Without so much as a tap on
brakes, my aunt whizzed through another stop sign."What are you doing?" I shrieked. "That was a stop sign."
"Oh," she replied rather offhandedly, "they just put those there so you'll look before you go into an intersection."
That was day I stopped riding with my aunt but not day she stopped driving. From then on, I had visions of an enormous pink Chevy leading a parade of cascading accidents. And I wasn't far from wrong.
She drove with what she knew to be utmost caution. . . .never exceeding 30 miles per hour, even on I35! She expected, even demanded that traffic would give way to her like seas parted for Moses. Sometimes, it did. But mostly, driving with her was a harrowing experience with no end in sight.
So, when do elderly become a menace on roads? And, what can you do when they refuse to give up keys? Here are a few suggestions I've found.
Causes for Concern
Poor Vision - Cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration can reduce visual acuity and limit visual fields, so a yearly eye exam is imperative for elderly driver. Ask doctor about driving, and don't take word of elderly driver on results of her exam.
Poor Hearing - Something as simple as a clogged ear passage can create a hearing loss. A doctor can identify problem and offer solutions, so have elderly hearing checked yearly.
Poor Flexibility and Limited Range of Motion - Good drivers rely on looking out rear and side windows as well as checking rearview mirrors. When a driver lacks ability to turn his head and shoulders to look outside, he may not see oncoming vehicles or obstacles traveling in car's blindspot.
Reduced Reaction Time - As we age, we slow down, and reaction times diminish. Keeping extra space between driver's and other cars can help reduce likelihood of accidents, but there comes a time when reactions are too slow for road safety. Click here for a reaction time test that will show you graphically how far you travel after you see a red light!
How to Get (and Keep) Keys
A few states, , require road tests for persons over 65 when their licenses are renewed. An additional sss states require vision tests with license renewals. Consider yourself fortunate if you live in one of these states because it may be that state will refuse to renew elder's license. If you live elsewhere, here are a few tricks to try.
