My Mother’s Driver’s License Was Suspended What Should I Do?

If your mother’s driver’s license was suspended it is hard to know how to react. While this means that your mom is no longer able to drive legally, there are many seniors who will still go on the road with a suspended license.

 

Does your parent understand and respect the reason for this suspension? Can you trust your parent not to drive with a suspended license? Will you have to be the one to talk about taking the keys away? Be prepared because this is a situation that will change your parent’s daily life and yours as well.

 

Your parent may handle this news well and understand that he or she is no longer able to drive, but prepare yourself for the alternative. There is always the possibility that your parent will be in denial and feel that able to drive with or without a suspended license. To protect yourself and your parent, you need to make a plan for both scenarios.

 

Scenario 1: In this case, your parent recognizes that he or she is unsafe on the road and can no longer drive. In this situation because your parent is accepting it may not be necessary to take the keys away, but it is necessary to come up with an alternative to driving. There are many transportation systems, such as bus stops, taxis, and private car services such as ubers. If your parent feels uncomfortable using these public transportation systems, then you need to arrange a way for you and your family to get your parent where he or she needs to be without them.

 

Scenario 2: In this case, your parent is in denial and refuses to accept that he or she is no longer able to drive despite the suspended license. This is a much more dangerous situation, and taking away the keys is imperative. When you do this it is important to explain in a sensitive manner why you are taking away the keys, and that your parent has a support system that is going to love and care for him or her. Setting up drivers and/or delivery services well in advance can help ease this transition.

This will be a difficult transition for all involved, but especially for your parent. Make sure that you handle with as much empathy as possible.  Give your parent time to understand what is happening before bombarding him or her with the next steps. Don’t forget Attorney Donna Wilson is here to help you and your family! Don’t wait to call us at 866-603-5976 or contact us via our website to schedule a meeting with Donna directly.