You’ve seen them.
They toodle along the street at considerably under the speed limit. They veer from one side of the lane to the other but never manage to drive straight down the middle. They hesitate when they should go, and go when they should wait. And they wear funny hats in the car.
Elderly drivers. Many seniors are experienced and careful drivers. Some have failing eyesight, dangerously slow reaction time, and impaired reasoning abilities due to dementia or other illnesses.
If you’re a relative or friend of an elderly person, you may be wondering if he or she should continue to drive. How do you know whether this person is still capable of driving safely? And how do you suggest that the person hang up his or her car keys?
I had these questions a few years ago about my mother. While searching for information, I came across a document on the web site of the New York State Office for the Aging. It’s called “When You Are Concerned” and it’s described as a “handbook for families, friends, and caregivers worried about the safety of an aging driver.”
It tells you what to look for when trying to decide if an elderly person can drive safely. It also offers strategies for convincing an unsafe driver to give up driving.
If this is a issue in your life, go to the web site now and get a copy of the PDF. It’s an excellent handbook, and I highly recommend it.
Here’s the link: When You Are Concerned
It could save the life of your relative or the lives of other road users.