There are many reasons to be concerned about the safety and abilities of older drivers in this day and age, reasons that have nothing to do with outdated stereotypes or ageist tropes. There are currently 48 million drivers ages 65 and older on US roads, which is nearly 70% more than there were 2 decades ago. Among those older drivers, fatalities rose 15% between 2020-2021, leaving more than 8000 older adults dead as a result of a driving accident. Moreover, it’s a reality that the majority of older adults experience some combination of visual and/or hearing decline and motor function problems (such as reduced grip strength and more limited range of motion), along with slower reaction times and potential cognitive impairment from such conditions as Parkinson’s, stroke or dementia. Accompanying these realities is a rise in the incidence of alcohol use and driving accidents among older adults (which exacerbates already existing challenges for older drivers) along with potential driving impairment from the many medications that older adults consume (It’s been reported that over 90% of older drivers take prescription medications). Among the most problematic medications for older drivers are antidepressants, sedatives, and non-steroidal pain medications, all of which are associated with a higher risk of failing a road test over time. So, as you can see, there are reasons to be concerned.

And speaking of seeing, the vision of older adults can be very problematic when driving, especially after dark. While many older adults purposely decide to limit their driving to familiar roads during daytime hours, it’s important to note it’s natural for older eyes to be less capable of seeing in the dark, as our pupils shrink and less light is picked up by our eyes. In fact, according to AARP, by the time we hit our 60s, the backs of our eyes are only receiving ⅓ of the light they did when we were in our 20s. Add to that fatigue, less ability to see contrast, and the natural blurriness that comes with cataracts and you can be certain that evening driving is a real problem for many older adults. In fact, it’s been reported that ½ of all fatal car accidents occur in the evening, even though only 25% of driving occurs after dark.

With these reasons for concern about the safety of older drivers, it’s only natural to consider whether any actions should be taken to better support older drivers or even proactively limit the ability of senior drivers to be on the road. While no one should automatically be barred from driving just because of their chronological age, some steps and assessments can be taken to determine whether an older driver would benefit from classes, adaptive equipment or vehicles, or even voluntary limits that would allow continued independence but with an eye on safety. For an idea of the kinds of assessments and changes that can be implemented, take a look at this interview with Jenny Nordine, Founder of Driving To Independence, a consulting firm that provides guidance and recommendations on driving safety.

One area of consensus about keeping older drivers both empowered and safe is the strategy of planning well in advance for the potential to limit or even eliminate the ability to drive for an older adult. Conversations need to start early and often about current driving habits, the potential need for assessment or further training, and consideration of other transportation options that may lessen the need to drive. Journalist Judith Graham recently wrote about the development of an “advance directive for driving,” through which a trusted friend or family member is empowered to raise questions or make recommendations based on what they observe about an older driver’s skills and abilities. Especially at times when impaired judgment or cognitive decline may affect the driver’s ability to understand her limitations, the idea is to make sure someone else, whom the driver trusts, is looking out for the safety and well-being of the older driver. While such an arrangement would likely be legally non-binding, it does create the understanding between the driver and a trusted 3rd person that there may come a time when driving is no longer an option. For more on this concept, and organizations that have developed such advance directive documents, click here.