Older drivers are safe drivers, but even with the best senior driving classes, newest car safety devices, most visible road signs and finest highways, there may come a time just to stop driving.

Dr. Adelle Williams, gerontology program coordinator at Slippery Rock University, cited some of the changes with aging that can influence driving and ultimately lead someone in their senior years to stop driving altogether.

“Their visual impairment is definitely No. 1,” said Williams. “They may have an inability to focus on near objects. They also have problems with depth perception.”

As people age their muscles become more rigid and less pliable. The muscles may be more susceptible to cramping. Consequently, controlling the car may be more difficult, Williams said.

She said cognitive issues of older adults also impact driving. They may forget where they are, how to turn on the ignition or where they are going.

“They have slower reaction times,” said Williams. “That’s part of the reason why you see them driving as slow as they do. They process information more slowly.”

She said that someone may need to stop driving if their medications alter judgment or consciousness or dull the senses.

“They have to stop if they have demonstrated that they are having repeated accidents,” Williams said.

Audrey Tristani, Social Services director for personal care at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, said giving up driving is not easy and that every situation is different.

“The biggest thing is the person feels like they’re losing their independence,” said Tristani. “They really want to get out.”

“Ultimately, if that person makes their own decision to quit driving, that’s the best option,” Tristani said.

To get to that point, Tristani said, look at the person’s activities.

“Where are they driving? Maybe they are going to the senior center or to church or to the store. How are they going to get there if they’re not driving?” Tristani said. “You don’t want to stop their socialization. That’s very important. Is there a bus available? Are there neighbors or their own children that are able to drive them to those places?”

Tristani recommends having a game plan for other transportation before talking to the person about their driving.

“You’re offering the alternative transportation right in the conversation,” said Tristani. “They may need a little time to think about this.”

Tristani said as people get older, they often do not like driving longer distances or in traffic.

This can open the door for a conversation.

“Maybe you could offer to take them, for example, to a doctor’s appointment further away and ask them while you’re out, ‘Does this frighten you to drive here?’”

She said a person may be afraid in traffic but also afraid to tell someone.

“Open the door to the conversation and see how they react,” Tristani said. “If they get real defensive, it may be that they do have concerns or fear that you are going to step in some day and take their keys away.”

Tristani said that someone close to them or whoever has the concern should be the one that has the conversation with the senior driver.

“If you have the conversation earlier, before it gets to a crisis situation, that’s always better for everybody,” she said.

Tristani suggested others can help the senior realize they need to stop driving.

“Their doctor or maybe their pastor could sit down with them and ask them, ‘Are you safe out there? Would you want to hurt somebody else?’” Tristani said. “Sometimes they don’t think about what they could do to someone else.”

“Driving gives them freedom, autonomy and independence,” Williams said. “They perceive themselves as functioning successfully when they can drive.”

Williams cautioned that not driving can increase stress, loneliness and depression and cause low self esteem. These issues may need to be addressed by health professionals.

“The loss of independence is a hard thing,” Tristani said. “It’s very hard for anyone.”