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Even though we know we’ll probably have to face it eventually, it’s a discussion all adults dread: The “Big Talk” about driving with a senior parent or grandparent. No one looks forward to telling their parent or grandparent it’s time to hang up the keys. However, when you notice your aging mom has dropped her driving speeds to 30 mph below the speed limit or you discover that your dear old dad no longer acknowledges stop lights, it’s time to have the talk. If you have an aging family member who shouldn’t be behind the wheel, here are a few tips for broaching this delicate topic with them:

Know the warning signs. If you don’t spend a lot of time with your senior parent or grandparent, you might be uncertain about whether or not it’s time for them to stop driving. However, there are a few warning signs you should keep an eye out for that will help you make the decision. For example, every time you visit, you might notice new dents and scratches on their car, their garage door or their mailbox. They might tell you about multiple near-accidents (although some will claim it wasn’t their fault) or they might continually receive traffic tickets or warnings. They might complain that they often miss street turns or can’t see traffic signs at the side of the road. These are all signs that it’s time to have the “Big Talk” with your senior parent.

Don’t hesitate. It’s natural to be anxious about telling your mom or dad they need to stop driving. Your parents have been telling you what to do for your entire life. So, it’s awkward when the tables turn and you suddenly have to tell the people who raised you what’s best for them. However, look at it this way: Your parent will be better off getting this advice from you and the rest of your family than receiving an order from the state motor vehicle department. As family members and people who love and know them, you and your relatives are the best candidates for telling your parent it’s time to give up driving.

Broach the topic delicately. Once you’ve determined the time has come for the driving discussion, try to get the all of the adults in your family involved. Work together to come up with the best approach for telling the senior driver it’s time to hang up the keys. When you have the discussion with your parent or grandparent, try to keep the conversation adult-like. Do not treat the senior like a child — talk to them as you would about any other adult matter. Instead of being accusatory and saying things like “You did this” and “You’re not doing that,” try to use “I” to describe how you perceive the situation. For example, you might say, “I think you’re having a hard time seeing the road,” or “I worry about you having a terrible accident.” If your parent resists, point out that they have a responsibility to others, as well. You might want to talk about how horrible they would feel if they killed or injured an innocent person because of a driving mistake. Typically, this is enough to convince a person that they shouldn’t be on the road. However, if your parent simply refuses to give up driving and they haven’t had any accidents, you might have to give in and allow him to keep driving for another year. As they are still sharp of mind, they might still be able to manage a car. On the other hand, if your parent has the beginnings of dementia, they should absolutely not be behind the wheel. If your loved one is suffering from the onset of dementia, you might have to sell the car and tell them it just isn’t available anymore or disable the car and tell them it no longer runs. This might seem cruel, but remember — it’s for the safety of your loved one and other drivers.

Be sensitive. Although you might feel tempted to firmly tell your parent, “Hand over the keys!” this is probably not the best way to approach the matter. Try to understand that this is going to be a tough transition for you loved one. After all, how will mom make it to her beauty parlor appointments or to church? How will dad get to the doctor or his poker parties? Try to see things from their perspective, and be sensitive to their feelings.

Many seniors fall into a deep depression after they stop driving because they feel a loss of freedom and control over their lives. This is why it’s so important to come up with alternatives to driving. As you discuss the change with your parent, discuss possible solutions for how they will get around. Maybe you, your siblings and other relatives could take turns driving them to their appointments and functions. Alternatively, you could purchase a mass transit pass for them so they can take the bus or the subway. You might also consider hiring a home-care agency that will transport your parent from point A to point B. Whatever you do, don’t just firmly lay down the law with your parent and banish him or her to their house forever. Put yourself in their shoes, be delicate and offer clear solutions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses represent one of the safest modes of transportation, nearly eight times safer than passenger vehicles. That’s partly because school bus transportation is subject to both federal and state regulation.

However, even though the operation of school transportation is closely monitored, school bus drivers cannot control the behavior of other vehicles on the road. According to a 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, titled Traffic Safety Facts, an average of 20 school-age children die in school transportation-related traffic crashes each year.

In an effort to keep school children safe, GMAC Insurance conducted a survey of 5,524 licensed drivers to find out what misconceptions they had about common laws relating to driving while in the vicinity of school transportation.

According to the survey results, many drivers know they must stop when approaching a school bus from either the front or the rear when the vehicle’s red lights are flashing; however, they are unsure about the exact stopping distance. Only 30% of the drivers polled knew that the correct stopping distance is 20 feet from a bus.

The survey’s findings also revealed other gaps in many drivers’ knowledge about the proper procedures when driving near a school bus. To help keep students safe, GMAC developed the following five tips for drivers to remember:

1. Stay stopped. When a school bus stops and displays its red flashing lights, come to a stop until the lights are no longer flashing or until signaled to proceed by the bus driver or police officer.
2. Keep back. Drivers should stop at least 20 feet (or one and a half car lengths) from the back of the bus.
3. Don’t pass. It is illegal to pass on the right side of the bus, where children are loading and unloading. In many places, school bus drivers can report a passing vehicle.
4. Be attentive. Children might run out into the street when heading home or to the playground without realizing that there are drivers nearby.
5. Go slow. Obey the posted speed limits in school zones where children are often walking or playing and pay attention to crossing guards.

During the past several years, millions of people have begun writing weblogs (or “blogs,” as they are more commonly known.) There are as many reasons for blogs as there are blogs. Some people keep them as a journal to let distant friends and relatives know what’s happening in their lives. Others write about subjects that interest them, everything from gardening to NASCAR. Blogs often act as forums for people’s opinions or news reporting. These types of blogs invite controversy; in extreme cases, they might invite lawsuits if a person or organization takes offense at a particular post. If that happens, can the blog’s author count on his insurance coverage to pay for his legal defense and judgments?

Unfortunately, if he has a typical Homeowners insurance policy, the answer is probably no. This policy pays amounts for which the policyholder (the insured) is legally liable, plus the costs of legal defense, for bodily injury or property damage done to someone else. The policy defines bodily injury as meaning bodily harm, sickness or disease; it defines property damage as injury to, destruction of, or loss of use of physical property. Neither of these definitions includes saying or publishing something that injures another’s reputation or feelings. Consequently, the policy is unlikely to cover a blog post. For example, if Joe writes in his blog that Bob sleeps with a teddy bear, and Bob sues him for invading his privacy, the Homeowners insurance will not pay for Joe’s legal defense or for any judgment against him, because Bob suffered neither bodily injury nor property damage.

Insurance companies may offer special Personal Injury coverage that they can add to Homeowners policies. This coverage pays for the insured’s liability for several offenses, including oral or written publication of material that violates someone’s privacy, and oral or written publication of material that disparages someone’s goods or services. For example, imagine that Joe writes in his blog that the meatloaf at Bob’s Diner tastes like gravy-covered roadkill. Bob suffers an immediate loss of business, and he sues Joe for libel. The court awards Bob $200,000. If Joe has Personal Injury coverage, his insurance will pay for his lawyers and the $200,000 judgment (or his limit of insurance, whichever is less).

Another potential source of coverage is a Personal Umbrella policy. An umbrella provides additional insurance in situations where a loss has used up the amounts of Liability insurance under Homeowners or Auto policies. It also covers some liability losses that those policies do not cover, such as personal injury losses. Umbrellas typically carry a deductible of $250 or $500. In the previous example, if Joe does not have Personal Injury coverage with his Homeowners policy, but he does have an umbrella, the umbrella will pay for his defense and $199,750 of the judgment ($200,000 minus the $250 deductible.) If he does have the coverage on his Homeowners policy, and the court awards Bob $1 million, the Homeowners policy will pay until its limits of insurance are used up, and the umbrella will pay the rest.

Blogs are fun and interesting, and they can be informative. However, in a litigious society, it is very possible that something posted in a blog can result in a lawsuit against the writer. Everyone who writes a blog should consider that possibility and think about buying some extra insurance. Ask our agents about this important coverage!