Essay on Elderly Drivers

The debate of whether old people should be allowed to drive is often brought up by younger drivers, the reality is that all able bodied people who are healthy should be able to drive but as old age arrives it is inevitable our health will decrease.

Elderly are safe drivers compared to other age groups since they often reduce the risk of injury by wearing safety belts, observing speed limits, and not drinking and driving. However, they are more likely to be injured or killed in traffic crashes due to age-related vulnerabilities, such as fragile bones. Medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses also make it more difficult for older drivers to recover from any injuries. Seniors have the highest crash death rate per mile driven, even though they drive fewer miles than younger

In today’s society automobile accidents are an everyday occurrence. Mishaps can happen anywhere at any given time. In the past ten years accidents have averaged around ten million occurring for each year (US Census Bureau). That is 100 million automobile accidents in ten years. Most people would automatically point their fingers at young drivers in today’s world. A number of accidents are caused by teens though I believe a worse threat is starting to appear. This threat being elderly drivers over the age of 70. These elderly drivers could be considered dangerous due to their decline in sensory. With more elderly drivers increasing over the years, drivers everywhere could be in danger. Within the next 20 years the

Families of drivers who were injured, or worse, by elderly drivers also have a stake in this debate. In a news article by ABC News, a mother calls for greater action on elderly drivers after her 22-year-old son, Dann, is killed by an 87-year-old driver who “[had] failed to see Dann coming and turned directly into his path.” (Atkin, 2017). The mother, named Sue Jenkins, stated “we are second-class citizens because the independence of the elderly driver is more important than our right to expect other drivers on the roads to be competent.” (Atkin, 2017). Ms. Jenkins statement summarizes the position of many families of drivers injured, or worse, by senior drivers. Again, these stakeholders agree on the fact and definition of elderly drivers,

It is unfortunate, but the elderly are making the headlines daily, whether it is mistaking the gas for brake pedal or failing to see an oncoming car before making a turn, and the list is endless. Impaired elderly drivers tend to be the leading cause in fatal accidents (Kim, H., & Ashton-Miller, J. 2012). Elderly people tend to experience degeneration of their senses such as declining eyesight including lack of peripheral vision, and hearing that can affect the decisions a person makes as they are driving (Mihm, L. 2014). Elderly drivers should be retested for several reasons. As people age their reaction time decreases. Another reason is that as people get older their vision often starts to deteriorate along with their hearing. I believe that if we retest elderly people then it will help save their lives and the

Although many people believe that aging doesn’t affect driving ability, it does. Research demonstrates that there are many alternatives and solutions to keep people and the roads safe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, “while drivers age 60 and older are less likely that other drivers to be involved in collisions related to alcohol, speed, and nighttime driving, drivers age 70-79 have higher proportions of at-fault crashes” (Earley). Accidents involving older drivers are increasingly an issue as long as society fails to address the negative impact aging has on driving. Because the United States is overlooking the extent of fatalities of older people involved in crashes, federal and state governments should designate and enforce more resources for prevention, detection, alternative plans and encouragement of family member involvement—but ultimately the elderly should decide on their own when they should stop driving.

Regardless of how much pride a senior may take in their safe driving record, individuals over 60 need to recognize that experiencing changes in their driving ability is inevitable, and that the way they approach these changes is what will determine their future as a driver.

It is proven that elderly people who undergo vision tests have fewer crashes than those who do not take the vision tests (“Vision Tests Help Elderly Drivers”). There are a few common types of accidents that occur because the elderly driver’s vision is deteriorating. Some different types of accidents that the elderly are usually involved in are: failing to yield the right-of-way, they do not see stop signs, accidents involving turns, and oncoming traffic problems. Many of these types of incidents are caused from visual field loss or visual search problems (Keltner and Johnson 1181). As reported by Joanne Wood and Rod Troutbeck from the American Academy of Optometry, they explain that “elderly drivers also report difficulty reading signs and seeing other vehicles which appear unexpectedly among the problems they experience in driving” (120). If the elderly are reporting having these problems, then something needs to be done. Every state should require vision tests to prevent these accidents from happening. An article from Review from Optometry states “In 2001, people age 70 and older made 13% of all traffic fatalities, 12% of vehicle occupant fatalities, and 18% of pedestrian fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“Should Elderly” 7). These drivers are causing so many different kinds of accidents that it is only going to keep happening unless we take away the elderlies’ driving ability. If we let elderly drivers keep renewing their licenses without any tests, nothing is going to change and people are going to continue to be in

Senior citizens need to be retested for their drivers license. “... we also believe elderly drivers with diminished vision and hearing, as well as slower reflexes, pose a greater danger to society as a whole (Should elderly drivers be retested?).” When the elderly looks at a

According to the National Institute of Health, there are several differences between old drivers and younger ones. Some of these differences favor seniors, such as experience behind the wheel. Other differences are areas of concern, such as "age-related declines in vision, hearing, and other abilities, as well as certain health conditions and medications, can affect driving skills." Further, when crashes occur, seniors are significantly more likely to be injured or killed than their younger counterparts.

As the “Compendium of State Statutes and polices on Domestic Violence and Health Care”, produced by Family Violence prevention fund, states only three states: Alabama, New Mexico, and Wyoming are not obligated to serve mandatory physician reports of their patient’s illnesses or domestic violence (Durborow). Even Knowing these laws are in place several physicians do not report their patient’s mental disabilities for the patient’s loyalty with their business. This Is what June Sullivan’s doctor was put on trial for, he was accused for finding his business to be more important than his patients health and safety and has been a rising problem throughout Northern Orange County. Twenty-three states require licensed drivers of a certain age to appear periodically at a department of motor vehicles office to renew their license. In 16 states, older drivers must prove that they can see well enough to drive. Some states have tried other ways to identify drivers who, because of age-related health problems, put themselves or others at risk. But the IIHS says such efforts have failed to accurately predict the risk an elderly driver may pose. Without precise measures, analysts estimate that 500 good drivers would have to be taken off the road to prevent a single crash. Among states' efforts to restrict elderly

I think it is safe to say that there are plenty of drivers, whether they are teens, elderly, or any age really, who should not be driving. My father for instance is in his 60's and probably should have had his license taken away decades ago. It just doesn’t make good sense to prove your poor driving abilities at the ripe young age of 16 and never have to prove that you have gotten any better at wielding a 4k weapon or in some poor folk’s case worse. And elderly are often fearful or reluctant to admit their diminished abilities to do things independently, driving is no

Elder drivers have an extremely high rate of car accidents compared to other adult age groups. I think elderly drivers should be subject to a set of regulations specific just to them just like the new first-time drivers do. For example, there should be administrative regulations prohibiting late night driving and the use of cell phones and limiting the number of passengers that may ride with the driver. I also think they should be asked to retest for their license, just to make sure they are still maintaining their driving skills and their reflex skills and eyesight is still in very good condition. Regular check-ups are critical to keep elderly in the best possible driving shape. As we age, it's normal for old people’s driving abilities to

One of the most controversial topics these days is if senior citizens should continue to drive, and if they can cause any harm. But, how do you explain this to an elderly person, or at what age should they stop driving? Studies have showed that people are living longer than they use to live in the past. The baby boomer group is starting to reach an elderly age, and as America grows older so is the older drivers growing as well and they are driving more than ever.

First, it is a well-known fact that as a person’s age increases, their health decreases. If the government passes a law regarding elderly drivers, that law require more frequent renewal times and a health exam at the time of renewal. As people age, not only does their health take a toll, but their reaction times and flexibility also decline. Opponents to restrictions on elderly drivers attest that driving should be tested on ability and not age. However, it is still important to consider the age of someone because it can be a good indicator of their health.