We have all been behind the slow car that is being driven by the elderly man or woman and felt aggravation. We wonder why they can’t speed up or just get off the road because we’re all in a rush to get where we are going.
While we may be annoyed with older drivers, chances are we will be doing the same type of driving eventually! As humans age our reactions are slowed and our vision is not as good as it was in our youth. Other risks for older drivers include sudden health problems while driving. Older drivers are at higher risk for a stroke or heart attack while driving.
A few states are requiring that elderly drivers pass vision tests and some may pass laws that require elderly drivers to take a driving test more often in order to assess their driving ability. While this may seem like age discrimination, many licensing entities have conducted studies that show older drivers are in more accidents than their younger counterparts.
Other studies show contradicting evidence, though. Older drivers are sometimes safer drivers due to the fact that they drive less than younger people. Fear of large highways, self-bans from night driving, and slower speeds cause this contradicting evidence.
This discussion is an important one to have with any loved one that may be displaying problems with their driving. Even if their driving is perfect, individuals with chronic health problems need to rethink their driving. A sudden heart attack, stroke, or diabetic episode on any road or street can have fatal consequences.
One reason that more laws are not in place is that the older population votes more than younger people. Baby boomers and other older people have blocked efforts to regulate senior citizen driving laws that require voters to decide the issue. Older Americans often don’t realize that they are ‘older’ and may not realize that their driving is not what it used to be.
As we move into the future with a growing elderly population, more states may take steps to regulate the driving privledges of the older residents in the US. Until then, families and senior citizens will need to be honest in their self assement and be ready to hand over the keys when they are no longer able to drive safely.
Tags: Accident, Baby Boomer, Driver, Driver's Exam, Elderly, Heart Attack, safety, Senior Citizen, Stroke
