{"id":17103,"date":"2018-07-18T11:20:06","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T17:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=17103"},"modified":"2026-04-02T15:25:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:25:46","slug":"should-elderly-people-stop-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/should-elderly-people-stop-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"Should elderly people stop driving?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><p>Grandma just got a ticket for driving <em>too slow<\/em> on the interstate.\u00a0 Her car has dents and scratches that weren\u2019t there before. And she got lost driving to the hairdresser she\u2019s been going to for 20 years. Is it time to ask her to stop driving?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s\u00a0tricky business, said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/mark-wesselman-md-internal-medicine\/\">Dr. Mark Wesselman<\/a>, who treated many geriatric patients and veterans before recently joining the UCHealth team. He practices internal medicine at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/locations\/uchealth-primary-care-clinic-chapel-hills\/\">UCHealth Primary Care Clinic &#8211; Chapel Hills<\/a> in Colorado Springs.<\/p>\n<p>Seniors\u2019 driving is \u201can issue that comes up quite frequently,\u201d Wesselman said.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-17105 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110232\/seniordriving2.jpgeee.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110232\/seniordriving2.jpgeee.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110232\/seniordriving2.jpgeee-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110232\/seniordriving2.jpgeee-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110232\/seniordriving2.jpgeee-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110232\/seniordriving2.jpgeee-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110232\/seniordriving2.jpgeee-200x134.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Unlike some states, Colorado has no reporting requirement for doctors who suspect their patients might not be competent to drive any longer. There is, however, a form doctors (especially eye doctors) can fill out to report a concern to the state.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDriving is such an important part of living and it is such an integral part of personal independence, it\u2019s hard to take it away,\u201d Wesselman acknowledged.<\/p>\n<p>Age isn\u2019t necessarily the catalyst, he added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI mean, teens are the worse drivers, statistically,\u201d he said, \u201cbut seniors come in second. And seniors are more likely to be hurt in a car accident \u2013 fractures and head injuries, especially \u2013 or even killed. \u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHRSB) reports that 18 percent of all auto accident fatalities are senior citizens age 65 and older.<\/p>\n<p>What signs should indicate when it\u2019s time for someone to stop driving?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-17104 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18105852\/drivingseniorstory.webp\" alt=\"Happy senior couple packing a car trunk and enjoy in the end of great day in nature\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18105852\/drivingseniorstory.webp 1498w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18105852\/drivingseniorstory-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18105852\/drivingseniorstory-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18105852\/drivingseniorstory-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18105852\/drivingseniorstory-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18105852\/drivingseniorstory-200x134.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cCognition is probably the biggest issue \u2013 if your cognition is impaired, that\u2019s pretty serious,\u201d he said. \u201cIt becomes a bigger and bigger issue as more of us become older. Getting lost is one sign \u2013 and it\u2019s a serious one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He defers to the NHTSA list of things to watch for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Getting lost on routes that should be familiar.<\/li>\n<li>Noticing new dents or scratches to the vehicle.<\/li>\n<li>Receiving a ticket for a driving violation.<\/li>\n<li>Experiencing a near-miss or crash recently.<\/li>\n<li>Being advised to limit\/stop driving due to a health reason.<\/li>\n<li>Being overwhelmed by road signs and markings while driving.<\/li>\n<li>Taking any medication that might affect driving safely.<\/li>\n<li>Speeding or driving too slowly for no reason.<\/li>\n<li>Suffering\u00a0from any illnesses that may affect driving skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cIf your family and friends begin to comment on your driving ability, it\u2019s time to take stock,\u201d he added. Notice if you\u2019re having trouble performing daily tasks, also, he said. Hand-eye coordination and reflexes should be good if you\u2019re going to drive.<\/p>\n<p>Some illnesses should preclude driving a car, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe big illness would be dementia \u2013 a lot of neurologic illnesses can impede our reflexes, diseases like Parkinson\u2019s or epilepsy or multiple sclerosis,\u201d Wesselman said, adding that poor heart health can affect oxygenation (and, thus, brain function). Some cardiac and pulmonary diseases can contribute to impairment and ability to operate a vehicle, too.<\/p>\n<p>Some medications also make it dangerous to drive.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17106\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17106\" style=\"width: 191px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17106\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110405\/Capture1.webp\" alt=\"A photo of Dr. Mark Wesselman\" width=\"191\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110405\/Capture1.webp 191w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/07\/18110405\/Capture1-114x150.webp 114w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17106\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Mark Wesselman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cCommon medications can cause problems \u2013 sleeping and anxiety medications can impair ability to drive well,\u201d he said. Anything that affects your alertness should be viewed with caution, even allergy medications like Benadryl.\u00a0 Also, some blood pressure medications and diuretics can cause problems.<\/p>\n<p>Read the cautions that come with any medication, he advised.<\/p>\n<p>If an elderly driver doesn\u2019t voluntarily give up the practice, what can be done?<\/p>\n<p>In Colorado, the state does test drivers\u2019 eyesight every five years after age 65. If you fail, only your eye doctor can get you a reprieve. But what if the problem isn\u2019t just vision?<\/p>\n<p>Well, you can have \u201cthe talk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had some of my patients be in accidents when they shouldn\u2019t be driving. We talked about it and they promised to curtail their driving, but \u2026\u201d he paused. \u201cI even had to take away my own parents\u2019 keys at one time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His father developed Parkinson\u2019s disease in his 70s. After having an accident because he couldn\u2019t brake fast enough while trying to avoid some pedestrians, his father admitted he needed to stop driving. Wesselman\u2019s mother took over the driving duties until she, too, was no longer capable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not easy, making that call,\u201d he said. \u201cThere really isn\u2019t a way to take the keys away, legally, and even if you do, they might have a spare tucked away somewhere, anyway. You can take away the driver\u2019s license, but they might just drive without it. And you can\u2019t take away the car without their permission. That\u2019s theft.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He can\u2019t even count the times a family member has taken him aside and said, \u201cPlease tell Dad he can\u2019t drive anymore. He won\u2019t listen to us, but he\u2019ll listen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes it works, sometimes not.<\/p>\n<p>Some occupational therapists will test a patient to see if he or she should still be driving. That may reinforce the doctor\u2019s opinion.<\/p>\n<p>What are the options, then?<\/p>\n<p>If a community has good public transportation, or the patient can afford to take a taxi or Uber, that helps, he said. Some non-profits offer free or reduced-price senior transportation. But often the burden of the driving then falls upon friends, children or other relatives. And it takes away the patient\u2019s independence, which can be a hard blow for the patient to absorb.<\/p>\n<p>This is not to say that all older patients need to stop driving, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust being older doesn\u2019t necessarily make you a bad driver,\u201d Wesselman said. \u201cLook at Paul Newman. He was a race car driver in his 70s and he was better than a lot of the younger guys. \u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<p>In fact, he agrees with this statement from the NHTSA:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGetting older does not necessarily mean a person&#8217;s driving days are over. But it\u2019s important to plan ahead and take steps to ensure the safety of your loved ones on the road.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you think you need to have a conversation with an older driver about his or her driving abilities, remember that many older drivers look at driving as a form of independence. Bringing up the subject of their driving abilities can make some drivers defensive. So, be prepared with your observations and questions, and\u2014if necessary\u2014provide possible transportation alternatives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NHTSA offers free material about how to recognize and discuss changes in your older loved one&#8217;s driving. Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/road-safety\/older-drivers#topic-older-driver-safety\">https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/road-safety\/older-drivers#topic-older-driver-safety<\/a> for more information. Other good sources of information, he said, include AARP and a website called Caring.com.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to find the right way to approach the subject,\u201d Wesselman said. \u201cThere\u2019s no one-size-fits-all for taking away the car keys.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grandma just got a ticket for driving too slow on the interstate.\u00a0 Her car has dents and scratches that weren\u2019t there before. And she got lost driving to the hairdresser she\u2019s been going to for 20 years. Is it time to ask her to stop driving? It\u2019s\u00a0tricky business, said Dr. Mark Wesselman, who treated many [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":17105,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[708,9171],"class_list":["post-17103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-living","tag-adults-65-plus","tag-senior-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Should elderly people stop driving? - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Should your elderly parent or grandparent stop driving? 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