Signs It’s Time to Stop Driving

Thus, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs that it might be time for you to stop driving or to talk to a loved one about finding alternate forms of transportation. Continue reading to learn more.

Difficulty seeing while driving

Our vision changes with age, and this can impair our ability to drive. While glasses and contacts help, some people develop vision changes that make driving harder, especially at night. You may notice your eyes take longer to adjust and focus at night, and your sensitivity to glare and oncoming headlights may increase. Road signs might also become harder to see after dark. This is likely due to a decrease in contrast sensitivity, which makes things harder to differentiate from their background. Age-related vision changes can also make it difficult to judge the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles.

Vision changes happen gradually. Headlights begin to shine brighter and darkly dressed pedestrians seem to suddenly come out of nowhere. “When a senior begins to resist going out on a drive at night, or becomes tense when driving on dark roads, that's an eye saying something has changed,” says Dr. Sharon Heng, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

A harder time hearing horns or sirens

The ability to hear horns, screeching tires, sirens and other warning sounds is critical for reacting and responding properly on the road. If someone has lost their hearing to the point that they don’t notice emergency sirens until the vehicle is right in front of them, that’s a problem. When hearing impairment decreases a senior’s ability to recognize these sounds, it may cause slower reaction times.

Many seniors adjust their hearing aids so they can comfortably participate in regular conversation, but they don't ever adjust their settings for driving, which means they're not hearing those sound cues on the road. Before getting behind the wheel, turn up your hearing aids. If you're still having trouble hearing sirens or horns, talk with your doctor or audiologist about whether your hearing aids need to be adjusted or if another solution may help.

Unexplained damage to the car

“If you notice unexplained scratches or small dents on the car or around the garage, this can be a sign that something was hit but the driver may not have seen, heard or felt it,” says Shauna Buchmoyer, an occupational therapist with United Disabilities Services Foundation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. All are concerning and should be considered when making the decision to continue driving or stop. Even bumps and scrapes that appear mild shouldn't be ignored if they become a pattern.

A slower reaction speed

Changes in thinking, memory, strength and reflexes can all affect a person's ability to react quickly behind the wheel. “If the driver or loved one is noticing cognitive changes, slowed movements or delayed reaction time may be an indicator to stop driving,” says Buchmoyer.

With cognitive changes, she says, drivers could forget what traffic signs or signals mean or could easily get lost. “Physical changes such as slowed movements or slowed reflexes can lead to a slower reaction time which can result in accidents,” adds Buchmoyer.

Feeling overwhelmed behind the wheel

As the saying goes, listen to your gut. If you feel uncomfortable behind the wheel, your body may be trying to tell you something. “In general, if driving causes a person to feel anxious, overwhelmed or nervous it may be time to stop driving and consider alternative modes of transportation,” says Buchmoyer.

Do a ride-along

If you are concerned about a loved one’s driving, ride along with them and observe how they handle different driving situations.

After her father backed into the mailbox twice in one month, Nancy Treaster’s mother suggested he stop driving, but he wouldn't hear of it. “She asked me to ride along and judge for myself,” says Treaster, co-host of The Caregiver’s Journey Podcast. This gave her a glimpse into whether he was able to handle being behind the wheel alone. “Right away I noticed he was cutting corners too closely and driving up on curbs when he turned right,” Treaster shares.

If your loved one continues to drive after the ride along, Treaster suggests riding along with them regularly so you can judge their abilities firsthand. “Repeated accidents are a strong indicator that something has changed,” she says.

Check into medications

Certain medications can make people feel drowsy, lightheaded or less alert. Such medications can make getting behind the wheel hazardous. It’s important to periodically check on medications that you or a loved one are taking to see if they’re potentially impacting or impairing driving ability. Some prescription drugs come with warnings about not taking while operating machinery or while behind the wheel.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for their opinion on whether it's okay to drive while taking certain medications. Sometimes switching to a different form of medication, if an option exists, may help — but don’t make any changes without getting your doctor’s approval. If your current drug needs to be taken and clashes with driving hours, it is dangerous to be on the road. 

Dementia and driving

Some people experiencing early signs of dementia may still attempt to drive. If you suspect a loved one is living with dementia or is showing signs of increased memory loss, make an appointment with their doctor to have them evaluated, as it can be dangerous to drive while living with dementia. Forgetting how to get home while on the road is one of several signs that memory loss may be making it unsafe to drive.

Caregivers should make arrangements for loved ones living with dementia to find alternate transportation to and from where they need to go.

When Debbie Fitzgerald’s husband, Jack, was diagnosed with early stage dementia, his doctor brought up a point that neither of them had considered. “He explained that if Jack was ever in an accident, even one he didn't cause, the insurance companies involved could use his diagnosis to deny the claim, void the policy entirely or sue him, leaving him personally liable for the damages,” she says. “I then had the doctor explain this to Jack. He handed me the keys and didn’t drive again.”

Bring it up gently

Telling someone they may need to stop driving can be an emotional conversation. Treaster suggests finding a neutral third party they'll listen to, whether that's a trusted friend, family member or a road test through your local Department of Driving Services. It can be helpful, she says, if you get them to agree in advance to accept the outcome of the third party’s assessment.

Giving up the keys can be one of the hardest transitions people face as they get older. Starting the conversation early and working together to find solutions can help make the transition easier.

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