The Driving Decision
How to help your parent plan for the road ahead.
Letting go of the independence that driving represents isn’t easy for older adults who need to preserve autonomy.
And no one wants to stop driving because someone else thinks they should.
Losing that control is painful, especially when it’s sudden because of an accident or health conditions that make driving too dangerous.
Also painful: a well-intentioned “we need to talk” moment that escalates into a confrontation over why you want mom or dad to hand over the keys.
This is how many families end up dealing with the driving dilemma. But there’s a better way.
What if you could talk to your parent about driving as part of a strategy to keep them safe behind the wheel as long as possible — and help them transition to other transportation options when it’s time?
Think of it as driving retirement planning.
That’s the big idea behind Plan for the Road Ahead from the Older Adult Driver Initiative at East Carolina University.
Plan for the Road Ahead outlines a practical and positive way to navigate a sensitive topic that many of us — and our parents — avoid.
You’ll find helpful resources and tools for insights about your parent’s driving skills, transportation needs, and emotional readiness for change.
You’ll also learn which pros to consult for expert opinions and advice about your parent’s driving fitness.
Finally, there’s excellent advice about how to start talking to mom or dad about their driving and how to keep that conversation moving.
But if you don’t want to do any of that, at least do this:
Check out this one-page Driver Planning Agreement from AAA and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
It’s a simple conversation starter that puts your parent in the driver’s seat of a collaborative approach that respects their need for control, your need for peace of mind, and everyone’s need for safety.
For More:
- When and How to Talk About Driving Safety
- Plan for the Road Ahead (ECU)
- Driver Planning Agreement (AAA)
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