When Are You Too Old to Drive? Experts Weigh In

With Baby Boomers now in their 70s and 80s, there are more elderly drivers on the road now than ever before. And while statistically speaking, drivers over the age of 65 are far less likely to get into an accident than drivers under the age of 20, data is showing an increase in crash rates for adults over 70.

Of course, it’s no surprise that aging does make driving a car more difficult, especially at night and under stressful situations like heavy traffic. But there is no set age to stop driving. It all depends on an individual’s mental and physical health.

“There’s such a huge emotional impact for older adults as they face giving up driving,” says attorney Mike Agruss. “Some senior citizens seem to know when it’s time to call it quits. However, some feel that they’re losing their freedom, or may have limited access to public transportation. With the need to get to doctors’ appointments, it often leads to continuing to drive.”

Luckily, new services like Uber Health and senior transportation firms are helping shift that dialogue, so it’s no longer just about giving up the keys, but rather about how to transition safely and still have autonomy and quality of life, says driving solutions specialist Anam Barkan.

As you age, here’s how to gauge your safety on the road, understand your risks and driving limitations, and what steps to take to mitigate them.

Driving Risks as You Age

As we age, both our physical and cognitive health wain, and that negatively affects driving safety. Hearing and vision are two big issues. Beyond obvious problems like cataracts and macular degeneration, older eyes have decreased contrast sensitivity, which makes it harder for them to adapt to tricky driving conditions, like glare from headlights and rain. Our peripheral vision also gets worse, which makes us less likely to see cars in the lane next to us.

Our reaction times also decrease with age, which means we may not respond as quickly to hazards such as a child dashing out into the road or another vehicle suddenly cutting lanes, says Barkan. “On the cognitive side, even mild impairment can interfere with multitasking, spatial acuity and quick decision-making, all essential to navigate through busy intersections or unmapped roads,” she says.

Impairments like joint stiffness, arthritis and weakening muscles can also make the physical act of driving more difficult, especially with motions like turning one’s head to look for blind spots, hitting the brakes and making quick turns. Certain medications used to treat these conditions can also cause side effects like drowsiness, which jeopardize driving safety.

Tips for Driving Safely as You Age

For many drivers, it is possible to continue to drive safely with age. The keys to doing so include:

• Getting routine checkups for vision and hearing, and wearing corrective lenses or hearing aids if they’ve been recommended by a doctor.
• Regularly consulting with a doctor about whether your medications can cause drowsiness or confusion.
• Knowing your limitations and avoiding situations that make you uneasy, such as driving at night or during rush hour.
• Limiting driving to times when there are favorable conditions and staying on familiar routes.
• Following common safety practices, like reducing distractions.
• Installing adaptive equipment, such as wider mirrors and pedal extenders.
• Taking a senior driving course, such as the AARP Smart Driver program, which provides refreshers on traffic laws and vehicle technologies, plus can qualify you for insurance discounts.

“Physical exercise, especially in flexibility and strength training, can also help turn the head, glance over shoulders and stay alert while driving for long periods,” says Barkan.

Finally, it’s vital to be honest with yourself about your limitations. “Losing the independence of driving a car can be a hard thing to experience, but causing an accident is not worth the risk,” says Julie Bausch Lent, managing editor of Car Talk. “Making the safe choice is always the smart choice, in this case.”

How Old Is Too Old to Drive Safely?

The age to stop driving depends on your physical health and cognitive acuity. Some people drive well into their late 80s and 90s, while others might find driving to be risky by their 70s.

“A good benchmark is to look for warning signs like frequent close calls, getting lost in familiar areas or trouble staying in the correct lane,” says Bakan. “If these start happening, it’s time to reassess.”

About the Experts

• Anam Barkan is a driving solutions specialist and founder at HireGo Minibuses, a company that provides private and commercial chauffeur and minibus hire services in the UK.
• Julie Bausch Lent is managing editor of Car Talk, the digital content iteration of the long-running NPR show about all things automotive.
• Mike Agruss is CEO, founder and personal injury lawyer at 844SeeMike Personal Injury Lawyers, where he has dealt with many car accident cases.

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