When people age they lose the motor capabilities that they once had. We often hear on the news about an elderly person who has caused an accident while driving. Sometimes, this sparks a debate about when to tell an elderly person that he or she can no longer drive. Ideally, that will be before an accident, but it is not that simple.

A driver’s license represents freedom in a way. Without one, people often lack the capacity to do their own errands, especially if they live in rural areas without public transit. For someone who has always taken care of his or her own affairs, having to rely on someone else can be devastating. Seniors who lose or give up their licenses often go through a mourning process before they adjust. However, it is an issue that seniors and their family need to address. No one wants to cause an accident that could be potentially life-threatening for themselves or others.

If you are a senior, don’t drive if you can no longer react to events on the road. If you have an elderly family member who should not be driving, talk to them about giving up their license and take it one step further: offer to drive them around town to perform their normal daily routines.

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Ryan M. Denman and Dennis D. Duffy

Duffy Law Office, PLLC