Lewis Morgenstern has made up his mind. When he turns 65 in four years, he’s going to sign an advance directive for driving.

The directive will say that when his children want him to stop getting behind the wheel, Morgenstern will follow their advice.

“I recognize that I might not be able to make the best decision about driving at a certain point, and I want to make it clear I trust my children to take over that responsibility,” said Morgenstern, a professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and emergency medicine at the University of Michigan.

Relatively few studies have looked at how many older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia continue to drive, and there aren’t any national standards on when people should hand over the car keys. But the issue is a growing concern as the ranks of seniors in their 70s, 80s, and 90s — the age group most likely to have cognitive impairment — expand.

Nearly 50 million people 65 and older held driver’s licenses in 2021, a 38% increase from 2012, according to data compiled by the American Automobile Association. Almost 19 million were 75 or older, a rise of 31%. During this period, motor vehicle deaths for people 65 and older increased 34%, reaching 7,489 in 2021. The number of seniors injured in vehicle crashes that year exceeded 266,000.

For the most part, older adults drive safely. They use seat belts more often, are intoxicated less often, and are less likely to speed than younger adults. Compared with younger and middle-aged adults, they’re involved in fewer fatal car crashes each year. And they’re more likely to restrict where and when they drive — following familiar routes, avoiding heavily trafficked streets, and not driving at night.

Still, risks for older drivers rise with advancing age and the onset of medical conditions such as arthritis, glaucoma, and Parkinson’s disease. And when crashes occur, seniors are more likely to be severely injured or die because they’re more vulnerable physically.

  • Cloudless ☼@feddit.uk
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    10 months ago

    I am hoping that by the time I get old, self driving will become a reality. That or public transportation will become good enough so I won’t have to depend on a car.

    • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
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      10 months ago

      Same here!

      I realize I might have to relocate to force the public transportation thing.

      But a self-driving mobile home would be the bees knees.

  • white_shotgun@aussie.zoneB
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    10 months ago

    My old girl drove until she was 85 and died of cancer. Last 5 years on chemo and was still a better driver than most… Jus sayin

  • Venator@lemmy.nz
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    10 months ago

    It’s a clever move: as then his children might feel obligated to give him rides to places.

  • mindlessLump@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Fuck that. My kids (if I have any) can pry my keys from my keys from my cold dead hands.

    • Franklin@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Well from the sound of it, when you die it’ll need to be pried from the ignition of your car.

      • mindlessLump@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Haha, indeed. I was giving a satirical take of how many older people feel. It’s hard to have your independence taken away from you.

        • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
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          10 months ago

          I’m more worried about when they come for my keyboard.

          “No, Grandma, no one ever appreciated this ‘shitposting’ as you call it, and it needs to stop.”