Patient advocate: Driving while aging

Many of the articles I see about older drivers focus on how families can have The Talk: “Mom/Dad, it’s time for you to stop driving.”

That’s not a helpful way to approach it. It’s better to observe their driving, take notes and have a conversation about road safety, looping in their doctor if necessary. But this column isn’t about that.

Instead, I think senior drivers themselves (and I am one!) should be assessing their own fitness to drive and take that onus away from their kids. The fact is that medications, physical limitations and cognitive difficulties can make driving very dangerous for older folks.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says that the majority of people killed in traffic crashes involving older drivers are 65 and older. About 66% of the deaths in 2024 were either the older driver or their passenger, also 65 years of age or older.

The risk of serious injury and death increases with age. Older drivers may have fewer accidents than younger ones, but when you look at accidents per mile driven, the math is clear: Getting older behind the wheel can be very risky.

This is especially important in Illinois. A law that went into effect July 1 lets residents 79 and older renew their driver’s license in person with just a vision test. Mandatory behind-the-wheel tests will be required for drivers 87 and older.

But how many of those older drivers have conditions like arthritis that limit their ability to turn their head? How many are taking medications that can potentially impair their ability to not only drive but react to an unexpected situation, like a deer in the road? How many are having trouble remembering where they were going but get behind the wheel anyway?

Are there 95-year-olds who are still safe on the road? Of course. But we older drivers need to be honest with ourselves and not assume that, just because we’ve been driving for 60 or 70 years, we should still be driving.

Here are some things to ask yourself:

• Can you comfortably turn your head to back out of a parking spot or check a blind spot before merging or changing lanes?

• Do you have the muscle strength, reaction time and control to slam on the brakes if needed?

• Are you able to clearly read signs?

• Do you get confused at roundabouts, when making left turns or getting on or off the interstate?

• Do other drivers honk at you?

• Have you narrowly missed having an accident and said to yourself, “That car/pedestrian/bike came out of nowhere”?

Vision, hearing, motor abilities and cognitive abilities all decline naturally with aging. That doesn’t mean you have to hang up your keys at a particular age. It just means to be aware of those changes and adjust to them.

For example, take time to stretch your arms, legs and neck every morning to maintain flexibility. If your doctor prescribes a new medication, ask whether it will have any impact on your ability to drive. Maybe stay on surface streets rather than highways or drive only during the day if night vision and glare are a problem. Assistive devices can also help.

From a cognitive standpoint, it’s important to keep distractions to a minimum. Don’t try to eat or drink while driving. Tell passengers to keep conversation to a minimum. Set your GPS before putting the car in drive. And, for the love of all that is holy, stay off the phone — hands free or not.

Cars these days are packed with safety technology. Your car may alert you when you’re following too close, wandering into another lane or have a car sitting in your blind spot. It may automatically correct a skid or even parallel park for you. All of that technology is great, but remember: You are still the one in the driver’s seat.

Every so often, invite a trusted adult to ride shotgun and note your driving behaviors for later discussion. They may spot things, like driving too slow or being in the left lane when you’re not passing. If they identify concerns, talk to your doctor or an occupational therapist who specializes in driver safety and sign up for an older driver course.

After an honest assessment, you can decide for yourself if it’s time to stop driving and, guess what? There’s life after cars! Friends, family, taxis, rideshares and transit-on-demand are all plentiful. You can have groceries, meals and prescriptions delivered.

We all love the independence of going anywhere we want when we want. Just be aware that freedom comes with the responsibility to make sure you’re fit to drive.

• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg, R.N., a registered nurse and board-certified patient advocate, is the founder of NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com, which trains medical professionals to become successful private patient advocates. She is the author of “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones” and “Advocating Well: Strategies for Finding Strength and Understanding in Health Care,” available at Amazon.com. Contact her at Teri@NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com to set up a free phone consultation.