Several Aging drivers They are signing contracts to determine when their time behind the wheel ends.
These “advance directives” help protect driver safety and make often difficult decisions easier for families.
Louis Morgenstern, 61, Neurology, Neurosurgery; emergency medical care The University of Michigan professor plans to sign such an agreement when he turns 65, KFF Health News reported.
When should older drivers stop driving?
According to the directive, Morgenstern will always stop driving when the children decide it's time.
“I recognize that at some point I may not be making the best driving decisions, and I want to make it clear that I trust my children to take over that responsibility.” Morgenstern told KFF Health News.
According to the American Automobile Association via KFF Health News, as of 2021, there were nearly 50 million people over the age of 65 with a driver's license, an increase of 38% from 2012. (St. Petersburg)
Morgenstern is also a co-author of a study published in November 2023 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study measured the driving behavior of 635 people with the following symptoms: cognitive dysfunction.
“We know that at some point you may not be making the best driving decisions.”
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that 61% of older adults with cognitive impairment still drive a car, despite 36% of their caregivers having concerns about their ability to drive.
“There's definitely a group of people who drive who say they shouldn't because they're dangerous to themselves and others,” Morgenstern said.
Risks associated with driving for the elderly
The data shows that the risks are increasing. As of 2021, approximately 50 million people aged 65 and over driver's licenseThat's a 38% increase from 2012, according to the American Automobile Association.
About 19 million of them were over 75 years old.
KFF Health News reports that some seniors are signing contracts regarding when they will give up their car keys. (St. Petersburg)
From 2012 to 2021. Death due to car accident The rate of involvement involving drivers 65 and older increased by 34%. The number of elderly people injured in car accidents in the same year exceeded 266,000 in 2021, KFF Health News reported.
Some of the greatest risks exist for older drivers who develop medical conditions that interfere with their ability to drive, such as dementia. parkinson's diseaseglaucoma, arthritis.
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“Among the bigger safety concerns are unrecognized fender benders,” Tina Pfaff, president of Bix Driving School in Western Hills, Ohio, told Fox News Digital.
“Of course, it could be a mailbox or a utility pole, but it could also be a car or a pedestrian.”
Driving at night can also be dangerous because older drivers have slower visual processing speeds, he noted.
According to experts, older people are at a higher risk of injury if they are involved in an accident. (St. Petersburg)
Getting lost while driving is also common among older drivers, said Pfaff, who heads the Bix Driver Rehabilitation Program. Evaluate the driving skills of older people and decide whether they should be “retired” from driving vehicles.
Nigel Tannacliffe, co-founder and CEO of California-based national driving school Coastline Academy, pointed out some of the biggest dangers associated with older drivers.
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They include: hearing loss, difficulty in fully enjoying the surrounding environment, high risk of injury in the event of an accident, use of an older model of car, lack of experience behind the wheel, etc., can lead to the sudden death of an elderly person due to the loss of a spouse. is often a factor. He was the only driver, he pointed out.
“There is no single universal age”
Tannacliffe told Fox News Digital that there is no “single, universal age” at which people should stop driving.
“In many cases, it's not something that can be determined in advance. For example, we can't say for sure that you should automatically and voluntarily stop driving as soon as you turn 75.”
He added: “It's entirely plausible and common that they continue to be competent and capable drivers at that age.”
Driving experts suggest that families make driving decisions based on a “real-world, objective assessment” of how the individual is behind the wheel. (St. Petersburg)
Tancliff acknowledged the effects of aging, including: vision losshearing loss and reduced motor skills can make driving more dangerous, but not everyone experiences these limitations at the same age.
Rather than setting an arbitrary date in advance, Tancliffe recommends that families base their decision on a “real, objective assessment” of the situation with the person behind the wheel.
“We cannot say with certainty that you should automatically and voluntarily stop driving as soon as you turn 75.”
“For example, having older adults take refresher courses not only helps them better decide when to stop driving, but also improves their driving skills more generally. “I have decided to share the evaluation with my family and end my driving career,” he told FOX News Digital.
Type of operating contract
There are different types of advance driving instructions.
“People ask people their names. family member “I have friends and friends who can talk to me about whether it's safe to continue driving,” KFF Health News said.
This type is not legally binding.
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In another type of agreement, a family member agrees to help the person continue driving in a safe manner or to help the person find alternative transportation.
The Alzheimer's Society has announced a non-binding directive encouraging people living with dementia to nominate someone to alert them to driving-related concerns as the disease progresses.
Part of the contract states: “I understand that I may forget that I can no longer drive and try to continue driving. Please know that I support all actions taken, including removing or disabling my vehicle, to ensure my safety and the safety of others. ”
One expert told Fox News Digital that age-related effects such as poor eyesight, hearing loss and decreased motor skills can make driving more dangerous. (St. Petersburg)
Ms Pfaff said she thought advance directives were a “great idea” but was concerned that people with memory loss might not remember signing them.
“But it's evidence for families dealing with disgruntled adult drivers,” she says.
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Mr. Pfaff proves that these types of contracts can be helpful if the driver signs them in sound mind, but in some cases, memory-impaired parents may think it's a “hoax” or “everyone told me He warned that there was a possibility that the government would think that “I am against it.” These are objections she hears often, she says.
“There are definitely groups out there who are driving cars, but they shouldn't be driving cars because they're a danger to themselves and others.”
To minimize conflict and uncertainty, Pfaff recommends getting a formal evaluation from a third-party driving rehabilitation specialist to “take the family out of the family.”
Tancliffe also recommends enrolling older drivers in annual driving classes and having open conversations about their cognitive and physical abilities.
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“It is important that the contract model does not challenge misleading assumptions and prejudices about older drivers and adopts a more pragmatic approach that respects both driver safety and autonomy.” Stated.
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