How to Know When to Hand Over the Car Keys

During the past year, I had to take the car keys away from my father in law and my mother.  Both of them were in their 80's and their judgement decisions were not the same anymore.  Needless to say that this caused a good deal of stress for all parties.  My mother in law claimed that my father in law was an excellent driver.  However, several minor accidents to his car proved otherwise.  I went from being the great son in law to the scourge of the family.

Handing over the car keys is tough for two reasons.  First, the loss of freedom to travel is reduced.  Second, it is an admittance of weakness in judgement because of age.

When it comes to handing over the car keys, there are some important signs that will assist you in making this decision.  this article reviews those.

1.  Check your current driving record.  Have you had several moving violation tickets?  How many parking tickets have you gotten?  This could be a sign that it is time.

2.  Are you very conscientious about your driving ability?  In other words, are you being overly careful than you normally would?  This could show you a lack of confidence in your driving skill.

3.  How many close calls have you had with another vehicle or pedestrian?  Eventually, close calls will turn into accidents.  Close calls also show a reduction in quick decisions.

4.  If a friend or family member brings it up, they might have noticed something that you are missing.  Others can often read our ability better than ourselves.

5.  Has your doctor mentioned anything or asked you any questions about your driving ability?  Doctors can quickly pick up a change in reflexes and decision making.

What You Can Do

1.  Stop driving at night or during rush hour traffic.

2.  Go for a driving assessment of your abilities behind the wheel.

3.  Shorten your trips.  Leave the long trips to other drivers, that are better than you.

4.  Have your grandchildren and children take you places.  This is a great way to bond with them and get to see them more often.

Remember:  As a driver you are ot only responsible for yourself but, for others on the road.

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