The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has launched a guide advising relatives of elderly drivers to prepare a driving adaptation plan and not to prohibit them from driving "drastically." The document, titled ‘Road Health Advice Guide for the Elderly Driver and their Close Environment,’ is part of the Road Safety Strategy for Seniors being developed by Traffic, and is aimed not only at the elderly driver but also at their close family and social circle.
"We will provide you with tools and guidelines so that you can have information, confidence, and security to address the issue in a reasoned manner, without the emotional burden that comes with treating it as a drastic driving prohibition, which should only be done when a significant number of risk signs justify a planned driving cessation," emphasizes the guide, as consulted by Europa Press.
Monitoring from 70-75 Years
The DGT points out that, "although age is not what determines driving ability," but rather the physical and mental capacities of the driver, studies "generally recommend starting health monitoring and its impact on driving from the age of 70-75." Therefore, the guide proposes a "preventive intervention" and provides two questionnaires – one for the elderly driver and one for the family member – divided into three areas: cognitive and emotional, physical, and specific driving levels.
Among other questions, it asks if the driver has difficulty doing multiple things at once, forgets what they are talking about, experiences moments of intense anger or sadness for no reason, becomes disoriented, struggles to see clearly at a distance, has hearing difficulties, finds it hard to shift gears or press the clutch, experiences daily ‘accidents’ like falls or oversights, gets honked at frequently by other drivers, or feels that medication use interferes with their driving ability.
Based on the scores obtained, elderly drivers and their families can determine if they are in normal situations, where driving vigilance should be maintained (less than 70 points, green); if the situation poses a medium risk, requiring consideration for adapting their driving (from 70 to 110 points, yellow), or if the risk is high, necessitating urgent intervention (between 110 and 150 points, red).
In addition to the questionnaires, the DGT encourages family members to gather information about their elderly loved one’s driving through their surroundings, friends, pharmacist, family doctor, driver recognition center, or provincial traffic headquarters.
The DGT reminds that before the definitive loss of the driving permit, traffic rules include conditions that restrict driving to specific spaces and situations for safety reasons. The most common restrictions imposed on the elderly often include limiting the driving radius to 20 or 50 kilometers from their place of residence, driving only during the day, without passengers in the vehicle, or with a specific speed limit.
Handling the Matter Respectfully
In any case, the DGT advises family members to address the need to adapt their elderly loved one’s driving in a "respectful, considerate, and planned manner," ensuring the elderly do not feel attacked or threatened (and certainly not punished) with the possibility of having to give up their driving permit.
To achieve this, family members are advised to observe and assess the situation and avoid being guided by impulses, prejudices, false impressions, or isolated incidents.
"Have a plan and potential alternatives ready (agreed upon with an expert) to offer in case it becomes necessary: avoid highways, avoid driving at night, limit long journeys, sporadically use some form of public transportation," it suggests.
It also recommends initiating a family conversation or debate and listening to the concerns and feelings of the elderly individual. "Allow them to express themselves freely and feel heard and understood, even if there is initial disagreement," the guide suggests.
If necessary, it proposes creating an adaptation plan alongside the elderly driver and, in cases of high risk, a phased abandonment plan, "gradual but short and practical." In such situations, it also proposes offering other alternatives, such as public transportation, and advises seeking a second opinion from a trusted physician or another professional. It also highlights the importance of providing emotional support to the elderly person throughout the process.
Furthermore, the DGT advises family members to choose the right time to discuss this matter and "always avoid the most common action in these situations: taking away the elderly person’s car keys and prohibiting them from driving," to prevent the situation from escalating into a heated and hostile argument that could lead to significant anger and conflict within the family. Therefore, it emphasizes the importance of involving the elderly driver in the decision-making process.
In addition to the Road Health Advice Guide, the Road Safety Strategy for Seniors includes other tools such as ‘Itineraries,’ a guide that briefly and visually explains key concepts like the meaning of new road signs, or a series of educational videos that depict common scenarios in the life of an elderly person.
Moreover, the DGT plans to launch a training course for professionals in the health, social, or educational sectors who work with seniors in public or social initiatives in the coming months.