Senior Drivers Research Paper

The elderly are the fastest growing segment of the driving population. A person’s crash risk increases beginning at the age of 55. By age 80, it exceeds that of the young, beginning driver. Age and alcohol interact to increase driving risk. This could mean the responsibility of their transportation falls on a family member.

We have all had the experience of being stuck behind someone that is either driving too slow, swerving, or breaking way too early; then when we drive up next to them its 9 times out of 10 an elderly driver. I believe that at the age of 75, and older, maybe even a little younger, yearly driving, medical, and vision exams need to be done to renew their licenses. This process can reduce the number of accidents involving seniors, and even help to reduce road rage situations for other drivers on the road. Now I am not trying to say that all accidents are caused by seniors, because younger drivers are responsible for, and are involved in a greater number of serious road traffic crashes than seniors. (Carvel 2002) The point I am trying to make is

In the United States, adults over the age of 65 account for 13% of the nation’s current licensed drivers. By the year 2030, researchers expect this number to increase above 20%, as the baby boomer population overtakes the traditionalist generation (Perkinson et al., 2005). With this number steadily rising, it’s startling to note that most adults outlive their driving abilities by six to ten years (Betz, Jones, Petroff, & Schwartz, 2013). Fatal crash rates per mile traveled increase after age 75 – the only demographic with higher rates being teenagers (Classen et al., 2006). Many of these collisions are attributed to aging-related cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or dementia. Since most adult drivers do outlive

The national Highway traffic safety Administrations state that “In 2008, 12 percent (5,864) of all drivers involved in fatal crashes (50,186) were young drivers of age 15 to 20 years old. Also that 14 percent (1,429,000) of all drivers involved in police-reported crashes (10,081,000) were young drivers.” It’s a small fraction compared to the fatal crashed made by people between the ages of 25 and 54. However, between the ages of 21 and 24 have the third least fatal crashes made. It is concluded that after a certain point in time of learning and experience on the road that one can get better. Sometimes a person needs to be able to drive at a younger age, and not only to

Motor vehicle crashes are among the top 10 causes of death for U.S. residents of all ages and the leading cause of death for persons aged 5--34 years. In terms of years of potential life lost before age 65, motor vehicle crashes ranked third in 2007, behind only cancer and heart disease, and account for an estimated $99 billion in medical and lost work costs annually. Crash-related deaths and injuries largely are preventable. From 2000 to 2009, while the number of vehicle miles traveled on the nation's roads increased by 8.5%, the death

In this week's edition of Harper's Weekly Review, the topic that interested me was the one covering the story of an elderly woman crashing into 14 cars. A woman, 75 years of age, crashed in 14 cars and caused about 25,000 euros($27,888.75) worth of damage. I thought this was interesting because for quite some time I've seen that many elderly drivers are sometimes a nuisance on the road or just cause accidents such as the one the article describes. Just recently, about a month ago, a cousin of mine was working front desk at a salon and an elderly woman in her late 70's crashes into the salon with my cousin just barely avoiding critical injury. I believe that there has to be a stricter rule or law that applied to the elderly regarding driving.

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.

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.

There has been talk about banning elderly driving off the road in recent years. Some people suggest that the elderly should reapply for driving licenses. Elderly driver usually have loss of hearing, diminished vision, and slower reaction time. Elderly driver should reapply for driver’s license once they grow old because accidents and fatalities could be reduced by two folds. Since many of the accidents come from elderly drivers, fewer accidents would likely happen at all.

Also, their memory of the rules of the road has undoubtedly deteriorated. Senior adults who are still driving on the road who have not been assessed in over sixty to seventy years are a hazard to all drivers. Senior adults must be tested on a regular basis so that optimal road safety can be taken one step closer to obtaining. Driving is an activity that takes place in the majority of the population’s life every day. Adding constricting regulations on driving test, specifically for senior adults, will decrease the risk of fatal accidents on the road and this will be done through a reoccurring mandatory test that must be taken every 2 years in order to keep our license.

It might be because the loss of practically all cognition of their youth. When aging, people lose a lot of sensations they had in their youth. The ability to make split-second decisions, judge other drivers’ decisions, and react to things such as juveniles and creatures running in the street, diminishes(Older Adult Drivers). Most may find it difficult to read signs, due to their vision dwindling. In some cases, the peripheral vision, which is very important for determining the objects surrounding the car, will be lost. Making it almost impossible to detect other cars when changing lanes(Older Adult Drivers). Some elderly drivers have complications with flexibility, such as turning their head and neck, whether it be to see other drivers or to back in/out(Older Adult

Driver ages 85 and older are cause of the driving accidents that approximate four times than youthful drives (Neporent, 2012, para.3). The problem of driving aged limitation has been discussed recently in the publics. Some people believe that driving license should be confined the age. On the other hand, others claim that the limited age is not important for drivers as long as they are able to drive. Which one is the best way for elderly drivers? Unlimited driving age is better than limited age because elderly drivers can confirm their driving capabilities by taking an older-driver test, and they should not be prohibited some activities that they like to do.

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.

Car accidents can happen to drivers anytime, anywhere. "According to the National Safety Council, which stated that more than 2.5 million collisions back every year, making it the most common type of car accidents, it is also known that the accident rear end as incidents of injury, because the nature of the collision leads often in whiplash injury the driver in the car in front and about 20% of people who participated in a rear collision injury symptoms of this kind. ", (NHTSA, auto-accident-resource.com). Among the car accidents, the teenage group is the only age group who is number of deaths is increasing instead of decreasing. Also, all the people are exposed to risk and actually every one of them has got car

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).