How can you stop an old parent from driving?

Answer 1

Getting your parent to stop driving is not insurmountable as it may seem. Throughout the entire process, keep in mind that the emotional issues are just as hard to deal with and also just as important to deal with as the official process of revoking a license permanently. Initially, talking to your parent about not driving anymore is usually met with resistance. The oldest generation in the US is very attached to the freedom of driving. They grew up with the thrill of cars being new in this country, remember. Try talking to your parent, gently bringing up the subject. Go for a short local ride with them and judge for yourself whether or not their driving skills have deteriorated. If so, and if they think they are as good a driver as they used to be, you might have to tackle this subject with the help of their doctors, who they usually see as an authority figure, and whose professional, medical opinion they might listen to more than yours. You also might ask your parent to take an AARP refresher course or even take a driving and eyesight test at the local motor vehicles office, to let them decide whether or not your parent is fit to drive. If none of those suggestions work, you can try the following: Each state has different rules, but a call to your local Dept of Motor Vehicles will help you sort out what is the process for revoking a license. In some states it is a medical evaluation form that you can print off your local office of motor vehicles' website and bring to your parent's doctor. The doctor fills it out and faxes it in to the Motor Vehicles office, and your parent will get a letter stating they have to turn in their license permanently in 30 days. Preparing your parent emotionally for this transition is very important. Not being able to get in the car and go wherever they want anymore can easily lead to depression and isolation. Before you do anything rash like suddenly getting their license revoked via their doctor, talk to your parent about stopping driving, find out what local transportation there is by calling the local senior center, the local bus system's office to ask about elder transportation, or use craig's list to find a part time driver. Be able to offer your parent reliable, safe transportation to and from the places they like to go every week and get them using it before they stop driving so they feel there is some leeway and freedom of choice. Sometimes that new form of transportation is cheaper than gas and parking and will give them a new found freedom to get to places they were a bit wary to drive to themselves.