When to give up driving ...

Toomuchstuff

Toomuchstuff

Member
Location
Wisconsin
Do you still drive ? I've had my license since I was 16. I never really "liked" driving , but I loved the freedom ! I'm 62 now , and night driving is starting to bother me. I live and drive in the city and all those lights are starting to cause a glare that I don't like . I'm always willing to be the passenger if someone else drives !
I'm lucky enough to be within 30 minutes of every place I have to go,so I don't drive a lot. My father in law lived with me when he was 90 . He wanted to be independent - but on the road - he was an accident waiting to happen. He'd come home with dents in his car , and tell us someone hit him. ( we knew better )
Finally , with a lot of discussion and I'm sure some hurt feelings , he gave up his license. Did you ever have to go through this ?
 

When my mom faced this question after my sister pretty much ordered her to quit driving, I told her that she would know when it was time when the cars around her honked their horns to death and she saw many middle fingers. I also told her that I knew she could not deal with waiting too long and hurting another person on the road. Knowing how hard my mom had struggled for her independence, the end of driving had to be her decision, made easier with my support and understanding. She stopped about a month later on her own. No intelligent senior will endanger anyone else with their driving if they know they have options to maintain independence.
 
I recall having to help take the car keys away from my father-in-law. He was in his late 70s and was also, as it turned out, in the early stages of dementia. I've been driving for 54 years, and hope to drive another 10 (until I'm 80) and then I'd like to give the keys to someone else. God willing.
 

I've never cared much for driving. I like to go for rides but with someone else driving. If I were driving a lot, and my family told me to hand over the keys. I'm sure I would do it.
 
Personally I love driving. I particularly like going out on my own with my camera and exploring and stopping now and again to take a photo. It is a bit of a hobby really and we are lucky enough, living on the edge of the border with Scotland to have splendid scenery around here. Like Toomuchstuff though, night driving bothers me and has done for the last few years (I'm 67 shortly). I find a line of cars, for example, coming round a bend in the road with their headlights on - especially in the rain - completely disorientating and so I avoid it. That isn't easy in the north here where it gets dark by 3.30 in the winter!!
 
I don't mind driving around in my home town - population about 75,000, but I wouldn't drive in any of our big cities any more.

I have to undergo a medical next month when I turn 75, to ensure that I'm still fit to drive. I don't think I'll have any problems.

I don't drive at night any more.
 
As I have posted a while back, I voluntarily gave up driving in December due to no feeling in my right foot. Sold my car, cancelled my 3 A insurance and it's been UBER ever since. I took my 71st UBER ride since then just yesterday.
 
About the only time we go out at night is if there is an activity at the Rec Center, or if it is pleasant out we may put the top down and ride out to the beach.

Where we lived 16 years ago there was a lady that drove herself around and also gave dancing lessons. She was 92.

It is different for each of us.
 
One of the best drivers I've ever seen is a gentleman in his mid-90's who lives in my senior community. He sings in our chorus, and drove a group of (much younger) women down to the Armed Forces Retirement Home when we gave a concert there. It's in the heart of DC, not an easy drive, about 45 minutes from here. His driving was unerring, not too fast or too slow, and he knew exactly where to go. Riding in the back seat is not much fun, but I actually enjoyed this drive because of the skill of the driver.

So I guess there are no quick and easy answers. There is a lot of variation!
 
I still drive and hope to keep driving for many years to come, I'm in my mid-60s now. I'm not one that loves driving anywhere though, if we go out over the road, on mountain roads or remote dirt roads, I always prefer for my husband to drive, he is much more experienced and confident than I am in challenging situations, better sense of direction, etc. I like the freedom of being able to drive where I need to or want to at any time, and won't give that up unless I have physical disabilities that demand so.
 
I no longer drive at night and when invited out for dinner or entertainment at night, my friends know that the only way I will join then is if someone gives me a ride. Many years ago, I was a school bus driver and driver instructor, and all that training I gave to others still sticks with me... But, I know that mentally and physically, my skills are fading. I live within walking distance to town, so that's good. When my son tells me it's time to hang up the keys, I'll do it.

In the meantime, we take a couple of my vintage cars and go to "Rod Runs", and he has me drive the Starliner which is like a big boat. In fact, it can't be parked in town in parking spaces because it's just wa-a-ay too long. One of these days, he'll suggest we take only one car.. and then I'll be able to sit back and enjoy the views without worrying about, OOOPS, gotta watch the road!

 
My 91-year-old mother keeps saying "Now when you girls think it's time for me to stop driving, just tell me and I'll stop. I'll believe you."

She's really a good driver, but the day will come.....and I'm not looking forward to being the one who has to tell her.

My 94-year-old aunt, though, is NOT a good driver and luckily, may not be one much longer as someone ratted her out to the license bureau (we're pretty sure it was her doctor). She's been told to come in and take a driving test.
 

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