What do we do when it’s unsafe for our aging parents to drive?
Taking the keys away from your aging parent isn’t always easy. But sometimes you can get help.
Sheri Gipson is the Driver License Division Chief for the Department of Public Safety in Texas. She talks with Kim and Mike Barnes of Parenting Aging Parents about what an adult child should do if they don’t think their parent should be driving anymore.
Every state chooses how to handle drivers licenses. Here is a list of the department that handles it in each state:
Alabama – Department of Public Safety
Alaska – Division of Motor Vehicles
Arizona – Department of Transportation
Arkansas – Office of Driver Services
California – Department of Motor Vehicles
Colorado – Division of Motor Vehicles
Connecticut – Department of Motor Vehicles
Washington, D.C. – Department of Motor Vehicles
Delaware – Division of Motor Vehicles
Florida – Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Georgia – Department of Driver Services
Hawaii – Department of Transportation
Idaho – Division of Motor Vehicles
Illinois – Office of the Secretary of State
Indiana- Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Iowa – Department of Transportation
Kansas – Division of Vehicles
Kentucky – Driver Licensing Division
Louisiana – Office of Motor Vehicles
Maine – Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Maryland – Motor Vehicle Administration
Massachusetts – Registry of Motor Vehicles
Michigan – Office of the Secretary of State
Minnesota – Division of Driver and Vehicle Services
Mississippi – Department of Public Safety
Missouri – Missouri Department of Revenue
Montana – Department of Justice’s Motor Vehicle Division
Nebraska – Department of Motor Vehicles
Nevada – Department of Motor Vehicles
New Hampshire – Division of Motor Vehicles
New Jersey – Motor Vehicle Commission
New Mexico – Motor Vehicle Division
New York – Department of Motor Vehicles
North Carolina – Department of Motor Vehicles
North Dakota – Department of Transportation
Ohio – Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Oklahoma – Department of Public Safety
Oregon – Department of Motor Vehicles
Pennsylvania – Department of Transportation
Rhode Island – Division of Motor Vehicles
South Carolina – Department of Motor Vehicles
South Dakota – Department of Public Safety
Tennessee – Driver Services Division
Texas – Department of Public Safety
Utah – Department of Public Safety
Vermont – Office of the Secretary of State
Virginia – Department of Motor Vehicles
Washington – Department of Licensing
West Virginia – Division of Motor Vehicles
Wisconsin – Division of Motor Vehicles
Wyoming – Department of Transportation
Before you get the authorities involved, it’s great if a parent makes the decision to quit driving themselves. Click here for an interview with retired State Trooper Matt Gurwell. He works with older adults and their families to start and guide the conversation and decision.