When It’s Time to Take Your Parent’s Car Keys

TIME TO TAKE GRANDMAS KEYS AWAY---BUT NOT HER DIGNITY

The Problem

If you have not been there yet…you will. The day when you will have to have a very difficult discussion with an elderly parent that they need to stop driving because it has become too unsafe for everyone involved.

There will almost always be resistance from a parent. It’s only natural. A lifetime of freedom on the road, fond memories of the cars a person has owned, and coming to grips with yet another difficult milestone that signals mortality is just another wrong left turn away.

It’s a difficult talk because parents will often leave you feeling like they are making a deal with the devil. “I’ll drive only on the back or side roads from now one.” “I’ll get new glasses---that’ll fix everything.” “What if I get a note from my doctor?” “Jim down the street is still driving and he’s 5 years older than me---you should talk to his son about him first.” The desperation in their voice is heartrending, but you have to be the bad guy…because you love them.

One Solution

While this might not work for everyone, it will in some cases---especially if the problem is not so much a problem of an elderly parent letting go of yet another freedom, but when part of the problem (or the argument) is that a parent does not want to let go of their car.

In cases like this it turns out that there is room for compromise without having to worry about a parent sneaking out for a quick drive “just down the street” and at the same time allow them to maintain their dignity and not have to say goodbye to a cherished car or truck.

That was the message behind a recent VINwiki YouTube channel episode where host Christopher Michaels talks about his grandmother-in-law and what happened when she needed to stop driving. They knew the cagey old gal would need a little extra precaution to ensure she would not drive if her family members let her keep her car. So, Chris discusses a creative solution that worked for them.

That said, here is the video in its entirety. If you are not one to enjoy storytelling, bear with it as it does get to a very creative solution that is humorous and educational toward the last few minutes of the video.

This genius trick made grandma's car UN-stealable!

And finally…

Have you had to take your parents or grandparents car keys away from them and have a memorable tale to share? Let us know about it in the comments section below. Your input is appreciated and might help someone else.

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

Image Source: Pexels