Driving might be a privilege, but there’s no denying it offers a freedom. Taking that freedom away from a senior who’s become unable to drive safely is no easy task.

It’s a tough situation, but know that you’re not alone. There’s plenty of help available to assist you in determining whether an elderly driver is safe and how to proceed if he’s not.

Use Your Judgment

Chances are, you’re already doing this to some degree. Either you know the time might be getting closer, or you’ve already started noticing differences in the way your elderly driver is driving.

Maybe there are a few extra dings in the car, or you’ve noticed it’s taking your elderly driver longer to get to and from places these days. Perhaps there’ve been times when you’ve been in the car with the senior and found yourself feeling frightened, or maybe you’ve noticed he becomes easily distracted while behind the wheel.

Whatever it is that’s caught your attention, recognize that it has caught your attention and it’s probably time to educate and prepare yourself.

Know the Law

If your family member or friend is getting on in years, it’s important you know your state’s laws regarding senior citizens. Not every state has them, but many do, and those laws usually revolve around requirements such as:

• Having the elderly driver start renewing his driver’s license more frequently once he reaches a certain age.
• Completing a road skills test before he can renew his license.
• Passing a vision exam before he can renew his license.
• Submitting a medical exam before he can renew his license.

Your local DMV office is a good place to find specific information about such requirements, as is your state’s DMV Web site, driver handbook, and online versions of your state’s legislation.

Consult Specialized Organizations

Organizations geared toward senior citizens provide tons of information for senior drivers and their family members and loved ones. AARP, for example, offers We Need to Talk, a seminar for family members and loved ones of elderly drivers, as well as a Driver Safety Program specifically for senior citizens.

Also, your state might have a similar special program, or a section of its DMV set aside specifically for elderly drivers. Contact your local DMV office to inquire.

Prepare Yourself

Even if your senior family member or friend isn’t experiencing any problems right now and is meeting all of your state’s additional requirements for senior drivers, chances are high the time will come when he needs to hand over the keys.

You can prepare yourself for this time in a number of ways. You might want to talk with other people whose seniors have already gone through this situation, or you might want to contact your local DMV office to find out if they have any literature or programs in place for advising people how to move forward in this situation. You can also check out a variety of online resources such as The Hartford’s Family Conversations with Older Drivers section.