Many of us have known someone who “doesn’t drive as well as they used to” and we wonder how long they’ll keep driving, or who is going to do something about it. Most of these situations pertain to elderly drivers.
The odds of being in an auto accident increase as we age. The Michigan State Police have found that fatality rates are 17 times greater for drivers over the age of 65 than for drivers between the ages of 25-64. Insurance companies have enough data to justify increasing our insurance costs the older we get.
In Michigan, “the system” isn’t built to monitor elderly drivers. Doctors and Optometrists aren’t obligated to report a patient who shouldn’t be driving. Auto insurance agents can’t refuse coverage based on their beliefs that someone isn’t physically fit to drive. The state requires vision testing only every 12 years, and vision testing is not based on age. And with more driver license renewals happening via mail and the state’s online system, fewer people go to the state facilities to get tested.
This means it is up to family and friends to recognize the warning signs and intervene. Some signs that it could be time for “the conversation” include: frequent close calls or fender-benders, difficulty at intersections, slow reaction time, getting lost on familiar routes, physical limitations, vision issues, and medication side effects.
The situation might not require handing over the keys. It could be something like no freeway driving, no nighttime driving, no driving during rush hour, or going to the Secretary of State for an evaluation. Many seniors do a reasonable job sizing up their own driving abilities and self-impose driving restrictions. If the conversation is going nowhere, a potential last step may involve submitting a “Request for Driver Evaluation” for a loved one to the state. Google it. The instructions are pretty good.
The absence of a state system designed to better monitor the ability of our senior community to drive means Michigan families must take the lead. Just as we protect loved ones in other areas of life, helping an elderly driver step back from the wheel when the time is right is one of the hardest—and most loving—responsibilities we face. Contact us for more information.
