SafetyIssues Personal and Public Safety News Articles: Are Aged Drivers A Hazard?

Are Aged Drivers A Hazard?
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Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 06/16/08 05:05:00
 
Some people think seniors should no longer be driving because their slow
reflexes make them a danger on the road.
However, the most recent Utah crash statistics actually indicates that older
drivers are the age group with the least probability of getting into any crash,
including those that result in fatality, injury or property damage. Young
drivers in their teens were found to have a crash rate five times higher than
the rate for octogenarians.
The Utah driver services bureau chief acknowledges there may be a problem with
senior drivers, but not quite as big as people think. The Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety says automobile crashes account for less than 1 percent of
deaths among those 70 years or older.
Still, many states are concerned. The baby boom generation is getting older, and
there will soon be many older drivers on the road. The states want to make sure
that roads are safe for older drivers. Utah and many other states are making
design changes that are particularly favorable to older drivers: brighter signs,
bigger letters, more street lights, and protected left turn signals at
intersections.
But aside from engineering changes, safety plans also address licensing
procedures and medical issues, as well as specific difficulties that come with
old age, like slower reflexes.
Licensing policies require more careful processing for older drivers in at least
25 states and the District of Columbia. Iowa and Rhode Island require
70-year-olds and above to renew licenses every two years; Alaska requires
licenses to be renewed in person for those 69 years and older. Illinois says a
road test is necessary to renew licenses of drivers 75 and older. Like many
other states, Utah requires a vision test when those aged 65 and older renew
their licenses.
Advocates for seniors believe that policies should not target age but rather
ability, such as visual acuity, reaction time and cognitive problems. Criteria
should be based on scientific evidence.
Some seniors do voluntarily turn in the keys. About one-fifth of persons 65 and
older in the U.S. do not drive. The AARP offers some signs to stop driving:
* Ability to handle a car affected by medication or medical condition
* Others don’t want to ride with you
* Feelings of nervousness, discomfort or fear while driving
* Difficulty staying in one driving lane
* Slower reaction time to unexpected situations