It's time to stop driving when you or others notice frequent close calls, difficulty with vision/hearing/mobility, getting lost, slow reactions, or confusion with controls, often signaled by minor accidents, tickets, or concerns from family/doctors, indicating health changes (vision, reflexes, memory) or medication side effects make driving unsafe. Prioritize safety by talking to a doctor or getting a professional evaluation if you experience signs like hitting curbs, missing exits, or feeling anxious behind the wheel, as these suggest it's time to consider reducing or ending driving.
Here are some other warning signs that it's time to stop driving:
A car can sit for about two weeks without driving, but starting and driving it weekly is recommended for maintenance. What happens if a car is not driven for a long time? Being parked too long can lead to a dead battery, flat tires, fluid degradation, rust, and potential pest infestations.
On your 70th birthday, your driving licence expires. But this doesn't mean you can't drive anymore – you're just required to renew your driving licence if you want to continue, and every three years after that.
If you do not drive your car regularly, then there are several serious issues that could result in costly repairs. The most common problem is draining the car battery. If the car sits idle for too long, the battery can drain and eventually die, especially in cold weather.
The 80/20 battery rule suggests keeping lithium-ion batteries (like in phones, laptops, EVs) between 20% and 80% charge for daily use to maximize long-term health and lifespan, avoiding the stress of full discharges (below 20%) and prolonged full charges (above 80%) that degrade battery chemistry faster, though modern devices have built-in optimizations. It's a guideline, not a strict law, balancing battery longevity with convenience, as charging to 100% or dropping below 20% is fine for occasional use.
While it is technically possible to charge your car battery by just idling, it's not very efficient. You'd likely have to leave your car running for hours to even come close to a full charge. This is due to the amount of charge that is initially lost when cranking the engine.
In six months before death, patients show a number of physical and mental changes. Some of the most common changes include progressive fatigue, loss of appetite, emaciation, and social withdrawal. Also, some patients lose some memory and other cognitive changes.
Almost 40% of us will experience some form of memory loss after we turn 65 years old. But even if we experience memory loss, chances are still unlikely that we have dementia. For the most part, our memory loss is mild enough that we can still live our day-to-day lives without interruption.
Key signs 2 weeks before death at the end-of-life stages timeline: Extreme fatigue and increased sleep. A marked decrease in appetite and fluid intake. Irregular breathing patterns (Cheyne-Stokes breathing)
As expected, the prevalence of driving declined sharply with increasing age, ranging from 88% of men in their early 70s to 55% of those aged 85 years or older. Among women, the prevalence of driving ranged from 70% among those aged 70 to 74 years of age to 22% among those aged 85 years or older.
Signs an Elderly Person May No Longer Be Safe Living Alone
Memory issues (Alzheimer's or dementia) – Forgetting medications, appointments, or getting lost. Cognitive decline – Difficulty making decisions, paying bills, or problem-solving. Poor personal hygiene – Unkempt appearance, dirty clothes, or body odor.
If you're driving long distances
Take regular rest breaks every two hours or less (as required) to help reduce the effects of fatigue.
The fear studies show that children's fears can be grouped into five categories. One of these categories is death and danger. This response was found amongst children age 4 to 6 on the KFQ, and from age 7 to 10. Death is the most commonly feared item and remains the most commonly feared item throughout adolescence.
Hospice Isn't About Giving Up
It's not a place to speed up the process of dying. A doctor suggesting hospice does not mean they're giving up on providing care and medical treatment. It's end-of-life care, but this doesn't mean giving up hope. It means shifting focus from curative treatments to comfort and support.
But as death approaches, you may notice some of these changes.
A car battery can drain when off due to parasitic draws (faulty lights, stuck relays, aftermarket accessories, modules staying awake), a weak or old battery, or issues with the charging system like a bad alternator diode, all of which allow power to seep out or prevent recharging, with culprits often being glove box lights, alarms, or computer modules that don't power down correctly.
Obvious Signs Your Car Battery Is Dying
The answer is, you need to drive your car once a week. Your car battery loses some of its charge when it sits idle. If you have a car that has been sitting for a month or more, the battery may have drained to the point that you will need to jump-start the car.
Take care of your battery
Most suggest the 20 – 80 rule, which you can definitely follow. You can even do 45 – 75 or others. As long as you understand what's harmful to your battery, you can tailor your charging habit according to your needs and daily routine.
So while charging to 100% won't “ruin” your phone, it can make your battery age faster. Luckily, most modern smartphones do have settings now to help you optimize charging, but a good rule of thumb is balancing convenience with constant overcharging.
Even if you don't plan on driving, you should still start your car every week or two. Doing so can help keep the battery charged and prevent mechanical parts from seizing up.
If your car starts but quickly turns off again, that could mean your alternator is failing to charge your battery. If it starts and remains on, but you're unable to start it again without the jumper cables, then your battery most likely needs to be replaced.