Here in America, we’re in love with our cars.  Getting your first car ranks right up there with other milestone events, like getting your first job and getting married.  There are many areas where driving is the norm and using public transportation is the exception – especially in rural areas where there may be no access to public transportation.  But there comes a time when age robs us of our ability to drive safely.  For different people, this comes at different times.  Whether you’re a senior citizen or are concerned about a family member, it helps to have some objective criteria to know when it’s time to hang up the keys.

Perhaps the most obvious place to begin is vision.  As we age, our eyes lose their ability to change focus quickly and we need better lighting to see.  Many illnesses, including cataracts and diabetes, also rob us of our vision.  Every senior who’s still driving should have an annual eye exam.  During that exam, ask the doctor if your vision is sufficient to allow you drive.  Ask not just about legal requirements, but about your own safety and that of others.  Your doctor may recommend that you limit driving at night, for example, even if you can still meet the legal requirements for your state.  If you have cataracts, consider cataract surgery – this can make a significant difference in your ability to see.

However, when you’re driving, you need to do more than just see – you need to be able to process that information to judge depth and distance.  If you have trouble judging how close you are to another car, for example, it may be time to limit your driving.

Your mental capacity is also an important consideration.  Are you able to make decisions quickly?  Are you still able to quickly assess situations?  Does your mind wander or do you have trouble concentrating?  The answers to these questions can help you decide if it’s still safe for you to drive.

Next, consider your mobility.  Do you have enough range of motion to manage the steering wheel and to turn your head to look over your shoulder when backing up?  Do your feet and legs respond quickly when it’s time to switch from the gas pedal to the brake pedal?  If your physical mobility is impaired, it may be time to give up driving.

In addition, senior citizens are often on a variety of medications.  Many of these can cause drowsiness, and driving while sleepy is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.  Whenever you start a new medicine, you should avoid driving until you know how that medication affects you – which typically takes about three to four days.  If you’re on a medication that causes you to be drowsy or slows your reaction time, talk to your doctor to see if there’s an alternative that doesn’t affect you.

As we age, it also sometimes becomes more difficult for us to hear, so an evaluation of your hearing should be part of your annual physical examination.  If you have trouble hearing, you could miss important warning cues while driving, such as the approach of an emergency vehicle or train or a friendly honk warning you of an oncoming car.

Each of these criteria should be evaluated individually, and then taken together as a whole.  It may be that you have only slight deficiencies in each of these categories, but when taken together, it’s no longer safe for you to drive.  If you’re having trouble being objective, ask a trusted friend or family member for their opinion.  And when in doubt, for your own safety and the safety of those you love, don’t drive.

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