When is it Time to Take Away The Keys?
The AARP has issued a fact sheet of sorts on how to know when it's time to take away a loved ones car keys. It's a difficult decision to tell a parent who raised you that they are no longer able to drive a car. Ask any older American and they will respond by saying it's their only freedom. They don't want to depend on others. And it's usually their last act of independence. You can't blame them, but, you want them to be safe. Here's what the AARP suggests:
How do you approach a family member when age related changes impact driving ability? How long should someone stay on the road? Families nationwide are struggling with these sensitive issues. Elinor Ginzler, AARP's director of livable communities and a leading authority on older driver safety, encourages families to talk openly with loved ones about safe driving practices. According to Ginzler, these are top 10 signs that it's time to talk about limiting driving or handing over the keys:
1. Frequent "close calls" (i.e. near accidents).
2. Dents, scrapes, on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs etc.
3. Trouble judging gaps in traffic at intersections and on highway entrance/exit ramps.
4. Other drivers honking at you.
5. Getting lost.
6. Difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead.
7. Slower response time; trouble moving foot from gas to brake pedal or confusing the two pedals.
8. Getting distracted easily or having trouble concentrating.
9. Difficulty turning your head to check over shoulder while backing up or changing lanes.
10. Traffic tickets or "warnings" by traffic or law enforcement officers in the last year or two.
WHO: Elinor Ginzler, AARP's director of livable communities, is a leading authority on the subject of older drivers. She oversees AARP's older driver programs ranging from its in- classroom and online driver safety program to the "We Need to Talk" program, which provides information for families about how to discuss safe driving practices with older drivers.
