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Last updated: March 6, 2025

How to Tell Older Adults to Stop Driving

Help the older adult in your life maintain their safety as well as their independence.

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One of the hardest aspects of approaching old age is the loss of independence. With the onset of various medical issues, both physical and cognitive, some older adults lose everyday capabilities they once had. Driving is a prime example. Diseases like arthritis and dementia make driving difficult and unsafe, so it’s up to family, friends, and healthcare providers to make sure people with those conditions aren’t behind the wheel. But how can you approach such a delicate topic effectively?

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How to Talk to Seniors About When to Stop Driving

Once you’ve determined a senior driver in your life is no longer safe to drive, take these steps for the big talk.

Choose Someone to Start the Conversation

Choose someone to lead the conversation who has the older adult’s best interests and safety at heart, knows their physical capabilities, and has seen them drive regularly. For 50 percent of older, married adults, that person is their spouse. For 14 percent, it’s an adult child, and for 27 percent, it’s a physician. Unmarried adults prefer to have this talk with their doctors (41 percent) and their adult children (31 percent), according to a study from The Hartford (which underwrites AARP car insurance) and MIT.1

Plan Ahead

It’s best to have a one-on-one conversation rather than confront the older adult with their entire family. Choose a time of day when the person will be the most relaxed and have the conversation in stages over a period of time. For example, you can start the conversation long before any issues (like hitting a curb) come up by asking a question like, “How will you know when it’s time to stop driving?”

Ask Questions and Give Your Reasons

Ask the older adult questions such as the following:

  • Are you concerned about driving?
  • Do your medications cause any side effects?
  • Has your driving changed at all recently?
  • How is your vision?
  • When was the last time you visited the eye doctor?

Once they respond, you can show them how an ailment like vision impairment can worsen their driving abilities.

Be Encouraging and Supportive

Your goal is to ensure the older adult’s safety without taking away their sense of independence. To prevent them from feeling attacked, don’t make demands or tell them they are a dangerous driver. Rather, focus on their medical conditions or your own experiences with their driving skills instead of their age.

TIP:

Use “I” instead of “you” statements. For example, it’s better to say, “I am worried about your driving” versus “You are not a safe driver.”

Offer Transportation Options

There are many ways for older adults to travel that don’t involve them getting behind the wheel:

  • Public transportation
  • Taxis
  • Carpooling with a family member or friend
  • Rideshares like Lyft or Uber
  • Walking, if the distances are within their capabilities
  • County transportation services, which you can find via your local Area Agency on Aging & Disability at https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx2

Suggest Testing

The older adult may want to test their driving abilities for themselves. There’s no single test that will determine whether someone is a safe driver, so we suggest using a combination of the following tests.

  • NHTSA self-assessment: This is an easy online self-assessment from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It asks the senior driver about their vision, reaction times, physical fitness, and other factors that impact driving abilities. Find it at https://www.nhtsa.gov/older-drivers/driving-safely-while-aging-gracefully#driving-safely-while-aging-gracefully-self-assessment.
  • Physical and cognitive exams: A qualified doctor can perform these exams and tell the older adult whether they should continue to drive or not.
  • Driving evaluation: An occupational therapist can assess the older adult’s driving skills and show them how to drive more safely. For some, this could involve exercising more, placing special equipment in their car, or avoiding certain types of driving, like driving at night. Find an occupational therapist from the American Occupational Therapy Association via https://myaota.aota.org/driver_search/index.aspx.
  • Vision and hearing tests: Many states actually require vision tests at license renewals. See below for your state’s laws surrounding older adults and license renewals.3
StateProof of adequate vision required at renewal?License renewal cycle in years
AlabamaNoAll ages: 4
Alaska69 and older: every renewalAll ages: 5
ArizonaEvery renewal65 and older: 5
ArkansasEvery other renewal70 and older: 4 or 8
California70 and older: every renewalAll ages: 5
ColoradoEvery renewalAll ages: 5
ConnecticutNo65 and older: 2
DelawareEvery renewalAll ages: 8
District of ColumbiaEvery renewalAll ages: 8
Florida80 and older: every renewal80 and older: 6
GeorgiaEvery renewalAll ages: 8
HawaiiEvery renewal72 and older: 2
IdahoEvery renewal63 and older: 4
Illinois75 and older: every renewal81-86: 2

87 and older: 1

Indiana75 and older: every renewal75-84: 3

85 and older: 2

Iowa70 and older: every renewal78 and older: 2
KansasEvery renewal65 and older: 4
KentuckyEvery renewalAll ages: 4 or 8
Louisiana70 and older: every renewalAll ages: 6
Maine62 and older: every renewal65 and older: 4
Maryland40 and older: every renewalAll ages: 8
Massachusetts75 and older: every renewalAll ages: 5
MichiganWhen renewing in personAll ages: 4
MinnesotaEvery renewalAll ages: 4
MississippiNoAll ages: 4 or 8
MissouriEvery renewal70 and older: 3
MontanaEvery renewal75 and older: 4
Nebraska72 and older: every renewalAll ages: 4
Nevada71 and older: every renewal65 and older: 4
New HampshireEvery renewalAll ages: 5
New JerseyEvery 10 years70 and older: 2 or 4
New Mexico75 and older: every renewal71-78: 4

79 and older: 1

New YorkEvery renewalAll ages: 8
North CarolinaEvery renewal66 and older: 5
North DakotaEvery renewal78 and older: 4
Ohio65 and older: every renewal65 and older: 4
OklahomaNoAll ages: 4 or 8
Oregon50 and older if renewing in personAll ages: 8
PennsylvaniaNo65 and older,: 2 or 4
Rhode IslandEvery renewal75 and older: 2
South CarolinaEvery renewalAll ages: 8
South Dakota65 and older: every renewalAll ages: 5
TennesseeNoAll ages: 8
Texas79 and older: every renewal85 and older: 2
Utah65 and older: every renewalAll ages: 8
VermontNoAll ages: 2 or 4
Virginia75 and older: every renewal75 and older: 5
WashingtonEvery renewal6 or 8 years, personal choice
West VirginiaEvery renewalAll ages: 8
WisconsinEvery renewalAll ages: 8
WyomingEvery renewalAll ages: 5

What to Do If They Refuse to Stop Driving

If you’ve done all of the above and the older adult refuses to stop driving, you have two options:

  1. Report them to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) anonymously. The DMV may require them to take the driving test again, and if they fail, will take away their license.
  2. Have their doctor report them to the DMV.4

Warning Signs of an Unsafe Driver

Unsure whether or not the older adult in your life should keep driving? Look for these red flags.

  • Difficulty changing and staying in lanes
  • Hitting curbs
  • Scrapes or dents on their car
  • Driving above or under the speed limit5
  • Increased car insurance costs due to a bad driving record
  • Getting lost in areas they should be familiar with
  • Being pulled over and warned about their driving behavior
  • Multiple moving violations, close calls, or crashes in the past few years
  • Being advised by a doctor or healthcare worker to stop driving
  • Running red lights and stop signs
  • Two or more warnings or tickets in the past two years
  • Receiving comments from friends and neighbors about unsafe driving and road rage
  • Anxiety about nighttime driving6

Health Issues That Impact Driving Abilities

Many medical conditions make driving safely difficult, if not impossible.

Arthritis

Stiff muscles and joints can make it harder for drivers to hit the brakes and gas pedals, turn the steering wheel, and turn their heads to check blind spots.

Cardiovascular Disease

Someone at risk of a heart attack could die suddenly at the wheel, injuring or killing others if they lose control of the vehicle.

Dementia

With later-stage dementia, older adults may have trouble making decisions while driving, as their memory is significantly affected.

Hearing Impairment

An older adult with hearing issues may be unable to hear horns or sirens coming from outside the car or noises from mechanical issues inside the vehicle.

Parkinson’s Disease

Uncontrollable movements and loss of balance and coordination make driving unsafe for those with Parkinson’s disease.

Vision Impairment

Someone with glaucoma, macular degeneration, or cataracts may find it hard to see things outside of their direct sight lines. They’ll take longer to read traffic and street signs, and they’ll have trouble recognizing familiar places. Nighttime driving will become more challenging, but even during the day, headlights and street lights will create glare, and the sun may blind them.

Sleep Apnea

Someone with sleep apnea may be very sleepy during the day, resulting in drowsy driving that increases the risk of motor vehicle crashes.7

Stroke

Strokes cause people to lose control of their limbs and movements, affecting their control of the car.

Medications

Some medications cause drowsiness. All drivers should ask their doctor or pharmacist if they can drive safely before taking a drug.

Why Seniors Want to Keep Driving

Seniors, including aging parents, typically like to keep driving to maintain their independence, get around conveniently, and not have to pay for public transportation or rideshares. If it’s deemed safe for them to still be behind the wheel, check out our driving guide for older adults before you hand over the car keys.

Senior Driving Statistics

Using the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database, where the most recent data is from 2020, we looked into how well older adults over the age of 65 drive compared to the rest of the population.

DID YOU KNOW?

2022 data from the Federal Highway Administration shows that drivers 65 and older make up 14 percent of all licensed drivers in the U.S.8

Are Seniors Good at Driving?

One harmful stereotype about seniors is they’re bad at driving, when the truth is their driving varies on an individual basis. As a population, senior drivers are actually underrepresented in car crashes, as of 2020 data. That year, senior drivers made up 22 percent of all licensed drivers but only 18 percent of fatal crashes and 17 percent of injury-only and property damage-only crashes each.

Frequency of car accidents, 2020Fatal crashInjury-only crashProperty damage-only crash
Number of car accidents involving a driver 65 and older6,494271,209604,170
Total number of car accidents35,7661,593,3903,621,681
Percent of car accidents involving a driver 65 and older18%17%17%

On top of that, senior drivers are getting safer, with senior driving deaths on the decline for decades, according to data from the National Safety Council.9 Traffic fatality rates for those 65 and older decreased by 10 percent from 2019 to 2020 alone, although part of that could be the result of national stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

YearTotal traffic fatality rate per 100,000 U.S. adults 65 and older
199922.36
200021.38
200121.32
200221.59
200321.01
200420.50
200520.14
200619.00
200718.67
200816.89
200915.75
201016.00
201115.90
201215.74
201315.07
201414.80
201515.35
201616.03
201715.99
201815.49
201915.72
202014.20

The Time of Day Crashes Happen the Most

Many seniors self-regulate by deciding not to drive at night. However, 82 percent of crashes involving seniors occur during the day (keep in mind that most driving occurs during the day).

Time of day for crashes involving a driver 65 and older, 2020Fatal crashInjury-only crashProperty damage-only crash
Daytime4,652217,263499,163
Nighttime1,80253,947105,007
Unknown40n/an/a
Total6,494271,210604,170

That said, 28 percent of fatal crashes involving older drivers occurred at night, compared to only 20 percent of injury-only crashes and 17 percent of property damage-only crashes.

Speeding

Teen drivers speeding is a huge issue, but that isn’t the case for many seniors in accidents. Only 4 percent of all older adult crashes involved speeding. That number went up to 18 percent for fatal crashes, however.

Crashes that involved a driver 65 and older, 2020FatalInjury-onlyProperty damage-only
Involved speeding1,1752,33734,901
Did not involve speeding5,319247,873569,269
Total6,494250,210604,170

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving includes talking on the phone, texting, and even eating — any activity that gets your mind (and hands) off the wheel. In 2020, 9 percent of fatal crashes with a driver aged 65 and older involved distracted driving.

Involved a distracted driver aged 65 and older, 2020Fatal crash
Yes582
No5,912
Total6,494

Data on distracted driving is not available for injury- or property damage-only crashes.

Drowsy Driving

In 2020, only 2 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes involving older adults also included a drowsy driver.

Involved a drowsy driver aged 65 and older, 2020Fatal crash
Yes99
No6,395
Total6,494

Weather Conditions

Bad weather isn’t the cause of most crashes among seniors in the U.S. Across the board, nearly three-quarters of crashes occurred during normal weather.

Weather condition for crashes with U.S. adults ages 65 and above, 2020Fatal crashInjury-only crashProperty damage-only crash
No adverse atmospheric conditions/clear/cloudy7,149278,856561,602
Cloudy1,35057,629119,769
Rain (mist)72132,65965,259
Snow1034,9039,950
Fog, smog, smoke761,4142,303
Severe crosswinds278741,019
Unknown/not reported75100
Blowing snow454566
Freezing rain, drizzle7176216
Other102940
Sleet, hail (freezing rain or drizzle)1200
Blowing sand, soil, dirt200
Total10,212376,859760,684

Although some senior drivers should certainly stop driving, as a population, they are less likely to get into a crash than other age groups.

Conclusion

Asking a senior to stop driving isn’t easy. You want to keep them safe, but also help them maintain their independence. The guidance provided above can be useful. To learn more, check out our frequently asked questions below.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age do most seniors give up driving?

Most seniors give up driving by age 85. According to U.S. Census estimates and 2022 data from the Federal Highway Administration, only 34 percent of U.S. adults ages 85 and older are licensed drivers.

What should you not say to an elderly parent?

Do not tell an elderly parent they are a dangerous or unsafe driver, as this can make them feel attacked.

What is the most common mental disorder in elderly people?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, these are the most common mental disorders in elderly people:

  • Anxiety
  • Severe cognitive impairment
  • Mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder

All of these can affect one’s driving abilities.

Do you have to do a driving test at age 80?

You do not have to do a driving test at age 80 if you’re already a licensed driver. In fact, you are not required to pass a driving test to renew your license in any state regardless of your age. However, if someone reports you as an unsafe driver to the DMV, the agency may require you to retake your driver’s test to maintain your license.

Aliza Vigderman
Written by:Aliza Vigderman
Senior Writer & Editor
A seasoned journalist and content strategist with over 10 years of editorial experience in digital media, Aliza Vigderman has written and edited hundreds of articles on the site, covering everything from plan coverages to discounts to state laws. Previously, she was a senior editor and industry analyst at the home and digital security website Security.org, previously called Security Baron. She has also contributed to The Huffington Post, SquareFoot, and Degreed. Aliza studied journalism at Brandeis University.

Citations

  1. Overview of Dementia. The Hartford. (2023).
    https://s0.hfdstatic.com/sites/the_hartford/files/crossroads-appendices.pdf

  2. How to Talk to Seniors About Driving and Their Safety. Direct Auto Insurance. (2018, Feb 5).
    https://blog.directauto.com/driving/talk-seniors-driving-safety/

  3. License renewal procedures by state. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. (2023).
    https://www.iihs.org/topics/older-drivers/license-renewal-laws-table

  4. How to Talk to Your Aging Parents About Driving. Farm Bureau Financial Services. (2022, Oct 14).
    https://www.fbfs.com/learning-center/how-to-talk-to-your-aging-parents-about-driving

  5. We Need to Talk: The Difficult Driving Conversation. AARP. (2023).
    https://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety/when-to-stop-driving-in-older-age/

  6. Safe Driving for Older Adults. National Institute on Aging. (2023).
    https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/older-drivers

  7. Medical Conditions and Driving: A Review of the Literature (1960 – 2000). U.S. Department of Transportation. (2005, Sep).
    https://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/MedicalConditions_Driving.pdf

  8. Licensed Drivers by Age and Sex (In Thousands). U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. (2022, May 31).
    https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar7.htm

  9. Road Users: Older Drivers. National Safety Council. (2023).
    https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/older-drivers/