Seniors Driving Essay

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

However, “frail” is a stereotype for the elderly and is a reoccurring term in both Yoffe’s editorial and in Arai’s research. This stereotype damages the driver’s confidence in their ability to drive and leads to more indecisiveness when driving, as explained by Mélanie Joanisse in “Overly Cautious and Dangerous: An Empirical Evidence of the Older Driver Stereotypes.” Using a simulator much like the one presented in the editorial “Hell’s Grannies,” researchers showed senior citizens clips and articles containing negative stereotypes towards elderly drivers. The researches then told the elderly subjects to drive, and the results are similar to the findings stated previously. The editorial shares scenarios of what could and has happened during the process of taking away someone’s license. One story Yoffe tells is of her fellow writer’s mom who is slowly losing her mental capability. When talking to her mother about the possibility of taking away her license, the mother said, “‘I’ve been driving since I was 16’. So the family backed off” (Slate). If she is becoming a risk to herself and others, then the family needs to take action; however, going against a loved one, especially an older one and is consider taboo in many non-western cultures. To not listen to elderly loved-ones invokes disrespect and ungratefulness to them which is

Summary: The central focus of Pollastek et al’s (2012) study was to determine why elderly drivers are more likely to be involved in vehicular accidents at intersections than younger experienced drivers. As a means of data collection Pollastek et al (2012) tested the scanning ability of elderly drivers at intersections through a series of different scenarios. Each scenario took place in a simulated environment, testing the scanning ability of elderly drivers where they were instructed to go through 1) a four-way intersection, 2) turn right at a T-intersection and 3) proceed through an intersection. Pollastek et al (2012) found that elderly drivers fail to properly scan for potential hazards while proceeding through intersections. Pollastek et al (2012) also found that by providing video feedback the participants in the training group performed similarly to younger experienced drivers.

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.

“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.

Mainly it’s the elderly people that drive very slow. Some might call it slow others might even call it driving the speed limit. People are so use to driving over the speed limit that when you drive the speed limit they think it’s too slow. These people are the ones that follow the rules and think about the outcome of things. People tend to ride closely trying to push the car as if they’re in the wrong when in all actuality, they’re doing what’s right.

I think elderly drivers should be testing twice a year depending of their age. Driving has a lot of responsibility as you get older you reflex are not the same your eye vision stars going blurry I think after 65 of age the public safety should have more programs and more testing for their physical and their medical history sometimes know they don’t have a choice family members won’t help them to take them to doctors appoint.t

One of these is our motor skills. In line with this, driving is one major concern among health experts with seniors. Due to the unstable condition that aging can give to any person, it is very unsafe for seniors to drive without the clearance from the doctor. Wisdom Care Transportation, a medical transportation in Page Road Durham North Carolina, shares these most effective tactics for seniors to keep on driving safely.

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

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.

When one starts to drive, he can discover many different people. He begins to realize there are “types” of drivers. Once one categorizes these people, it can become easy to loathe sharing the road with certain drivers. Sometimes it is hard because they are irresponsible; other times it is because they drive as if they don’t have anywhere to be and make the road congested. They worst of all types of drivers are those that drive at 100 mph in areas where no one should be going over half that. Ideally, one would want to avoid the reckless “Road-ragers,” the overly-careful “Sunday Drivers,” and the speedy “Dragsters,” at all costs.

Driving is an important part of daily life for many seniors over the age of 60 – one that often represents their independence, and their freedom to go where they want without the assistance of someone else.

With every new generation, life progresses. Things evolve and become relatively easier to do. Ever since the creation of the automobile going from place to place has never been more easier. With such technological advantage some might say that it would be more efficient to give it to the young people to help with the older generation but I feel that there are many things that are overlooked. According to the following reasons, I feel like lowering the starting age limit for driving (in general) should not be permitted. Those reasons being: It will psychologically and maybe physically impact the younger drivers, Death will increase drastically, and finally how both reasons tie together into a whole puzzle of disaster, if we decide to lower the

Granny, I know you’ve never been in an accident, but Lord knows how many you’ve caused! Although I love my grandmother dearly, I must admit that a few of my grey hairs are courtesy of her driving. As the years passed, my grandmother’s driving progressively got worse. However, there is no test administered to the elderly which determines whether or not they are fit to drive. While my Granny was creating mayhem on the streets, I realized how much a drivers’ test for the elderly was needed. Elderly drivers impose possible threats on others, as well as themselves, and could also be paying excess money on unnecessary insurance.