe how they are driving. Here are some tips for gauging your older relative’s driving ability:

• Do they follow the rules of the road, which included obeying the speed limit, stopping at traffic lights, stop signs and yielding for pedestrians?
• Are they alert and aware of the movements of the other vehicles with whom they share the road?
• Are they able to stay in their lane and change lanes safely?
• Can they move their foot easily between the gas pedal and brake pedal without confusing the two?
• Have neighbors reported that they have observed your parent’s unsafe driving?
• Do they commonly complain about the speed at which others are driving?
• Are they receiving more traffic tickets and warnings?
• Do they have a lot of anxiety about driving at night?
• Have they said that their doctor recommends that they modify their driving habits or stop driving altogether?

If it is time for you to have a talk with an older relative about whether or not it is safe for them to continue driving, here are a few tips to set yourself up for a successful conversation:

• Do some preliminary research about what kinds of programs are available for seniors in your area. AAA has several programs to support older drivers at aa.com.
• Suggest that they enroll in a defensive driving course or a driver’s education refresher course.
• Find out about alternative transportation solutions.
• Avoid allowing the conversation to devolve into an argument. Rather than accusing them of poor driving habits, impress upon them how concerned you are for their safety and the safety of other drivers.
• Work with them to find ways to help them to maintain their independence.

It can be very difficult and awkward to have a conversation about your loved one’s driving skills, but it is far better to broach the topic now than to have to deal with them being injured or causing someone else to become injured in a crash.

Please take a moment to call us at 302.414.5553 or fill out our quick contact form to schedule a free consultation to discuss your personal injury case. We are the auto accident lawyers of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, and we have three, conveniently located offices in Newark, Seaford and Wilmington, from which we serve clients throughout Delaware.