The crash rate for drivers over the age of 70 is higher than that of drivers between ages 35 and 54, according to the CDC. Every single day, 25 people of advanced age lose their lives to crashes.
As people age, they naturally lose their faculties. Whether it’s physical senses like sight and hearing, or logic and reasoning, we all aren’t as sharp as we once were. So, in the case of driving, an activity that involves all kinds of faculties, the question remains: when should seniors stop driving?
Giving up driving is a tough conversation for seniors who want to remain independent. Nevertheless, let’s talk about elderly driving concerns and transportation alternatives.
When Should Seniors Stop Driving?
Unfortunately, there’s no one-sentence answer for when seniors should stop driving. There’s no specific age, legally, since individual health is a bigger determining factor — among other things. Let’s take a look at some considerations for aging and mobility as it concerns vehicles.
Legal Limitations
South Carolina doesn’t stop people from driving at a certain age. Instead, it requires that they undergo certain tests and examinations to prove they are capable.
Seniors in the Palmetto State must renew their license once every eight years. At each and every renewal they must submit a vision test to prove their eyesight is good. They can do all of this by mail or online if they like.
Provided a senior can keep passing the test every eight years, they could keep driving until the very end. That means a senior breaking the record for the world’s oldest person at 120-something could still be on the road if their vision is up to spec.
Health Concerns
Just because someone can legally drive doesn’t mean they should drive. Every senior and their family must carefully determine when it’s best to stop and sit in the passenger seat. Clear vision isn’t the only thing a good driver needs.
For example, suppose your senior exhibits delayed reaction timing. They’re unable to, say, slam on the brakes to avoid a fender bender. Even if they’re fit as a fiddle in all other regards, this small thing is cause for concern.
Seniors may also experience joint pain that makes it hard to press the pedals or turn the wheel. Poor hearing may make it difficult to perceive audible threats, such as a honking horn or siren in the distance. As you can see, there’s a lot that factors into personal health, making this decision not so cut and dry.
Mental Health Impacts
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest concerns with depriving a senior of the ability to drive is the blow it takes to their autonomy. If they can no longer visit area attractions in downtown Greenville, their mental health may take a toll. Seniors, above all else, want to be independent.
As such, many may be reticent to take away a senior’s driver’s license. Family members concerned for their well-being might risk letting them go on short drives around the neighborhood to make them feel less cooped up. As noble as that concern may be, someone has to put their foot down in the name of senior driving safety.
Transportation Complications
Even if a senior can’t drive, they still need to get around. They won’t be able to enjoy recreational parks, popular arts and entertainment, and other benefits of living in Greenville, SC, without a car. So, if you’re tight on transportation between your spouse and kids, having a retired senior driver is a huge boon.
Anyone who’s ever had to take care of a senior knows the challenge it presents with just everyday care. Now imagine making sure they can get to their pickleball games and book clubs. However, those CDC statistics make it clear that it’s not worth the risk if they aren’t fully able to.
How to Stop a Senior From Driving
If the above concerns culminate into the decision to stop a senior from driving, the hard part has only just begun. Now, you have to break the news. What are some tips for approaching this difficult conversation?
Be Gentle and Understanding
Above all else, try to see things from your senior’s perspective when handling this sticky subject. Understand that for them, it’s like you’ve taken away another support strut from their crumbling autonomy, good though your intentions may be. Having empathy for the loss that this will cause will make things go smoother.
Demonstrate Autonomy in Other Areas
The key is to prove to your senior that, while they’ve lost autonomy in this area, they still have it in many others. If they are still able to walk without a mobility aid, that’s a huge plus. They should be proud of the fact that they can go anywhere they like on their own two feet.
The little things matter. If they can cook their own meals and bathe themselves without assistance, it’s a victory all the same. Help them to reframe this conversation less as the fact that they’ll lose their driving ability and more as the fact that they’re capable in many other areas.
Emphasize Activities in Their Senior Community
If your senior can’t drive, then the best thing you can do is fill those empty spaces with fun activities. A senior community is filled to bursting with things for seniors to occupy themselves with. For example, having great senior dining experiences within a short walk of their doorstep.
Emphasize that your senior will be so busy with activities at their community that they may not even miss driving. At the very least, they can still come with you on a Sunday drive, albeit in the passenger seat. Transportation alternatives always exist if they need to leave for any reason.
Find a Community in Greenville, SC
A huge number of factors go into deciding when a senior should stop driving. It’s less about whether they can legally drive and more about whether their health — among others — permits them. Try to be compassionate as you broach the subject and point out the silver lining.
TerraBella Summit in Greenville, SC, is a community that gives seniors all they need in one location. Our amenities include daily activities, outings and excursions, beauty salons, and so much more. Schedule a tour and see for yourself.
