When Should Seniors Stop Driving?

​One of the most difficult things to do is to convince an elderly loved one to give up driving. If one is aged, then there are safety reasons for him to stop driving. These safety reasons should be considered as top priority. Elderly people are usually not easy to convince and doing so may hurt their feelings. Nonetheless, here are some situations that should really make you decide to tell them to give up driving no matter what.

​When they cannot find their way anymore
If your elderly loved one cannot find their way even on the most familiar roads and even those places that they’ve been driving to for many years, then these are symptoms of cognitive impairment. This is actually a signal for your loved one to humbly leave the wheel for good. Otherwise, he could end up hurting himself, or worse, someone else.

When they have been in trouble recently
If your loved one has spent the last five years driving but getting tickets, fender benders and traffic warnings, then this is a sign that you should make him stop driving. As people continually age, they begin to lose coordination. Thus, they ignore stop signs or change lanes inappropriately. They begin to drive at unsafe speeds too. They also accidentally dent the car on certain fences and curbs. 

When they do not mind other drivers anymore
If you notice that your loved one seems to ignore other drivers as well as obstacles in his way, then it is a sign that you should not let him drive anymore. As some aged people begin to lose their patience in their old age, they begin to act with road rage. When they are doing this, it means that you should convince them that it would be too dangerous if they stayed on the wheel any longer. 

When they are not able to complete any driving assessment accurately
If your loved one is over 65, you can ask them to take a driving self-assessment. The presence of early-stage dementia will show in the many mistakes that they make during the assessment. It will also show in the signs that they ignore and the things that they keep forgetting. You will notice that they already have a longer time to make decisions that should be done quickly. 

When the doctor says so
However, if you still fail to convince your elderly loved one that he should quit driving, then you should get a doctor to check his health condition. Make sure that your loved one gets thoroughly evaluated, and let the doctor talk to him. Only the doctor has the authority to convince him and tell him to give up driving for his and for everyone else’s safety.

Some Final Words
There is a limit to everything. No one can drive forever. No matter how good someone was at driving when he was young, he will have to face the consequences of getting older. Anyone can use any of the five reasons above to convince his elderly loved one about giving up the wheel. If you want to protect your car from any accidents, it is important to have auto insurance. This will help you deal with any serious health problems that you may have in the future.

At Oncken Insurance Agency, we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (281) 256-8310 or Click Here to request a free quote.