The elderly are responsible for more accidents than all other driving groups besides teens. The Help Guide website states that a person over the age of 65 is more likely to be seriously hurt in an accident and fatality rates jump for drivers over the age of 70. If you have elderly parents, you may find it difficult to convince them to stop driving. Driving often represents freedom to seniors, and they may not be easily willing to give up that freedom.
Step 1
Point out the warning signs to your parent that she should stop driving. Help Guide lists the following signs: slow reflexes, memory difficulties, fast lane changes, abrupt braking, traffic tickets and minor accidents.
Step 2
Cut out articles from the newspaper about seniors involved in accidents. The MSNBC website suggests that you show your parent an article about crashes involving the elderly and let him know how happy you are that it was not him involved.
Step 3
Offer to sell her car. If she will give you her keys, take them and ask if you can put the car on the market. Take care of the selling for her and give her the funds once the sale is complete.
Step 4
Give the person alternatives to driving. You may offer to come around weekly to run errands with your parent. Other transportation options include senior transit, taxis, buses, trains and car pooling with other seniors.
Step 5
Call your parent's doctor. The Help Guide website states that a doctor can write a prescription to order a person to stop driving.
Step 6
Contact your local police department. According to MSNBC, if the senior is threat on the road, the police may be contacted and can ask the person to take a retest at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Tips and Warnings
- Seniors have options open to them to improve their driving abilities. Instead of stopping your parent from driving, you may decide to refer her to a program like the AARP Driver Safety Program.
