Warning Signs of Unsafe Driving

Do you know anyone who has problems driving or who has stopped driving? What led you to think that he or she had a problem driving?

See also: Brain health and driving

The following warning signs can indicate a physical and/or memory problem that is beginning to affect someone’s driving abilities.

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

Physical Capabilities

• Not being able to see or hear what is going on outside the car
  
• Trouble moving foot from gas pedal to brake pedal
  
• Difficulty turning head when backing up
  
• Delayed responses to unexpected situations
  

Cognitive Capabilities

• Decrease in confidence while driving
  
• Needs someone else to tell him or her how to drive
  
• Getting lost in familiar places
  
• Becoming easily distracted while driving
  
• Getting confused at intersections, entrance or exit ramps, or roundabouts
  
• Inability to adapt to new situations
  
• Failing to recognize dangerous situations
  

Poor Driving Skills

• Not using turn signals correctly or not using them at all
• Having trouble making turns
• Having difficulty moving into or maintaining the correct lane of traffic
• Having trouble judging the space between vehicles in traffic on highway entrance or exit ramps
• Parking inappropriately
• Hitting curbs when making right turns or backing up
• Unpredictable stopping in traffic
• Driving too slowly; other drivers often honk horns
• Failing to stop at stop signs or stoplights
• Failing to notice important activity on the side of the road
  

Undesirable Behaviors

• Driving too fast or too slow for road conditions
• Becoming more agitated or irritated when driving
• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving
• Not following doctor’s guidance
  
• Evidence of warning signs
• Getting scrapes or dents on car, garage or mailbox
• Having frequent close calls
• Being warned or ticketed for moving violations
• Having multiple vehicle crashes
  

External Advice

• Doctors or pharmacists have advised him or her that certain medications may affect the capacity to drive
• Friends, relatives, doctors or other trusted sources have suggested that driving be limited or that driving ceased