{"id":12964,"date":"2017-12-27T07:00:33","date_gmt":"2017-12-27T13:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=12964"},"modified":"2020-10-26T14:56:32","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T19:56:32","slug":"what-to-do-when-its-time-for-your-parents-to-stop-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2017\/12\/what-to-do-when-its-time-for-your-parents-to-stop-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop Your Parents from Driving"},"content":{"rendered":"

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What to Do When It’s Time for Your Parents to Stop Driving<\/h1>\n

Ask a group of midlife adults which family conversations they’re looking forward to least, and telling their parents it’s time to stop driving is always\u00a0near the top of the list.\u00a0As driving is so closely tied to independence, most of us naturally resist the idea of giving it up. But because driving is such a high-risk activity, we’re all responsible for making sure our parents \u2014 and the people around them \u2014 are safe.\"What<\/p>\n

Here’s what to do when it’s time for your parents to stop driving.<\/p>\n

It’s Time for Your Parents to Stop Driving: a Step by Step Guide<\/h2>\n

First, know that most older drivers are safe behind the wheel. In fact, older drivers are often safer than younger drivers in a few important ways.<\/p>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control, drivers age 65 and older<\/b><\/a> are less likely to drive after drinking, less likely to drive at night and during bad weather, and more likely to wear seat belts than younger drivers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, auto crash fatalities increase from age 70 onward and spike after age 85, in part due to the fact that seniors are often more medically fragile than younger drivers. Among the most common contributors to decreased driving safety are cognitive decline and vision problems.<\/p>\n

Although there’s no particular age at which we’re no longer safe to drive, the likelihood of unsafe driving does rise as we get older, so if your parents are 70 or older (or younger and not in good health), it pays to ride along with them from time to time and to look for the warning signs that it might be time to garage the car for good.<\/p>\n

1. Know the signs that it’s time to stop driving.<\/h3>\n

While some of us are happy to give up driving when it no longer feels safe, most of us tend to minimize problems, so it’s up to family and friends to be alert for changes that put your parents at risk.<\/p>\n

Safety experts say there are many signs to look for, some more subtle than others:<\/p>\n

Getting feedback from law enforcement and others<\/strong><\/p>\n