Adults ages 65 and older are responsible for 14% of traffic fatalities, and 17% of all pedestrian fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
So how do you know when your elderly loved one’s driving skills are being impaired and when it is time to take them off the road?
Use this checklist to determine if your elderly loved one is getting too old to drive:
1. Vision: Conditions like cataracts and glaucoma can worsen eyesight and make driving dangerous. Make an appointment for your loved one if you are worried about changes in their vision.
2. Strength and Dexterity: Older drivers may no longer have the motor skills to handle the wheel and brakes. If your elderly loved one is no longer physically active and has trouble with tasks around the house, he or she may no longer have the physical ability to drive.
3. Dementia: If your elderly loved one suffers from dementia, driving is not a good idea. People with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia can suddenly lapse into an episode in which they are not fit to drive.
4. Medications: Read the labels of your loved one’s medications, and ask their doctor or pharmacist about potentially problematic drug interactions to find out if your loved one shouldn’t be driving.
5. Accidents: Has your loved one had one or two minor auto accidents? Look into the cause of the accidents and determine if they have been the likely cause for most of these. They may be losing their judgment and it might be time to take them off the road.
6. Confidence: Some seniors are simply no longer confident in their driving skills, but are too proud to admit it. Sit your loved one down and discuss the importance of safe driving and the other options they have for transportation.
If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident due to the negligence of another driver, contact us today for a free consultation.
Source: Griswold Home Care
Mr. Finkelstein is the Managing Partner of Finkelstein & Partners, LLP. He has become a noted consumer activist through his representation of injured individuals against corporate wrongdoers and irresponsible parties.
An accomplished litigator, Mr. Finkelstein has represented Plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases. He has successfully handled dozens of multi-million dollar cases.