Driving Safety: When is it No Longer Safe to Drive Alone?

Driving Safety: When is it No Longer Safe to Drive Alone?

When you think of driving safety, some of the first things that come to mind are wearing your seatbelt, not driving under the influence, and following the laws and the rules of the road. But one crucial element that can’t be overlooked is ensuring you stop driving once it is no longer safe due to your age.

Many senior citizens are able to drive safely and regularly. But for every single person who drives, there comes a time when it might no longer be safe to drive alone or at all. The problem is, it can be difficult to make this decision until it’s too late or an accident or another event has occurred.

Driving Safety: Signs It’s No Longer Safe to Drive Alone

In this post, we’ll talk about this important driving safety topic and some signs to look for that it’s no longer safe to drive alone.

If you or someone you love is showing some of these signs, it’s time to reconsider whether driving alone or at all is still a smart choice.

If the driver is regularly getting lost and calling for help
When the driver begins having more accidents or near-accidents, including side-swiping other vehicles
Making unnecessary stops at green lights or other places where they do not need to stop
Running red lights and stop signs
Finding traffic signals increasingly confusing
If friends or family members are expressing concerns about your driving safety

(This post also covers other safe driving considerations you won’t want to miss)

Health Conditions that Impact Driving Safety

There are also several health conditions that can make driving safely a challenge for people, regardless of their age. However, many of these conditions, including vision loss, are associated with advanced age.

Keep in mind these conditions in and of themselves don’t necessarily mean someone can no longer drive alone. Instead, they indicate it’s something to watch that could pose a risk down the road.

Here are some of those health conditions:

Vision loss
Hearing loss
Arthritis (this can slow a driver’s reaction time)
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s and dementia
Stroke
Diabetes
Conditions that require medications that can impact driving ability (including those with a sedative effect)

(Read about the benefits of hiring a professional driving service in Phoenix here)

Alternatives to giving up driving

When it comes to deciding not to drive anymore, it isn’t necessarily an all-or-nothing decision. For example, if you notice you get lost or scared when driving at night, you could start by giving up this practice but still driving during daylight hours.

Depending on your particular circumstances, other alternatives include:

Always having someone else in the car with you
Not driving in bad weather
Only traveling short distances/to places near your home
Staying off of expressways
Sticking to familiar routes and roads

The Safest Option: Professional Driving Services

Another option we encourage drivers of all ages to consider is enlisting the help of professional driving services. That way, you can be sure you’re in safe, capable, and professional hands.

For example, if you find it difficult and overwhelming driving to and from the airport, this is a prime example of when a Phoenix driving service proves incredibly useful. The drivers will expertly (and safely) get you to and from your destination.

(If you are planning on taking driving services to or from an airport, here are some things to look for in the company you hire)

You might also consider hiring these services for your parents, yourself, or anyone whose driving safety is a topic of concern. But of course, it isn’t only driving safety that calls for these services! They are simply more convenient and comfortable than virtually any other alternative.

Would you like to learn about the services, including non-emergency medical transportation, that we offer?

Learn about Medical Car Service Here!.

Did you learn a lot about driving safety in this post? Here are three more posts to read next: