Older adults who stop driving face transportation gaps, experts say

KANSAS CITY (InvestigateTV) — As people age and their health changes, families can face the question of when a loved one should stop driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports older drivers are more likely than younger drivers to be involved in a car accident. They are “more likely to be seriously hurt,” according to the agency. Most older drivers do not have a plan for when they can no longer drive, which aging experts say is critical.

A trip to the doctor without a car

Kennie Sandbothe, 77, stopped driving and now relies on a ride program for older adults.

Sandbothe was headed to a doctor’s appointment about 25 minutes from their home outside Kansas City.

“There’s no buses out here, not in this kind of rural area out here,” Sandbothe said. “It’s so expensive for Uber to take somewhere all the time.”

Sandbothe said they have thought about improvising.

“Sometimes I thought about taking my lawn tractor, riding it to someplace I need to go. But you can’t put it out on the street because it’s not licensed,” Sandbothe said.

Sandbothe is the primary caregiver for their spouse and is managing serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes. Sandbothe also sees a psychiatrist for gender dysphoria, a condition that can happen when someone’s gender identity doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth.

“They’re the ones that saved my life,” Sandbothe told us.

Balance issues and blood sugar spikes made driving unpredictable, so Sandbothe stopped driving.

“I never know when I’m falling and stuff,” Sandbothe said. “I don’t want to get out there and black out and hurt somebody or kill somebody.”

Confidence and independence

There is no set age when someone should stop driving.

A February 2025 University of Michigan poll found 81% of drivers 65 and older feel very confident in their driving right now. That number drops to 43% when they are asked about driving safely five years from now.

Without a plan, experts say giving up the keys can mean losing control of their day, where they go and how they get there.

Rachel Ohlhausen of Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City said that uncertainty is why it can be hard to let go.

“It means a loss of independence in a new way,” Ohlhausen said. “Your time is no longer just yours. You don’t get to decide to do something on a whim.”

According to AAA, former drivers were less likely to get out, had smaller social networks and faced a higher risk of depression. A number of studies found that driving cessation appears to contribute to a variety of health problems, including declining cognitive function.

“What we know about loneliness and isolation is that loneliness is the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for your health,” Ohlhausen said.

Public transit and rideshare

Ohlhausen said public transportation often does not work for older adults with limited mobility or stamina.

“We do have some public transportation, but for an older adult who’s using a walker, walking to the bus stop isn’t always feasible,” she said.

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center said public transit can be limited or nonexistent in rural and suburban communities.

Rideshares can fill some gaps, but there are barriers, Ohlhausen said.

“So even if you were able to and had the technological savviness to download the app, can you afford a smartphone? And can you afford the rideshare?” she said.

When people can’t find a ride, Ohlhausen said some stop asking for help.

“When those folks no longer drive, they really fall off the radar of society,” she said.

Sandbothe’s first backup plan was a next-door neighbor, but the arrangement did not last.

“My next-door neighbor, she was helping me for a while, but then decided, you know, she didn’t want to do it anymore,” Sandbothe said. “I don’t blame people, you know, they got their lifestyle. I don’t want to hinge on anybody to do anything for me.”

Sandbothe contacted the area office on aging and was connected with Jewish Family Services’ “Jet Express.” The program provides door-to-door service for adults 60 and older.

“We are the main source of transportation for 300 older adults in the Kansas City metro area,” Ohlhausen said.

Jet Express costs $5 each way and runs on a mix of volunteers, staff drivers and partner rides.

Staff driver Chip Ingram drove Sandbothe to the appointment. Ingram said that for some riders, it is not about driving, but about not feeling safe on the road.

“Some of them probably still drive to the neighborhood market, but they don’t want to take a ride on a highway it’s just too nerve-wracking for some people,” Ingram said.

Talking with a loved one about driving

For many families, the first step is having “the talk.”

According to AgingCare.com, experts say these are some red flags to watch for:

• Delayed responses, or getting lost or disoriented easily.
• Increased close calls and near misses.
• Difficulty seeing pedestrians, objects or other vehicles.
• Several dents or scrapes on the car or on surrounding objects where the person drives and parks at home.

Amy Cameron O’Rourke, an aging expert with Aging Untold, suggests asking a loved one questions before driving becomes a problem.

“Start before it’s a problem and just start lobbing some questions and make it part of a routine check-in,” she said.

Families can also talk with a doctor about any health issues or medications that can affect driving. State DMVs can provide information on driver evaluations and restrictions. Local agencies on aging can help families find transportation options.