LIKE EVERYTHING connected with aging, diminishing skills happen slowly and over time.
Although there are natural changes that may occur in our brains and to our bodies as we age, the question of when it is time to limit or stop driving is not about age. It’s about the ability of the driver.
As we all know, driving ability goes beyond the simple ability to physically operate a vehicle. Safely driving a vehicle requires physical and cognitive capabilities, driving skills and good driving behaviour.
Here are only a few warning signs of unsafe driving:
- Delayed response to unexpected situations
- Becoming easily distracted while driving
- Decreased confidence while driving
- Having difficulty moving into or maintaining the correct lane of traffic
- Hitting curbs when making left turns or backing up
- Getting scrapes or dents on car, garage or mailbox
- Having frequent close calls
- Driving too fast or too slow for road conditions
If you or someone else notices some of these warning signs in your driving behaviour, it means it is time to realistically assess your ability to continue driving.
Limiting or ceasing driving is a complex and emotionally charged decision. Older drivers have a lifetime of driving experience behind them and deeply value the independence and mobility that driving provides. But continuing to drive when you are no longer competent puts you and others at risk.
Read more on the subject of licence surrender here.
If you’d like to learn more about issues affecting older drivers, retirement, health, superannuation, travel and much, much more, subscribe to YourLifeChoices (it’s free) at https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/ and listen to the podcast (including interviews with seniordriveraus) hosted by Kaye Fallick and John Deeks at https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/podcasts/mind-your-own-retirement