INFORMATIVE MASTERCLASS
How Planning NOW Can Create a Lasting Legacy While Protecting What Matters Most:
Family, Wealth, and Property.
Reserve Your Spot Now

Kendall and Bexar County Estate Planning

Texas Estate Planning Blog

elder planning family
Shawn McCammon
Shawn McCammon
Attorney at Law

Shawn McCammon is the founder and managing shareholder of McCammon Law. Shawn has been practicing for over 20 years, starting off in litigation before working in-house as a corporate attorney, and finally opening his own firm in 2009.

Learn More About Shawn

When Is It Time For My Dad To Give Up The Car Keys?

March 20, 2020
Older drivers these days are keeping their licenses longer and logging more miles on their cars than in the past, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Nevertheless, fatal crash rates do tend to increase considerably after age 70 and reach their peak among drivers 85 and older.

Because the odds of a fatal crash go up significantly at 70, adult children want to make sure their elderly parents do not become part of those unfortunate statistics. Taking a proactive approach to making certain that a parent or other vulnerable adult is still fit to drive is the key, says AARP in its recent article entitled “Is It Time for Your Loved One to Retire From Driving?”

Many seniors derive a sense of freedom and independence—perhaps even a source of pride from driving—so it’s a sensitive subject. One option is to ask your parent’s physician to broach the subject. If your loved one's physician doesn't bring up the topic, ask her to address it.

It's really not realistic to expect your aging parent to hand over the car keys at the appropriate time. Some might, but others will refuse. Experts say that as we get older, we are apt to develop a more positive outlook on things. However, this gives us a false sense of security when it comes to things like driving. However, normal aging is linked with decreased reaction time, vision problems and hearing problems—all of which place them at greater risk.

Some medical conditions —like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, dementia, glaucoma and macular degeneration, Parkinson's disease and stroke — can compromise a senior's driving abilities. The more prescriptions a senior takes and the more medical conditions a senior has, the greater risk when a senior gets behind the wheel.

In addition to the safety of an aging parent and other drivers, a senior who drives but shouldn’t, may also put grandchildren at risk.

Some other reasons to be concerned about the senior’s driving abilities include driving too slowly or too fast, getting lost in the neighborhood, a recent car accident or close call, difficulties with parking, getting tickets for driving violations and running red lights or stop signs.

One way to gauge an aging adult’s driving capabilities is to run an errand with them. Some may also recognize some of the signs in themselves and realize that they’ve been feeling less confident driving under certain conditions.

You can always encourage your mother or father to have an older adult driving evaluation, which may be available at hospitals and administered by occupational therapists or driving rehab specialists. This evaluation won’t affect their driver’s license, which may ease a parent's reluctance to have one.

There are 33 states and DC that have special provisions for mature drivers. Some states require vision tests and might include in-person license renewals, more frequent renewals and road tests.

Reference: AARP (November 5, 2019) “Is It Time for Your Loved One to Retire From Driving?”

Request a Consultation
Share This Post
Request a free, in-office consultation today!
We will do whatever it takes to make your business grow and family thrive.
Request a Consultation Now
Stay Informed
Subscribe To Our eNewsletter to Get News and Updates Sent To Your Inbox
Subscribe Now
McCammon Law PC logo
We offer honest answers & free consultation appointments

Estate Planning Law Firm in Texas

Boerne/San Antonio Office

138 Old San Antonio Rd.
Suite 504
Boerne, TX 78006

McCammon Law, P.C.

138 Old San Antonio Rd., Suite 504
Boerne, TX 78006

Get Directions
IMS - Estate Planning and Elder Law Practice Growth Advisors
Powered by