• 14
  • December
    2011

The number of driver's licenses in Florida that have been revoked due to the physical or mental unfitness of the driver has more than doubled in the last decade. The main reasons for license revocation: problems related to dementia, stroke, seizures, and other health conditions.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the reason for the spike in license revocations is that more drivers are being reported as mentally or physically unfit to drive. A longstanding, but little-known Florida law, allows anyone to notify the state, in writing, about motorists with mental or physical limitations or conditions that might affect their driving.

Most reports under this law came from family members, the public or a professional after the driver had been in a car accident, became repeatedly confused or was consistently driving erratically. Last year, 9,105 drivers were reported, up from 8,294 in 1999.

Senior citizen advocates say that the increase in reports suggests more families and physicians are willing to report potentially unsafe older drivers. "I think it is a very positive sign," said Mary Barnes, CEO and president of Alzheimer's Community Care in West Palm Beach. "People are better understanding what's at risk when a driver is cognitively impaired," Barnes continued.

How to Help Yourself

Elderly drivers are especially at risk for car accidents. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), drivers 65 and older are involved in more crashes per mile driven than any other age group except teenagers. However, according to AAA, taking away an elderly driver's right to drive is appropriate only in extreme cases. AAA offers some tips for drivers approaching their golden years:

•· Understand your strengths and weaknesses. If you make an honest evaluation of yourself, you may find that there is no problem with your driving. Although driving ability generally begins to deteriorate at age 55, some people can safely drive into old age.

•· Communicate respectfully. When speaking to a loved one, don't immediately assume that they want to take your keys away from you. Understand that they want you to be safe behind the wheel. Talk about strategies to correct your shortcomings and overcome their fears.

•· Plan early. Take the same approach to transportation as you would to finances. Plan for regular medical and vision checkups and choose a safer car. Take the opportunity to identify alternate modes of transportation in case your driving skills diminish.

•· Agree on safe limits. If driving assessments or medical exams reveal deficiencies that can't be corrected, you might consider restricting your driving to daytime, off-peak times, and well-lit routes. When these measures no longer seem to be enough, it might be the time to stop driving.