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Moving Right Along - Are you worried about someone's driving?

Moving Right Along

Are you worried about someone's driving?

Worried about someone's driving?

It can be hard to know what to do if you have concerns about someone’s driving. We have tips and information for family and friends about things to consider.

It is ability, not age, that determines whether someone is a safe driver. Generally, everyone will need to stop driving at some point. People don’t retain the ability to drive indefinitely.

Many drivers self-regulate their driving to stay safe when they feel some situations become more difficult. For example, driving at night. Many drivers recognise when the time is right to start retiring from driving. Others may need guidance to identify when their driving is becoming unsafe.

Starting a conversation about driving

You may experience situations where you are concerned about someone's driving. This could be a family member, parent or a close friend.

A conversation with the driver is a good starting point. Successful conversations start with good preparation – not all conversations about driving go smoothly. Some people may worry that retiring from driving reflects their competency. They may fear the potential loss of their mobility and independence.

Explore the tabs above for resources to help you prepare, have the conversation and follow up.

Legal responsibility

All drivers must be mindful of their fitness to drive and understand their legal responsibilities.

If a medical condition or medication could affect your ability to drive safely, you must report it to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. All licensed drivers in South Australia are legally required to do so, regardless of age.

For information about reporting a medical condition, you can:

If you don't report it

The consequences are severe if you don't notify a reportable medical condition and continue to drive.

If involved in a crash:

  • you may be charged with driving offences and with failing to notify a reportable medical condition
  • you may be sued for any damages to people or property caused by the driver in that crash
  • your private car insurance coverage may be affected.

Planning the conversation

Many people experience situations where they are concerned about someone's driving. A conversation with the driver is a good starting point. Successful conversations begin with good preparation.

What to consider to help you prepare

Why: identifying concerns and examples

Why are you concerned about their ability to drive safely? You may have noticed their driving skills have deteriorated, or others might have expressed concerns to you. Think about some specific examples. Keep these examples in mind for the conversation.

Signs that someone’s driving ability may be reducing include:

  • poor judgement
  • finding changing lanes difficult or changing lanes without checking
  • driving too fast or too slow for the conditions
  • having difficulty making turns
  • finding roundabouts difficult to use
  • struggling with driving procedures
  • getting lost on familiar routes
  • being nervous about travelling longer distances or on rural roads
  • being unaware of wildlife on roads or roadsides
  • being more hesitant than usual
  • becoming confused, and/or confusing left and right
  • not obeying traffic signs and signals
  • an increase in unexplained ‘dings’ or scrapes on their car
  • an increase in receiving traffic fines and/or car accidents or near misses.

Who: determining the participants

Who would they be most comfortable having this conversation with? For example, spouse, GP, adult child, close friend or sibling.

Who will participate in the conversation? Some people may be more receptive talking one to one. Other situations may work better involving other family and friends or a health professional.

How: approach and accommodations

How can we approach the subject sensitively and tactfully to avoid blame?

How might changes in their health may be affecting their driving ability? Could those changes be accommodated? Search for an Occupational Therapist Driver Assessor through Occupational Therapy Australia.

What: practical solutions and resources

What practical issues would they need to overcome when planning for other modes of transport (for some or all journeys)? Identify issues that could prevent them from changing their driving patterns. Prepare suggestions to respond to any barriers they might see. For information about transport options, read Obligations and Opportunities for Older Drivers (PDF, 12.2 MB).

What services or concessions are they eligible for? This is not an exhaustive list:

When and where: timing and setting

When would be the most suitable time to talk? It is best to avoid having the conversation during or after a driving incident.

From the age of 75 years, drivers who hold a class ‘C’ (car) licence only and don't have a medical condition are mailed a self-assessment every year to complete. This may be an opportunity for a conversation. It could also prompt a visit to their doctor.

Where would be a comfortable place to have the discussion?

When safety is an immediate concern

If you are worried someone’s driving ability has declined, and they are putting themselves and others in immediate danger:

  • encourage them to speak with their doctor
  • go with them and speak with their doctor together.

If a medical condition that affects their ability to drive is identified, they may still be able to drive. This could be possible with appropriate treatment or restrictions.

A friend or family member can contact Service SA to report concerns about someone’s driving ability. The Department may then:

  • contact the driver to arrange a driver medical assessment
  • recommend a practical driving assessment by an Assessment Officer.

For more information about this process:

How to have the conversation

Approaching the conversation with sensitivity can help. However, not all conversations about driving go smoothly and they may be reluctant to talk. It may be helpful to plan the conversation first.

General conversational tips

  • Avoid using "absolute" wording, such as 'always' and 'never'.
  • Use ‘I’ statements instead of ‘you’ statements.
  • Paraphrase their response to help you clarify your understanding. Try summarising what they’ve said back to them to make sure you’ve understood them correctly.

Here are examples of how you might begin a conversation. Tailor your conversation to reflect your own concerns.

"Mum, I’m worried about you driving at night. How do you feel you handle driving at night?"

"Sometimes I do get a bit nervous driving at night. It can be a bit tricky."

"So you have some concerns as well..."

"Dad, it looked to me the other day like you were quite nervous driving. Is that right?"

"No, what do you mean? I’m fine driving."

"So you’re not worried about your driving then. What I noticed was that you didn’t check before changing lanes and nearly hit another car. That worried me."

If you receive an emotional response

Even with the best preparation, they may become upset and defensive. They might feel that their driving is being criticised.

What to do

  • Stay calm.
  • Acknowledge what you perceive to be their feelings. For example, "It seems like this conversation is making you anxious. Is that right?"
  • Ask a tailored question in response, so you can work through any issues together. For example, "What is it about what I’m saying that is making you feel this way?"
  • Consider if you need to pause the conversation and agree to continue it at another specified time.

Encouraging them to discuss their driving

Ask questions that allow them to reflect on their driving ability.

Discuss how they feel they handle:

  • driving at night
  • driving in heavy or peak hour traffic
  • driving in rain or fog
  • busy intersections
  • driving on unfamiliar routes.

Ask if they experience any of the issues listed in ‘Signs that someone’s driving ability may be reducing’. Find the list of signs under the 'Planning the conversation' tab.

Share your concerns. Be specific about your own thoughts on what worries you about their driving. They may share some of these concerns.

Encourage them to consider:

  • the legal implications of being unsafe to drive.
  • whether they are putting themselves and others at risk. This might help them clarify whether their driving is a concern.
  • the benefits of planning for retiring from driving, whether it is straight away or in the future. The goal is to achieve this in a prepared way with other transport options in place.

Possible scenarios when discussing driving ability

Scenario What to try

You raised concerns about their ability to drive based on age, not by what has been witnessed. For example:

"Dad, I don't think you should be driving anymore. You are 80 years old."

"What a load of rubbish. I am confident driving, and I keep up to date with changes to the road rules."

Acknowledge misunderstanding.

Continue conversation about the benefit of planning for eventual retirement from driving and how they want to plan ahead.

They don't see any issue with their driving ability despite raising your concerns

Reflect on your concerns – provide specific examples.

Ask guiding questions on how they feel they undertake certain driving tasks.

Help clarify the issue. For example, is it specifically about driving in peak hour or longer trips? Is a change in health impacting on their driving? Could an occupational therapist help to assess whether a mobility aid can address the issue?

If a medical issue is contributing to their driving ability, discuss the legal consequences of driving with a known condition.

Reflect on whether you have misinterpreted and there isn’t a concern with their driving.

Continue conversation about:

  • the benefits of planning for eventual retirement from driving
  • how they want to plan ahead.

They don't see any issue with their driving ability, but safety remains your immediate concern

Reflect on your concerns – provide specific examples.

Ask guiding questions on how they feel they undertake certain driving tasks.

If a medical issue is contributing to their driving ability, discuss the legal consequences of driving with a known condition.

Strongly encourage them to make an appointment to see a health professional to discuss their driving ability. Offer to accompany them to this appointment.

If they won't talk to a health professional about their driving ability and safety is an immediate concern, you can report your concerns to Service SA on 13 10 84.

You are not sure if they are up to date with the Australian Road Rules

Use online tools, such as road rules refresher quiz.

Ask guiding questions on how they feel they undertake certain driving tasks.

Suggest booking sessions with a qualified driving instructor to:

  • refresh skills and update road rules knowledge
  • help identify any concerns.

Next steps

Once they have accepted the concerns, feelings of grief and loss may surface. Acknowledge their feelings as an expected part of transition and change. This can help support them while working through their next steps.

What will the next steps be? It can help to identify this together and ask them to commit to these actions. Set a goal and be specific.

What will the back-up plan be, if a planned transport arrangement doesn’t work, unexpectedly?

Negotiating an agreed way forward

Come to an agreed way forward.

Be specific and include a timeframe. For example, "I will see my doctor on Friday to discuss my driving capability."

Create a back-up option if things don’t go to plan. For example, booking a taxi or contacting someone identified in their support network.

Possible scenarios when supporting somebody to make change

Scenario What to try

Making a commitment to meet with a health professional

Gain their commitment to contact the relevant health professional to make an appointment by the end of the next day. This is preferred over a general commitment to make an appointment.

You could try calling their doctor together. You could also offer to drive them to the appointment and accompany them.

They are overwhelmed or unsure on how to take the committed action

Create a plan and/or list of actions with who and how they will be completed. Break this into smaller steps if need be.

Consider what tasks you can complete to support them.

Making a commitment to trial the community bus

Gain their commitment to contact the local council to book the community bus for shopping by the end of the week. This is preferred over a general commitment to drive less.

You could try calling the council together.

They are overwhelmed or unsure on how to undertake the committed action

Create a plan and/or list of actions and who and how they will be completed. Break this into smaller steps if need be.

Consider finding a support person or friend (who has experienced this previously) to trial the agreed action with them.

Consider what tasks you can complete to support them.

Planning for eventual retirement from driving

For many drivers, the day will eventually come when they need to begin retiring from driving. We all plan to retire from work. Similarly, we should plan ahead and consider alternative travel options when the time is right. A transition to occasional driving and then to not driving at all happens best when it is planned.

Benefits of planning for retirement from driving

It may be worthwhile to discuss the benefits of planning for eventual retirement from driving.

Planning for better lifestyle

If they plan to move house or downsize in future, encourage them to think about public transport and community services in the new location. They should consider if these services are nearby and easy to access in the suburb or town they plan to live in.

  • Are the shops within walking distance?
  • Are there medical services close by?
  • How close will they be to friends and family?
  • Does the location provide the lifestyle choices that they enjoy?
  • Are there social activities for them to participate in?

Financial and travel freedom

Encourage them to consider the weekly running costs of having a car. It can often be cheaper to sell a car and use alternative travel modes and taxis to get around. Adelaide Metro's public transport savings estimator could be helpful.

Encourage them to consider what their travel options are. Most of these will include planning for alternative modes of transport (for some or all journeys):

  • Continue driving with no change.
  • Altering their driving behaviours.
  • Driving less.
  • Stop driving later.
  • Stop driving now.

If using other transport options seems likely, help them to focus on the positive aspects. Try asking, "What do you see as the good things that could result from using other transport options?"

Taking control and solving problems

Help them to problem-solve any issues that may prevent them from trying alternative travel options. Try asking, "What would make it difficult or easy for you to reduce the amount of driving you do, or to stop driving all together?"

Make sure the suggestions are realistic and address the specific issues they raise.

Discuss various travel options with them, and any research you have found about services and concessions.

Possible scenarios when discussing eventual retirement from driving

Scenario What to try

They assume that talking about retiring from driving will mean giving up driving or their licence immediately

Reiterate that a smooth and successful transition to occasional driving and then to not driving at all happens best when it is planned.

Reinforce that planning for the transition to driving less does not necessarily mean giving up their licence.

Ask what concerns them most about the plan or changes.

Clarify what trips they take.

Discuss all options. This includes driving less, using alternatives, driving a safer car and giving up driving completely.

Try asking, "What do you see as the good things that could result from using other transport options for certain trips?"

Accepting that retiring from driving, or introducing alternative travel options is difficult

Acknowledge feelings of grief or loss.

Encourage them to talk with others who have reduced or retired from driving.

Try asking, "What do you see as the good things that could result from using other transport options?"

If they usually drive to a social group in a country location, they may not be able to catch a bus instead

Are there other group members who could pick them up? It might help to either suggest this or to speak with other members of the group together.

If they intend to sell their vehicle, the cost of a weekly taxi could be cheaper than continuing to run their vehicle.

They have concerns about maintaining their travel needs and lifestyle

Acknowledge the difficulties and issues they may face.

Ask what concerns them most about the plan or changes. Unpack the potential negative and positives about trialling alternative options.

Be realistic about options available to address specific issues:

  • Research what alternative options may exist in their local area.
  • Explore additional support options for trips that have limited alternatives for travel. This includes home assistance or home delivery.

Try asking, "What would make it difficult or easy for you to reduce the amount of driving you do, or to stop driving all together?"

If they intend to sell their vehicle, the cost of a weekly taxi could be cheaper than continuing to run their vehicle.

They don't believe the way forward is possible

Ask what concerns them most about the plan or changes.

Identify support networks. This includes family and friends.

Ask them to trial the travel alternative for a specific amount of time or number of occurences.

Create a back-up option if things don’t go to plan, such as a taxi.

Next steps

What will the next steps be? It can help to identify this together and ask them to commit to these actions. Set a goal and be specific.

What will the back-up plan be, if a planned transport arrangement doesn’t work, unexpectedly?

Negotiating an agreed way forward

Come to an agreed way forward.

Be specific and include a timeframe. For example, "I will trial catching the bus to do shopping for a month."

Create a back-up option if things don’t go to plan. This includes booking a taxi or contacting someone identified in their support network.

Possible scenarios when supporting somebody to make change

Scenario What to try

Making a commitment to trial the community bus

Gain their commitment to contact the local council to book the community bus for shopping by the end of the week. This is preferred over a general commitment to drive less.

You could try calling the council together.

They are overwhelmed or unsure on how to undertake the committed action

Create a plan and/or list of actions and who and how they will be completed. Break this into smaller steps if need be.

Consider finding a support person or friend (who has done this action previously) to trial the agreed action with them.

Consider what tasks you can complete to support them.

Following up the conversation

Providing support and feedback is an important and effective way to reinforce change. Building follow-up discussions into the process also gives you a chance to respond to any problems they run into.

What to consider to help you prepare

Use these prompts to help you plan how to best support the person as they change their driving habits or stop driving.

Setting the stage

Consider when and where would be a comfortable place to have the conversation. Avoid any high-stress times, especially during or directly after any driving incidences.

Checking in to support them can be as simple as a having a relaxed chat. Ask them, "How are things going?" on the plans made about their driving.

Building a support network

Who can offer ongoing encouragement and support? How will this be arranged? Should you tell other family or friends that the person is driving less or retiring from driving? This way, they could help with transport when needed.

Their social network may expect that they would continue driving.

  • Consider letting others know so they are aware of these changes.
  • Consider areas of conflict in the support network. For example, will someone feel what is being asked is unfair or too much?

Planning for follow-up and encouragement

Why is there a need to follow up? Feelings of success in trying new transport options will encourage them to keep using them. You can:

  • identify what’s working well and celebrate any successes
  • help to troubleshoot any problems they run into
  • find new options if the first attempts didn't work well.

When and where will you check in with them to see how they are going with the plans about their driving? It may help if this is at a specific time, such as in one week. This is a good time to help them work through any issues they may have encountered.

Even after the first check-in, it can be helpful to follow up a few different times to make sure there aren't other issues along the way.

Possible scenarios when following up and supporting someone

Scenario What to try

They don't want to continue with the plan

Ask what has led them to this decision. Ask what concerns them most about the plan or changes.

Try and identify any issues they may have faced.

Be realistic when identifying solutions. If necessary, revisit what other travel options may be available for certain trips.

Try asking, "What has made it difficult from continuing with catching the bus to lawn bowls? What would make it easy to continue doing that?"

Ask them to trial the travel alternative for a specific amount of time or number of occurrences.

Remind them of their legal obligations if they choose to continue to drive.

The agreed plan is working well

Celebrate the success. For example, acknowledge what they have been doing is working well.

Explore if there are other positive changes or desires to try other transport options.

Discuss the back-up option if things don’t go according to plan into the future.

Continue to check in regularly.

Tips that help any driver stay safe

Here are well-recognised factors that keep drivers safe for longer.

Road rules and vehicle safety

Always wear a seatbelt. It is required by law no matter what age a driver is. Wearing a seatbelt doubles the chances of surviving a serious crash.

Keep up to date with changes to the road rules. You can:

Check the safety rating of your vehicle. A car with an ANCAP 5-star safety rating can:

  • help you to avoid a crash
  • provide increased protection if you are involved in a crash.

Health, medication and check-ups

Stay as healthy and physically active as possible.

Ask a health professional about how any current medications could affect driving ability.

Have regular eye tests and medical check-ups.

Consult your doctor if you have any concerns about your health and general fitness. Talk to them about what this might mean for your driving.

Other resources to support the conversation

Dementia and driving

You can watch 3 short films about the issues surrounding dementia and driving. These South Australian films were produced in collaboration by:

  • Southern Services Reform Group
  • Southern Metro Community Passenger Network.

Decision-making support

Some people may have a medical condition that impairs their decision-making capacity. They may need support to:

  • take part in the decision to stop driving
  • understand their legal obligation to stop driving.

Practical driving assessments

Find qualified private practitioners for a practical driving assessment on Occupational Therapy Australia. They check if and how a medical condition affects someone's driving ability.

Health professional reporting

In South Australia, health professionals must report a patient's health condition if it makes it unsafe for them to drive. Learn about health professionals' responsibilities on Austroads.

Obligations and Opportunities for Older Drivers Booklet

Obligations and Opportunities for Older Drivers Booklet

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