Is It Time to Give Up the Car?

Giving up driving, for all or part of the time, doesn't have to equal a loss of mobility. Transportation alternatives are available in your loved one's community, and may save money. Here is some information to share as you begin the conversation.

As we saw in the November 2009 issue of Choices, the normal physical changes of aging can make driving unwise beyond a certain point. Hearing loss, vision problems, decreased reaction time, memory loss, and lessened manual dexterity are all limitations that tend to increase as a person ages. There may come a point when any one of these conditions or a combination of several make it difficult and risky to keep driving.

Some older drivers become increasingly nervous about their driving ability, and consequently become less mobile in the community. Some keep driving until an incident occurs—a scare, a minor accident, or worse—and then quit driving abruptly, without having made plans for what they will do without the car. And others are in denial, refusing to face up to limitations until family members or the department of licensing step in.

It doesn't have to be that way. When a senior driver first begins to have concerns about driving, that is the time to begin planning a post-driving strategy. Think of this as just another challenge to be addressed, and then use your best problem-solving skills to come up with solutions to maintain independence.

Giving Up Driving Doesn't Mean Giving Up Mobility

The first thing seniors should do when considering becoming a non-driver is to add up what owning and maintaining a car costs. Car payments, insurance, repairs, gasoline, parking fees all these should go into the calculation. For most people, the total is considerable. Think of those dollars as money available for alternative transportation.

Keeping this "transportation allowance" in mind, seniors should consider these thoughts as they calculate the alternatives:

• Do you live on or near a bus or rapid transit route? If you've never explored your local bus, subway or light rail, check out the possibilities. Look for grocery stores, dry cleaners, other shopping possibilities along the route.
  
  
• Do you have family or friends who might enjoy giving you a ride to church, to your doctor's office, to the barber or beauty shop, on a weekly shopping trip?
  
  
• Is there special transportation for seniors in your area? Where will they take you? How convenient is it? How much lead time is needed to use this service?
  
  
• How much do cab rides cost to your usual destinations? Will a cab company take "standing assignments" on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis? Once you have figured out how the first three modes of transportation will work for you, use taxi cabs to fill in the blanks.
  
  
• Don't forget walking! We often get in the habit of driving, even though some local destinations are close enough to provide a little extra exercise.

Take advantage of planning for being a non-driver if that time comes. Be proactive; don't wait for circumstances to make decisions for you. If you're honest with yourself, you will know when you need to begin making plans. Giving yourself an extra margin of safety is the right thing to do for other drivers on the road, and it can, above all, be a gift to yourself and your family.

With this kind of planning, many seniors lose their anxiety over giving up driving. It still may not be easy, but having a workable plan for getting where they want to go is a major step forward.

What's the Role of Family?

Don't let the topic of driving safety become a "taboo" subject in your family. Seniors have the right to make their own decisions as long as they're able, including the decision to keep driving. But family members have the right—and the responsibility—to be concerned about the safety of their loved one, and of strangers who might be hurt in an accident. There is obvious potential for conflict here, but you shouldn’t let it reach that point. Be willing to talk candidly about the issue, and be open to some risk-reducing compromises. Work together to create a plan that respects while it protects.

For More Information

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) offers information and resources for seniors and families.

The Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (CanDRIVE) is a national research program working to extend the safe driving period as Canada's population ages. The CanDRIVE website includes contact information for each province and territory, where seniors and their loved ones can learn more about driving safety and transportation alternatives for seniors.