Most people want to continue driving as long as they can, because of the independence it gives us. However, for many of us the time may come when we must limit or stop driving permanently. As we age, our response time, our eyesight and our hearing become affected and that makes driving more hazardous for seniors and others on the road.

Some warning signs for when someone should begin to limit driving or stop altogether include, feeling less comfortable, and more nervous or fearful while driving; difficulty staying in the travel lane; more frequent “close calls” or almost crashing; more frequent dents and scrapes, on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, or curbs; and trouble judging gaps in traffics at intersections and on highway entrance and exit ramps.

Other signs of lessening driving skills include, other drivers honking at you more often; more instances when you are angry at other drivers; friends or relatives not wanting to drive with you; getting lost more often; and difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead, meaning that others cars or people seem to come “out of nowhere” more frequently.

When an older driver starts violating signals, road signs and pavement markings, has a slower response to unexpected situations, has trouble moving their foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal, or confusing the two, and when they become easily distracted or it’s hard for them to concentrate while driving, it may be time to give up the car.

More signs of driving trouble in seniors include, having a hard time turning to check over their shoulder while backing up or changing lanes, medical conditions or medications that make it unsafe to drive, or more traffic tickets and warnings in the last year or so

If you notice one or more of these warning signs you may want to have your driving assessed by a professional, or attend a driver refresher class. You may also want to consult with your doctor if you are having unusual concentration or memory problems, or other physical symptoms that are affecting your ability to drive.

Most older drivers monitor themselves, and gradually limit or stop driving when they feel unsafe. However, some people fail to recognize their declining abilities, or they fear to stop driving because it will make them dependent on others for the necessities of life, and may reduce their social and leisure activities.

Conditions such as dementia or early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may make some drivers unable to evaluate their driving properly. That’s where friends and family members can step in.

One way to determine if the older driver in your life should stop driving is to assess the situation by personally riding with your loved one, and observe their driving habits.

Begin conversations about driving with your older driver. As people age, they tend to look first to family members, spouses and children, for candid advice concerning their well-being and health issues. Have conversations early and often.

Suggest various options, depending on the degree of impairment you observed. While stopping driving may be the only answer in some cases, stopping driving too early can cause a person’s overall health to decline prematurely.

You may want to suggest that your older driver take a classroom refresher course such as the AARP Driver Safety Program, order the AARP Driver Assessment Guide, “Older Driver Skill Assessment and Resource Guide: Creating Mobility Choices,” limit driving to certain times of day or familiar areas, encourage your loved one to gradually begin using other methods of transportation such as rides from family and friends, public transportation, or taxi services.

You, or the older driver in your life, could also contact the local motor vehicle office, which may have programs in place to help evaluate an individual’s driving abilities or may offer special licensing alternatives.

Remember, the goal is not necessarily to take a driver’s license away, but to help people keep driving as long as they safely can.

If your older driver is not taking proper action in response to your concerns, and the impairment is increasingly obvious, it may be necessary to involve the driver’s doctor. In addition to family members, a family doctor is often the most trusted person for providing advice on health issues affecting driving.

To order AARP’s driving guide, write to AARP Fulfillment P.O. Box 96796

Washington, DC 20090-6796, and order stock #D14957. Allow four to six weeks for delivery.