Elderly Drivers - when to call it quits?

[Fowl Play]

Give their car a check, if it's got little bangs and dents, creased bumper, etc. It's probably well past time. If they start having stories about all the "terrible drivers on the road", getting honked at excessively, etc it's time for an evaluation -- there might just be an exorbitant number of bad drivers.... or THEY ARE the bad driver.

Only place in the US I have had multiple experiences of cars coming to full stops on a highway on ramp with their blinker on, trying to merge into traffic, is around The Villages in Florida. If you sit in a local eatery parking lot for long enough you will watch several bumpers get creased, etc.

It's an unfortunate reality. But better to step in sooner, rather than later; my mom is on the edge. Very soon I will likely be hiring uber drivers for everything for her, she's extremely stubborn and selfish -- it's going to be tough.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

My uncle was such a bad driver, the state revoked his license and he could never get another. He had so many tickets for slow driving, accidents, etc that someone finally pulled the plug. I was in a car with him exactly once, and I swore if there was another time, I'm driving.

 

[Pharmseller]

My dad got into a fender-bender at a roundabout. No injuries but he handed the keys to my mom.

 

[cnelk]

Some great replies and stories everyone.

My mom is 85. Stubborn. Still drives. All she does is go to the store and Dr appts. She lives in Loveland CO and Im worried about her driving around there. So many other drivers are in a hurry, Im not sure her reaction time is what it was.

Driving in a populated area VS driving in a rural area is apples and oranges.

 

[mtnbiker208]

it is not about age, but ability. My dad had brain cancer and we had to take the keys away at 62. He died at 63.

 

[Pramo]

If their mind is still sharp but reflexes are failing take a look at a Tesla Model Y. Whatever anyone has heard about full self driving unless you have used it personally it’s wrong. We put thousands of miles on our Y and never touch the wheel from country roads to Washington DC traffic and highways.

I’m trying to get my Dad to get one he’s 80 and sharp but reflexes and vision are slowing

Here is decent video on how it can help the older folks keep moving

 

[Blue Falcon]

When my grandmother was 84 she had two accidents in a 24-hour period. The first was when she and my grandfather went to the local SPCA animal shelter to look for a dog. When she pulled up to the building she pressed the gas hard instead of the brake and drove through the front of the building, smashing their new foyer. This was a traumatic event for both of them but she explained it as being an accident that could happen to anyone.

Well, the following morning she drove her best friend to Walgreens to pick up some medication. Again while pulling up to the building, she smashed the gas and ran into the pillar in front the building. Her friend was also in her 80s and severely injured. She had broken ribs and a puncture lung. After the second accident she willingly gave up her license.

Prior to these events we had several conversations with her about her abilities because she had been getting lost just going to the local store. It should not have taken nearly killing he friend to make her stop driving, but she was selfish.


Sent from my Pixel 9 using Tapatalk

 

[ctafoya]

My mom is in her mid 60's and should have never had a license to begin with. One of the worst drivers I have ever seen. My dad is pushing 80 and is a long haul trucker. Just passed his latest physical and renewal. It's not always an age thing.

 

[30338]

My brother told me all about a distant relative who was 87 years old and still driving tractors, feeding cattle, and working on his ranch. He was all impressed with him. The year after that he was driving to town for more diesel for his tractor, had a massive heart attack and his truck killed a 36 year old mother of 2 going the opposite direction. Sounded like the kind of guy that no one was by god going to tell him that he needed to hang it up.

2 kids growing up without their mother because of it. Being prideful and old and driving can wreck a lot of lives.

Dad is 94 with an enlarged aorta and pacemaker. He tells me his isn't the kind of heart that would fail like that other guys. My siblings literally let him drive when they are in the car with him. Crazy stuff.

 

[Hydra6]

My brother told me all about a distant relative who was 87 years old and still driving tractors, feeding cattle, and working on his ranch. He was all impressed with him. The year after that he was driving to town for more diesel for his tractor, had a massive heart attack and his truck killed a 36 year old mother of 2 going the opposite direction. Sounded like the kind of guy that no one was by god going to tell him that he needed to hang it up.

2 kids growing up without their mother because of it. Being prideful and old and driving can wreck a lot of lives.

Dad is 94 with an enlarged aorta and pacemaker. He tells me his isn't the kind of heart that would fail like that other guys. My siblings literally let him drive when they are in the car with him. Crazy stuff.

So, at what age should we stop driving in case we have a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm? 30? 40?

 

[go_deep]

Tell her you want to take her out for lunch and check her car out to make sure it drives good, let her drive and see how she does.
All this advice is great, but who cares how old she is of she can drive.
Heck I know some young people that I question how in the world they have a DL!

 

[30338]

So, at what age should we stop driving in case we have a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm? 30? 40?

Totally up to you. I have no input on it just showing an example. For me, I'll happily stop driving when I feel like my health and reflexes demand it. And I would rather stop driving years too early vs driving one day to long and killing someone. That is my goal but maybe I will have a heart attack tomorrow right?

For my dad, he should have stopped 4 or 5 years ago and I have told him that. Told him that today. It's on him at this point if something terrible happens.

 

[akhunter3]

My brother told me all about a distant relative who was 87 years old and still driving tractors, feeding cattle, and working on his ranch. He was all impressed with him. The year after that he was driving to town for more diesel for his tractor, had a massive heart attack and his truck killed a 36 year old mother of 2 going the opposite direction. Sounded like the kind of guy that no one was by god going to tell him that he needed to hang it up.

2 kids growing up without their mother because of it. Being prideful and old and driving can wreck a lot of lives.

Dad is 94 with an enlarged aorta and pacemaker. He tells me his isn't the kind of heart that would fail like that other guys. My siblings literally let him drive when they are in the car with him. Crazy stuff.

Not sure how your supposed to know if your going to have a massive heart attack or not. I saw an article the other day about them not recommending shoveling snow over age 45 because of heart attack risk- should we stop driving around the same age then?

 

[S-3 ranch]

One of my friends was killed by a old man driving to get his mail
T boned him after he ran across the freeway

My mother in law I took the battery out of her car a year ago after the police called me to say she was driving around in our small town and she was lost and couldn’t find her way home. She’s 81
There is no right age to determine if someone is able to drive