Older Drivers Face Confidence Cliff: Most Feel Safe Now, But Worry About Next 5 Years

Older drivers are self-assured today. Tomorrow? That’s a different story.

Most drivers over 65 feel perfectly capable behind the wheel today. Ask them about five years from now, and that certainty crumbles.

A national survey reveals a sharp confidence gap among older Americans when it comes to driving. While 81% of drivers age 65 and older say they’re very confident in their current ability to drive safely, that number plummets to just 43% when asked about the next five years. The 38-percentage-point drop suggests millions of older adults are quietly grappling with an uncomfortable truth: their time behind the wheel has an expiration date, even if they don’t know when it is.

The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging surveyed 2,883 adults age 50 and older in February 2025. This article focuses on adults 65 and older who reported driving in the past six months. The results show a generation caught between maintaining independence and confronting physical realities that make driving harder as they age.

The gap between how confident older drivers feel now versus five years from now indicates they recognize that change is coming, even if they’re not sure when it will arrive or how to prepare for it.

How Older Drivers Are Already Changing Their Habits

Many older drivers are already adjusting how they drive, even if they haven’t stopped completely. More than half avoid driving in bad weather like rain, snow, or fog. Nearly half skip nighttime driving. One in four steers clear of heavy traffic, and 15% avoid freeways altogether.

In total, 68% of drivers age 65 and older said they avoid driving under at least one of these conditions. The pattern suggests self-awareness: people recognize their limitations and compensate by restricting when and where they drive.

But avoidance doesn’t solve the root problem. Vision issues affect 14% of older drivers, and 5% said temporary health problems like surgery or injury have impacted their driving. Among adults 65 and older who hadn’t driven in the past six months, about one-third said it was no longer safe for them to drive.

Despite these warning signs, only 6% of older drivers have ever discussed their driving with a healthcare provider.

Most Seniors Have No Plan for When They Stop Driving

Perhaps more troubling than the confidence drop is what older drivers aren’t doing about it. When asked if they have a plan in place for when they can no longer drive, 54% said no. Another 53% admitted they’ve given very little or no thought to what they’ll do for transportation when driving is no longer an option.

Women and adults 75 and older were more likely to have made plans than men and those in their late 60s and early 70s. Even so, many people in every group still lacked a clear plan.

Advance driving directives could help. Similar to advance healthcare directives, these written plans outline someone’s preferences for when and how to stop driving, and designate a trusted person to help make that decision. But 84% of older adults surveyed had never heard of them. After being told what they are, 70% said having one would be very or somewhat important.

The survey found that 62% of adults 65 and older drive a vehicle most days, 22% drive at least once a week, 6% drive less than once a week, and 10% had not driven at all in the past six months. Driving is tied to independence, social connection, and access to healthcare and groceries. Losing it can be isolating and leave people cut off from essential services.

Yet alternatives remain limited or underused. In the past year, 44% of older adults received rides from family or friends, 21% used rideshare services like Uber or Lyft, and 14% relied on public transportation. But 5% said rideshare isn’t available where they live, and 9% said the same about public transit.

What Families and Communities Can Do to Help

The poll comes at a time when the U.S. population is getting older, which means more people will face age-related driving decisions in the coming years.

Regular vision and cognitive screenings can help identify changes early. Occupational therapy and driver safety courses may extend safe driving for some. Modern vehicles with backup cameras, blind spot warnings, and other assistive technologies can also help older drivers stay on the road longer and more safely.

Family members and caregivers need to start conversations about driving before a crisis forces the issue. Framing the discussion around safety and continued independence, rather than restriction, can make it less threatening. Healthcare providers, too, could play a bigger role by integrating mobility planning into routine care.

Communities bear responsibility as well. Expanding reliable, affordable transportation options beyond family favors and expensive rideshares would ease the transition for people who can no longer drive. Without accessible alternatives, older adults face isolation, missed medical appointments, and difficulty managing daily tasks.

The confidence gap revealed in this poll isn’t just about driving. It’s about the fear of losing autonomy and the struggle to accept that aging changes what people can do. Addressing that gap requires honest conversations, early planning, and systems that support mobility long after someone hands over the keys.

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