Times are changing and the world is evolving. New technology and medications are constantly emerging and because of this it is no wonder that today people live an average of six years longer than they did in 1990 (Life Expectancy). With the life expectancy continually increasing, there are more and more elderly drivers on the roads. In fact, the total annual miles older drivers traveled climbed twenty nine percent from 1995 to 2001 (“Should elderly”) and that number is probably even greater now. This can cause a huge problem not only for the elderly drivers themselves, but for other people on the road too. As the body ages, reaction rate, hearing, and vision naturally decline which makes an aging driver much more susceptible to driving accidents and fatalities. Senior citizens should not be denied the right to drive, but they should be required to retake driving tests when they renew their license. This will confirm that they are mentally capable of operating a car and will assure more safety for all drivers on the road. In attempts to aid senior drivers even more, measures should also be put in place to make the roads easier for them to navigate. It is no secret that as people age their bodies start to slow down. Even though these changes are natural and extremely common, it does not mean they should be ignored, especially when it comes to driving. Vision, reaction rate, and hearing are three major concerns for elderly drivers. In the United States alone more
Your senior loved one should not be driving if they have not had their eyes checked in the last two years. You should also make certain that the windows and mirrors in the vehicles are kept clean to insure they can see properly out of them. If you notice any hearing difficulties, address this with your senior loved one so they can make sure they can hear well enough to respond when driving.
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
Once people reach a certain age their health starts to degrade. It is more severe with some people than with others because it can faster to some people and slower to others. This severely affects a person’s driving capabilities. You need to have keen vision to spot hazards on the road.
why an annual mandatory driving and written test will separate those who can and can not operate a vehicle safely. These tests should be mandatory over a certain age. The driving test is important to better access relexes and other senses while the written test may seperate those who maintained psychical abilites yet lack in other ability such as memory and if raod signs and rules of the road are still familior. According to Alzheimer 's Society many indivduals with dementia may still be able to drive for some time until their dementia progresses. Part of the problem is that many older drivers feel that driving is a largely automatic activity and should be able to continue. The Alzheimer 's Society also states that many with dementia retain their learned skills even after being diagnosed, and that "driving is a complicated task that requires a split-second combination of complex thought processes and manual skills, such as “make sense of and respond to everything they see – including road signs and obstacles” ( Alzheimers Society)
There has been a significant relationship between self- reported adverse driving events and hearing impairment in 589 adults 60 and older. (Hickson, Wood, Chaparro, Lacherez, Marszalek 2010) A study of driving habits of 2,379 current drivers ages 50 and up found higher crash rates were associated with poorer visual acuity and moderate self- reported hearing loss, especially in the right ear. (Hickson, Wood, Chaparro, Lacherez, Marszalek
The loss of physical strength makes it difficult to maneuver a motor vehicle. A Driver is required to use necessary body parts such as their head and neck to check for blind spots before changing lanes and their hands and arms to grip the steering wheel. Elderly driver’s reflexes are much slower than when they were younger. Their response time to traffic signals, reacting to unexpected pedestrians and other motorists moving in front of them is slower.
Being able to operate a motor vehicle takes complex skills, body movements and the ability to judge situations and act in a short time. “Older drivers may experience a slower reaction time, a loss in flexibility and muscle strength, sleepiness caused by medicines, and a reduced ability to concentrate and focus on the task at hand” (Should Elderly Drivers be Retested?). Aging should not be the main reason to stop driving but the affects of aging call for a good enough reason to retest elderly drivers.
Lees et al. (2007) asked the participants to verbally express what they saw in terms of landmarks (e.g restaurants). While the participants explained the landmarks, the experimenter assessed all the driving faults that occurred and tallied the number of correct landmarks that were acknowledged (Lees et al., 2007). Without being biased towards elderly drivers, Lees et al. (2007) found a common factor. It was not so much that older people could not detect change; it was the speed to which they could react to it (Lees et al., 2007). It seemed as though elders are cognitively busy both assessing the change and deciding what to in regards to it. Lees et al. (2007) acknowledged that people of all ages are susceptible to traffic crashes and proposed that people be aware of the need of attention in driving. Lees et al. (2007) also explained that when researching on different ages, specific stimuli may be considered more attractive to one individual more so than the other.
“An eighty-six year old man killed ten people and injured more than seventy when he drove his Buick into a crowded farmers market in California. In Florida, an eighty-four year old woman drove her car through a window of a Sears and into a cash register and employee” (Murphy). Sadly enough, instances like these are becoming more and more prevalent and require immediate action. It is imperative that a more comprehensive approach be taken when deciding the competence of elderly drivers. Laws must be put into action to mandate and administer testing and re-examining of the skills and eligibility of this group. Equally important, we must consider those who will no longer be able to drive, and ensure their transportation and occupational needs
Many concerns have been expressed about the potential dangers elderly drivers present when operating a vehicle. Mental and physical capabilities begin to decline as a person ages. When their health deteriorates, the well being of other individuals on the road is at stake. Many elderly drivers should not drive due to their medical history and the fact that they might suffer from possible side effects from taking multiple prescription medicines. In addition, local organizations and neighbors can provide transportation for the elderly to keep them from endangering themselves and others. The threat senior citizens create when driving can be avoided if they are tested to ensure their competence as a driver.
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
2. I don't see a problem driving elderly as long as the person can see his/her ayes wheter using glasses or not. The problem is if they can't see and lost their mind due agedness because that time they may cause too many accident and then many people lost their lives.
“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans aged 65 and older account for 13 percent of the total population. This group increased by two percent each year between 2001 and 2009. And estimates show that the number of older Americans will only increase, with the first wave of Baby Boomers turning 65 in 2011. Over the next 15 years, America’s population aged 65 and older is projected to grow by another 60 percent. Currently, 16 percent of the nation’s drivers are 65 or older, up from 14 percent in 2000. Projections show that one in every five drivers will be 65 or older by 2025.” (AASHTO (2012))
While my Granny’s passengers knew about her ineptitude for driving, other drivers were unaware of the danger passing them by. Individuals over 85, who drive, have a four times higher fatality rate than teenagers (Landphair). There are many news stories regarding elderly people who have caused numerous deaths by simply confusing the gas and brake pedals (Landphair). Some contribute these accidents to a decline in vision and cognitive functioning, two factors essential to safe driving. Studies have also shown that if older individuals are under pressure, they tend to make more driving errors than teens (Charles).
GM is more interested in developing cars for old-aged people, rather than the general population, using enabling technologies. For example, GM is to refine the design of existing vehicles and add enabling technologies that make these vehicles easier and safer for an aging population to use. These design changes have been targeted based on the three major physical changes that aging people encounter: 1) decreasing range of motion and strength, 2) decreasing ability to manipulate fine controls, and 3) lessening visual acuity (Ehrenman, 2003).