Elderly drivers: When to take the keys?

An automobile provides freedom, and it can be a difficult to give up one's mobility to the ravages of time. I remember driving with my great aunt when I was a teenager. At the time she was in her 70s and of sharp mind, witty, and clever. But behind the wheel, it was a different story. Even though she was quite petite, she owned a large Lincoln, and she was barely able to peer over the steering wheel. She drove slowly and not very straight, which made me a bit nervous as a passenger. If I were a little older, I probably would've insisted she not drive and offered to drive for her. Luckily, she only drove short distances and never got into an accident. However, not all my experiences driving with an older person have been fearful. My grandfather was a very good driver--careful, attentive, and defensive behind the wheel until he passed away at the age of 84.

In general, statistics show that older people are safe drivers. Compared to other age groups, they have low rates of crash involvement. However, two trends could raise the risks. In 2007, there were 20 million licensed drivers over the age of 70. That number is set to increase greatly as the baby boomer generation advances. Also, older people are now driving longer and further, accumulating more miles than they did in the past.

So far though, there is no indication that driving is becoming more risky for older drivers. A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that fatal crash involvement significantly decreased for drivers over 70 years old in the 10-year period through 2006. While the reason isn't known, there is speculation that older drivers are using safer vehicles, are more physically fit ,and are in better health overall.

However, as people get older, their capabilities decline. Most states require license renewal to be in person and drivers to pass a vision test, but the differences are the years between renewals. Twenty-six states plus the District of Columbia have length of time provisions for renewals in older drivers, which range from 2-6 years. New Hampshire is the only state that requests a road test for renewals for drivers aged 75 and older.

Besides license renewal provisions, both older drivers themselves and their family and friends need to be responsible in determining whether they remain capable of driving.

Here are some tips from AARP on when to take away the keys from an older driver.

• Difficulty staying in the proper lane
• More frequent near-miss crashes
• More frequent bumps and scrapes against curbs and garage entries
• Getting lost more often
• Difficulty seeing sides of road when looking straight ahead
• Trouble paying attention to or violating signals, road signs and pavement markings
• Slower braking response or confusing the gas and brake pedals

If an elder needs to get around, but cannot drive, consider hiring a caregiver who can run errands and transport them to appointments. The extra money may be well worth the peace of mind for your loved one and others on the road.

—Liza Barth