John Ducker: How to know when it’s time to hang up the keys
In your 70s and beyond, you are more likely to be involved in an accident than any other age group, except for those 25 and under
I knew recently that something was wrong with the car in front of me.
It was clear and dry and there wasn’t much traffic but we were going 40-45 km/h and then suddenly down to 25-30.
Arriving at a red light, the car pulled over the crosswalk with its nose poking out slightly into the intersection. The traffic light turned green. Nothing has happened.
Three to four seconds later he pulled away abruptly – turned left but headed for the right curb – then corrected too sharply to the left and easily crossed the center line.
The pattern of slowing to 25-30, followed by a sudden jump back to 50, continued for several more blocks, as did several midline crossovers. When the road finally doubled, I was able to pull alongside.
The driver was a woman, maybe in her late eighties. She was clutching the steering wheel, looking uncomfortable, even nervous.
The traffic light turned green and I drove off. She was still sitting there, looking straight ahead at the same light I had just walked through. Finally she moved away – quickly at first, then very slowly again.
I can’t say for sure, but she didn’t look drunk or distracted. Whatever was going on in that car, the woman was at the limit of her ability to drive — and probably beyond.
In this region in particular, the question of the rights and obligations of older drivers is a delicate one.
The car is the ultimate form of mobility in our society and denying someone the ability to drive is life changing.
In a family context, we’re lucky when an elderly loved one realizes they shouldn’t be traveling anymore, but that doesn’t always happen. Everyone knows a senior who has no idea about their current ability to drive and often completely denies the problem.
On the other side of the coin, there are seniors who drive better than many young people, and it’s the family that is sometimes unfairly pushing to get them off the road. I know of instances where this was done so a family member could get their hands on a neat classic car.
When is it time to hang up the keys? That’s a tough question because we all age differently. Statistically, when we reach 70, we move into a different risk category. In your 70s and beyond, you are more likely to be involved in an accident than any other age group, except for those 25 and under.
I do not believe that physicians should be the sole decision makers for fitness to drive, and the automotive system should not put them in that position. But the documents still have an important role to play. People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, hearing and vision problems, stroke survivors and some diabetics are candidates for additional assessments of their ability to drive.
If a person’s medical fitness becomes a cornerstone of safety, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have MSP take over the driver’s medical test once you’re 80 years old. Many seniors still need to drive in these later years to maintain a social life. to run errands for a disabled partner or to visit healthcare providers.
Paying for the costs of an obligatory test is not unreasonable, especially for regular earners, and must be weighed against the loss of freedom and the costs of loneliness and social isolation.
What are some warning signs that might tell you it’s time to hang up the keys?
• Insurance costs. I’ve had relatives pay more than $7,000 a year to insure their only car because of the accumulation of driving points and accidents. When the system starts punishing you seriously, it might be time to give up your license.
• Family members do not allow you to take their children as passengers. Or family members themselves refuse to ride with you.
• You are constantly being honked at by other drivers on the road or receiving harsh feedback.
• You can no longer turn your head to control turns or lane changes on your shoulder. If you rely on your mirrors alone, a collision is only a matter of time.
• You have difficulty judging distances. If you frequently slam on the brakes to get to a stop, your vision, and maybe even your mental awareness, isn’t up to par.
• You become increasingly lost or lost.
As Canadian society is aging rapidly, it is time to have serious conversations about providing seniors with alternatives to the loss of vehicle mobility, balanced with increased awareness and honest, direct input to those seniors in our lives who may need to seriously consider hanging up the keys.