Making the decision to stop driving
Senior drivers are as safe as other age groups on the road and do not represent a major road safety risk compared with younger age groups. That’s why retaining a driver licence in Victoria is determined by your medical fitness to drive, not your age.
Driving is very important for seniors because it provides freedom and independence and enables you to maintain your quality of life.
However, the time will come when it is simply not possible to continue driving safely. If you carry on driving when it is no longer safe to do so, you would be putting yourself, and other people (your passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and people in other vehicles) at risk.
This means you need to be aware of the physical and cognitive changes that come as you get older which can affect your driving ability. When deciding whether to reduce or stop driving, it may be time to give up driving if:
You feel less confident and worry more about driving than you used to.
You get lost on roads that you know well.
Your reactions are noticeably slower than they used to be.
You find it difficult to judge speed and distance.
You have had several near misses lately.
Your passengers are concerned about your driving.
You have a medical condition that might affect your driving; see the health and driving section for more advice.
Your eyesight is getting worse.
Start planning today
When you are suddenly confronted with the likelihood that it is no longer possible to drive safely, it often comes as a great shock and can bring on feelings of isolation and depression. Living without a licence can lead to a greater dependence on others, such as family members and friends, which in turn can impose unwanted pressures on your relationships.
Many factors come into play when making the decision to move on from driving, like the development of medical conditions over time or a medical episode that requires you to stop driving suddenly.
Retiring from driving does not mean that you will lose your freedom and mobility, as there are many alternatives to driving. Start planning as soon as possible if you need to (or decide to) reduce or stop driving so you can continue to live your life with the independence driving afforded you.
When you start thinking about your future transport needs, consider the following:
What alternative transport options are available where you live now? Think about family and friends who can drive you, the location of public transport, the ease of walking, availability of community transport, and access to taxis and ride-share vehicles.
Are you near family and friends, shops, your doctor, and other essential services? Or is there a possibility you’ll need to move?
Are you comfortable using public transport? It’s good to become familiar with using different forms of public transport while you’re still driving.
What in-home services are available to you? Most chemists will deliver prescriptions and other products to your home. There’s also home delivery from most supermarkets, many restaurants and meal delivery services, as well as most clothing retailers, and library services.
For more information, go to the getting around without a car section.
Completing the Senior Road User Quiz can also help you to reflect on your current driving situation and consider whether it is time to think about reducing when and where you drive or retiring from driving completely.
