How to Tell When Elderly People Should Stop Driving in Utah

Driving rules vary by state, but a common issue is when older people should give up their keys.

Utahns often complain about strangers, teenagers and just plain reckless driving. I’ve seen my fair share of questionable drivers, and as tough as it may be, older people definitely qualify.

So how can we Utahns help figure out when our seniors should stop driving?

It’s simply a matter of the individual, but there are some signs that may indicate that a license needs to be restricted or revoked. The AAA said people are about 7-10 years past their driving prime. Older people are most likely to die or be injured. Excluding teenagers, the older age group has the highest accidental death rate per mile.

It can be difficult to ask Grandma or Grandpa to really see how they feel about their driving. No one really wants to have this conversation, but for their safety and that of others on the road, it’s important to do so.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said there were 8,572 traffic fatalities involving a person age 65 or older. This number hasn’t been this high since 1975.

The NHTSA provides several resources on how to drive safely with an illness and how to have difficult conversations, which I mentioned earlier.

So, Utahns, please take care of your seniors and make these difficult decisions with their safety and that of other road users in mind.