Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

Many boomers suffer blind spots when it comes to understanding how aging affects their parent's ability to drive safely.

That's because adult children are often unaware of the physical obstacles their parents face at various stages of aging.

Some, for example, are unsure how long a parent in the early stages of dementia should be carrying car keys. Others worry that placing limits on their parents' driving will eat away at their sense of independence. As a result, people often wait longer than they should - or avoid the conversation entirely about when to take the keys away.

"Most families are simply not addressing the very important issue of senior mobility, perhaps because they feel ill-equipped on how to approach it," said Greg Gordon, senior vice president of consumer marketing at insurance provider Liberty Mutual, which has a keen interest in the subject.

Liberty Mutual is one of two insurance vendors that recently launched an online tool to help older drivers and their families. Liberty created a web-based "Driver Seat Game" that offers a window into the physical and cognitive limitations that older drivers may experience.

Separately, AAA introduced a "senior safety and mobility" site with content and resources that help extend safe driving, and assist families making difficult discussions about transitioning an elderly member to passenger from driver.

"According to our research, many adult children of older drivers - the 'sandwich' boomers - are unaware that resources exist to effectively address the safety and mobility challenges of senior drivers," said Brad Roeber, AAA Chicago's regional president.

Most recently, brain fitness programs marketed to boomers are starting to offer games to improve cognitive functioning and a driver's visual alertness.  

But even as the number of resources grow, 75 percent of adult children said neither they nor anyone to their knowledge has ever spoken to their parents about driving safety issues, according to Liberty Mutual. An even greater percentage of seniors said no one has engaged them in these discussions.

Difficult Decision
The trouble is, boomers worry that their parents would feel "uncomfortable" talking about a change to their driving habits. However, less than a quarter of seniors report this is actually the case. And the vast majority said their adult children "have a right" to raise this issue.

"Many adult children, grandchildren and seniors will at some point be faced with a difficult decision about a mature adult's ability to drive safely," said Dr. Alexis Abramson, a gerontologist. "I can't stress enough how important it is to be proactive in developing a plan of action..."

Demographic shifts may force the creation of action plans, too. The number of older adults on the road is expected to increase over next several decades as drivers from the boomer generation become seniors.

There were 30 million licensed drivers age 65 and older in 2006, an 18 percent increase from 1996, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  Meanwhile, drivers aged 65 and over constituted 14 percent of the total traffic fatalities and 14 percent of passenger fatalities in 2007.

"The best way for baby boomers - and, indeed, people from all age groups - to understand the problems faced by older drivers is to show them those problems first-hand," said Dr. Vicki Rosebrook, executive director of the Macklin Intergenerational Institute in Findlay, Ohio, which provides programs for groups that work with the elderly.

In the Driver Seat Game, players navigate different driving scenarios, including busy traffic, going to the grocery store, finding parking in crowded lots and evading wildlife on winding country roads. At the same time, trivia challenges during the game reinforce awareness about older drivers. 

Meanwhile, AAASeniors.com provides a guide on how to begin a conversation with an older driver. The site also has resources for driver improvement courses and tips on choosing a vehicle.