Patient education: Time to stop driving? (The Basics)

Is there a set age when people should stop driving? — No. When a person should stop driving depends on many factors. It is true that some older drivers can still be safe drivers. But it is also true that, besides teens, older drivers are involved in more deadly car crashes than any other age group.

Being able to drive is important to older people, and most people don't want to stop. Driving gives people the freedom to go where they want, when they want. When people can't or don't drive, they have to depend on others. This can be hard for many reasons.

Each state has its own rules about older drivers. In some states, older drivers need to take written, vision, or road tests every time they renew their license. In other states, older drivers take no tests, or only a vision test, when they renew their license.

One way to check if someone is a safe driver is to have them take an on-the-road driving test. This test can be set up through your state or, sometimes, through a program that specifically works with older adults.

How do doctors decide if a person should stop driving? — To help decide if a person should stop driving, the doctor will:

●Talk with the person – They will ask about the person's medical conditions. Certain medical conditions make it more unsafe for people to drive. Some of these include heart problems, movement disorders, diabetes, arthritis, and sleep disorders. The doctor will also ask about medicines the person takes. Certain medicines can make people feel sleepy or slow down their reflexes.

●Do an exam – As part of the exam, the doctor will see how well the person moves, especially their neck, shoulders, and wrists. They will check the person's balance and grip strength. The doctor will also check the person's vision and hearing. Problems with any of these things can affect a person's driving.

●Check the person's thinking and memory – The doctor will ask questions to check the person's thinking and memory. It is unsafe for people with serious thinking or memory problems to drive.

●Talk with family members – The doctor will ask the family about the person's driving. They will want to know if the person has gotten lost when driving on a familiar route or had any accidents or near-accidents.

In some states, doctors need to report people who can no longer drive safely.

What conditions can keep people from driving short term? — Certain things can keep people from driving for a short period of time. They include:

●Heart attack – This is when 1 of the arteries that bring blood to the heart gets blocked.

●Fainting

●Stroke – A stroke is when a part of the brain is damaged because of a problem with blood flow. This damages the nervous system and can cause problems with thinking, speaking, and moving an arm or leg.

●Seizure – Seizures are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They can make people pass out, or move or behave strangely.

●Getting a device called an "implantable cardioverter-defibrillator" – This device prevents sudden death from a heart rhythm problem.

The rules are different for each state. But in general, after these things happen, people need to wait a certain amount of time before they can drive again. For example, people who have a seizure need to be seizure free for a certain amount of time before they can drive again. In some cases, people might need their doctor's permission before they drive again.

What if my family member should stop driving, but won't? — If your family member should stop driving but won't, you can try these tips. You can:

●Hide the car keys.

●Take the battery out of the car so it won't start.

●Park the car on another block or in a spot where your family member won't find it.

●Make plans for someone else to do the driving.

●Ask the doctor to write a prescription saying that the person should not drive.

●Set up a driving test with the state.

●Work with a social worker to get help.

If the person's license has been taken away, and they keep driving, it can lead to problems. For example, if your family member gets into an accident, they will have to pay for damages and might get in trouble with the law.

More on this topic

Patient education: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (The Basics)
Patient education: Syncope (fainting) (The Basics)
Patient education: Dementia (including Alzheimer disease) (The Basics)
Patient education: Mild cognitive impairment (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for someone with Alzheimer disease or dementia (The Basics)
Patient education: Evaluating memory and thinking problems (The Basics)
Patient education: Stroke (The Basics)
Patient education: Epilepsy in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Narcolepsy (The Basics)

Patient education: Seizures in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Syncope (fainting) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Dementia (including Alzheimer disease) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (Beyond the Basics)