Maybe it happens gradually, or maybe it's one jarring incident but there may come a time when you realize your loved one might not be safe behind the wheel anymore. 

How do you begin the difficult, but necessary, conversation about concerns over their driving? It can feel like you're taking away independence, when, in reality, safety is the main priority. 

Seniors are outliving their ability to drive safely by an average of seven to 10 years, said Mike Formanowicz, AAA Western and Central New York driver training manager. If you feel a senior is a danger to themselves or to others on the road, it's time to sit down and talk.

While there's no easy way to approach the subject, here are a few tips to get you started:

• A professional in-car evaluation is the best way to determine a driver's proficiency behind the wheel. AAA offers private in-car evaluations to review a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle.
• Treat them with respect. Accusations of poor driving won't get you very far. A positive attitude can go a long way, Formanowicz said. Focus on alternative options for transportation. 
• Collecting a group of people to talk about the situation can make it feel like an intervention. A one-on-one conversation will likely go over much better.
• Try not to lecture or demand they give up the keys.
• Work together on a plan of action that still makes them feel independent.

A professional in-car evaluation is the best way to determine a driver’s proficiency behind-the-wheel. AAA’s private evaluation is a 45-minute in-car review of a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle under various driving conditions.

Driver Evaluation