Talking About ‘Driving Retirement’

See. Think. Decide. Act.

Driving involves more than physically operating a vehicle. Safe driving also requires cognitive skills such as recognizing and reacting to unexpected situations. Unfortunately, our physical and cognitive skills weaken as we age. If you recognize a decline in your loved one’s driving skills, you can help them plan a safe end to their time behind the wheel.

Remember …

Driving is independence. Driving is mobility. Driving defines adulthood. It is important to seniors. Giving it up will not be easy. A discussion about no longer driving will be complex and emotionally charged. You both need to be ready for your talk about “driving retirement.”

Signs of Driving Difficulties

Ideally, a conversation about driving begins before problems arise. You should be concerned if your loved one:

• Gives slow, unsure or agitated responses to questions or unexpected situations
• Forgets things or becomes easily distracted
• Suffers from a medical condition or takes medication that makes driving unsafe
• Loses driving confidence (drives too slowly, clutches the steering wheel, strains to see or becomes nervous or apprehensive in heavy or fast-moving traffic)
• Shows a sharp decline in driving skills (drifts across lanes, fails to maintain a steady or proper speed or hits curbs).

Note: To renew a driver’s license in Arizona, drivers older than age 65 must pass a vision test. If a driver exhibits signs of visual impairment, the driver may be required to pass a written test.

We Need to Talk …

Just as we talk to teens about safe driving, we should be prepared to talk to our older loved ones about safe driving habits. Your loved one may be more willing to talk about it than you might think. One study found that 64% of adults ages 55 and older were open to discussing with their family how to decide when to stop driving, and 32% were open to having a family member decide for them.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety offers a few helpful topics that you can raise in your discussion:

• More than 200,000 drivers 65 years old or older were injured and more than 3,500 were killed in traffic accidents in 2021. (You may also mention that more than 23,000 drivers ages 65 and older were in accidents in Arizona in 2021, causing 187 deaths and more than 7,500 injuries, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.)
• Experts suggest that seniors “begin planning for ‘driving retirement’ at the same time they begin planning for retirement from work.”
• Seniors typically outlive their ability to drive safely by an average of 7 to 10 years.

Have the Talk with Your Loved One

• Talk soon. Start the talk about driving retirement as part of other conversations about looking forward in life.
• Talk often. It can be an ongoing discussion if you start it early enough. So, your loved one won’t feel rushed or forced into making any decisions.
• Talk one-on-one. Approach the subject alone with the older driver so it doesn’t feel like you are ganging up on him or her. Bring others into the conversation once it is a comfortable discussion.
• Talk together. Don’t dictate. Make sure your loved one plays an active role in planning for their driving retirement.
• Talk about safety. Stress the importance of your loved one’s independence, which requires maintaining his or her physical health. The last thing you want for them is to get in a car wreck.
• Talk about substance. Cite specific reasons for your concerns such as a recent accident or near-miss, getting lost or medicine that causes drowsiness. Don’t accuse or denigrate your loved one’s driving abilities.
• Talk about alternatives. Driving may end, but life does not. Have a plan for a former driver to get around and keep up his or her normal routine. For instance, in Phoenix, drivers ages 65 and older can take advantage of the city’s Alternative Transportation Programs, including Senior Ride, Senior Center Shuttle, ADA Ride, Employment Transportation and the Medical Trip program.

About the Author

Zachary Mushkatel

Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive…