Restrictions and Limitations on Elderly Drivers
Elderly Killing Innocent People and Nothing Being Done About It
I can understand wanting your independence but when you get to an age where your reflexes are not as good as they use to be or you need a walker to get around, you are not able to read street signs or make out the color of the stop lights; you should not be driving. If special accommodations need to be made so you can get around, so be it; it would be easier to live with than knowing you hurt or killed someone just because you didn't want to give up your drivers' license.
The following are actual examples of reasons why elderly drivers need restrictions and limitations: (1) In St. Petersburg, Florida a 93 year old man struck a pedestrian severing his leg and the head went through the windshield with the torso laying on the hood of the vehicle. The 93 year old man continued driving not realizing he struck someone. He came to a tollbooth and the tollbooth operator called the police. This man supposedly had been suffering from dementia. The only thing that the 93 year old man got was the police took his license (North Country Gazette, Bizarre Accident Shows Danger of Elderly Drivers). (2) In California a, 85 year old man goes off the road and into a Starbucks. He critically injured 2 and injured 10 others. It was called a "simple mistake" and was not charged. (3) In Moultrie, Georgia an 86 year old man test-drives a car from a dealership. While test-driving he goes through a red light and runs into a parked pickup truck. A person in the truck ended up suffering a brain injury after being ejected. The 86 year old man "had a history of cataracts in both eyes, history of hearing loss in both ears, a history of vertigo, and had difficulty using his lower right leg" (DeWinter, RC, 2006, Elderly Drivers-Unsafe at Any Speed?). (4) An 87 year old man from California in 2003 "drove through an open-air market" killing 10 people (Murphy, K., 2004, Elderly Drivers Pose Growing Challenge for States and Auto Insurers). (5) A 96 year old driver struck and killed a 15 year old girl who was crossing the street, her father witnessed the incident. The driver was only given probation and told to donate $5000 to help Senator Hayden win legislation that would require California drivers to pass a written and road test when they turn 75 years old or soon after when their license is up for renewal. At age 90 it would be required every year (Morris, J., Should elderly drivers be tested?). (6) In New London, Connecticut an 89 year old man injured 27 people when he drove through a crowd at a festival. This man actually "got one count reckless driving" (DeWinter, RC, 2006, Elderly Drivers-Unsafe at Any Speed?). Another incident, (7) was in Houston, Texas and it involved a 77 year old woman who ended up injuring three people after her car went through a plate-glass window. She was not cited for the incident (DeWinter, RC, 2006, Elderly Drivers-Unsafe at Any Speed). It makes me wonder how many more people have to be injured or killed before something is done about the elderly drivers. Just to see that all they get is maybe a citation or lose their license. Something more needs to be done so more innocent lives are not ruined. Literally we are not safe or protected when we are driving while there are 65 to 90 plus year old people driving, when they should absolutely not be driving.
There are a few groups that say putting restrictions or limitations on elderly drivers is age discrimination. One group, American Association of Retired Persons considers Senator Hayden's bill age discrimination. I don't see where that is the case. The group also says that older drivers already put limitations on themselves by not driving at night, using roads with less traffic or not taking any left hand turns. There have been articles that say teenagers are among the highest in fatal car accidents. Senator Hayden says that teenagers go through tests, where as a 75 year old reflexes are diminishing (Morris, J., Should elderly drivers be tested?).
As a person ages functions start declining such as visual impairment, cognitive changes, and reduction in strength and flexibility. Many debilitating diseases get worse such as cataracts, macular degeneration, arthritis, just to name a few. Dementia is one of the most dangerous conditions. A person with dementia might not realize that they are not safe to drive (DHSMV, 2004).
In a USA Today report dated May 1, 2007 shows that there are still 18 states that have no restrictions or renewal requirements for elderly drivers. There are only 3 states that require a road test for drivers over 75 years old. There are 16 states requiring vision tests and only 7 states that require in-person renewal for age 65 and older. The breakdown for Florida is: someone 80 years old and older must pass a vision test, only two renewals maybe made in a row by mail or electronically, regardless of age, renewal is every 6 years with a clean record and every 4 years otherwise (USA Today, 2007, Renewals and Restrictions, State by State).
Drivers 75 years and older is an age group that is growing and has had the highest increase in "fatal accidents nationwide in 2001 and 2002." The National Older Drivers Research and Training Center predicts that "one in four drivers will be over age 65," by the year 2024 (Murphy, K., Elderly Drivers Pose Growing Challenge for States and Auto Insurers).
Elderly drivers should be mandated to show medical proof that they are capable of driving. Then an elderly driver who knowingly drives while being impaired should be fined and license revoked. If they injure or kill someone they should have to pay a fine, pay restitution to the family, and have their license revoked.
In Florida there are driver assessment centers called Florida Senior Safety Resource Centers. They are not mandatory but I feel they would benefit everyone over age 70 as well as everyone who drives the roads they are on. The centers have different levels and assessments available. An individual who passes the second tier of the assessments gets a discount on their insurance (DHSMV, 2004, The Effects of Aging on Driving Ability Report, Prevention, Early Recognition, and Education of At Risk Drivers).
People are living longer and they need to assess whether they should be driving after a certain age or whether they should restrict their driving. Whether or not elderly drivers take the responsibility to restrict their driving the government needs to set restrictions and limitations on their driving as well as require driving and eye exams. The few examples I mentioned here is nothing in comparison to what is happening everyday everywhere.
References:
CBS Worldwide, Inc, Elderly Drivers: Not Ready to Give Up the Keys,
Retrieved September 18, 2007
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/31/health/printable327639.shtml
DeWinter, RC, (2006). Elderly Drivers - Unsafe at Any Speed? OpEdNews.
Retrieved September 18, 2007
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rc_dewin_060730_elderly_drivers_un.htm
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), (2004). The Effects of
Aging on Driving Ability Report, Prevention, Early Recognition,and Education of At
Risk Drivers, Retrieved September 18, 2007
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/atriskdriver.pdf
Morris, J., Should elderly drivers be tested? CNN.com, Retrieved September 18, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/US/9906/28/dangerous.drivers/#r
Murphy, K., (2004). Elderly Drivers Pose Growing Challenge for States and Auto Insurers,
Insurance Journal, Retrieved September 18, 2007
http://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/east/2004/05/17/features/42638.htm
North Country Gazette, (2005). Bizarre Accident Shows Danger of Elderly Drivers,
Retrieved September 18, 2007
http://northcountrygazette.org/articles/102405Editorial.html
USA Today, (2007), Renewals and Restrictions, State by State, Retrieved September 18, 2007
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-01-elderly-drivers-table_N.htm
Published by M.T. Rodgers
My name is Marion T. Rodgers, native New Yorker now living in Florida and loving every minute of it. I am a wife and mother. My family and God come first in my life. I thank the Lord for the people and thing... View profile
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12 Comments
Post a CommentWow, how interesting when you collect accidents limited to a certain age group, it will seem like damning evidence. All of those types of accidents you profiled, also happen across all ages. I am not a senior yet, but classifying age 65 as too old, shows you must be around 17 years old, when everyone over the age of 30 seems like near death.
I think texting while driving is far worse than 'slow' reflexes. How would you solve the problem that many seniors are simply forced to drive to stay alive to get groceries, medicines, etc, as they do not have a magical network of people to run these everyday errands for them?
I worked at a hospital where many nurses would admit driving home falling asleep after several days of 12 hour shifts; yet they kept working at their job, time bombs behind their wheels when they would nod off when driving. Obviously you feel your elderly neighbor is a menace, so you want to punish all seniors by profiling them this way.
I just saw a very elderly woman crash into a bright yellow post in a parking lot. Her entire excuse was that it should not have been there and she was laughing and stating that the manager at Lowes was an idiot for putting it there. Meanwhile her car was wrapped around the pole and she had to be told to stop moving because she could have an injury that was not yet visible or noticeable. She was talking nonstop (nerves) and could not stay still. Her son showed up and told officers that his mother was not well mentally and yet her drivers license was just fine.
She was around 75 years old and if a medical evaluation would have been required she would not have a license. I'm just glad she hit a pole and not a person.
It really is bad down here - that's actually my only gripe about FL! When I went to go get my driver's license at the local DVM, I just had my photo taken and waiting patiently for the laminate to be made when I saw this frail, elderly lady wheeled up in her wheelchair by a man to the camera, who helped her stand up and get her photo taken. I was HORRIFIED. There is no way someone in that condition should be driving!
One more thing: if you happen to be in assisted living (there is a reason it is called assisted living) you should not be allowed to have a driver's license - period.
Thank you John, your statement says it all.
My comment was cut off this is what should be at the end: When someone over 65 years old is the cause of an accident they need to be evaluated as to whether or not they should have their license; that is my OPINION.
Sondra C. you have a right to your OPINION but what I wrote is absolutely true. I see elderly drivers every single day. I live in a county in Florida that is mainly elderly people and they are ONE of the biggest problems on the road. I can't wait until I am 65, because if I cannot drive, I will not drive. I will not put other people in danger because I don't want to give up my INDEPENDCE. My neighbor is 85 years old can't stand without assistance and uses a motorized cart to go around her yard and when she gets in her car I get sick. "How can she drive," her react time is not as good as someone who is younger. My sister was hit by a man who was in his 70's and he admitted to not paying attention and not being able to judge distance. He has to be tested to see if he should still be driving and the police officer who ordered that did the right thing. Thank you Citrus County Sheriff's! When someone over 65 years old is the cause of an accident they need to be evaluated as to whether or no
This article is absolutely hogwash. More people are killed by drunken drivers, drivers who use their phones while driving or using their ipods to send messages. The younger people are causing the accidents not the seniors. A person of 65 or 75 are seniors in word only. They drive carefully and keep their eyes on the road at all time. Wait until you are 65 and see if you want to lose your independence, and give up the keys to the car. Then let me know if you still agree with this article
I completely agree with this article. I wrote an article about this also. Elderly drivers are hazardous on the road. People are getting killed and they are still allowed to drive with no limitations. It's a fact that when people get older their senses deteriorate.
Comment to SEMISWEET:
Why are you attacking me? I wrote a paper about what I felt with references which earned me an A in College. Next, I live and drive on the roads in Florida and know first hand how bad elderly drivers are. What makes me feel sick is seeing an 85 year old park in a handicapped parking spot, then get out and ride a scooter through the store. Now, do you want to be on the road with that person? I understand there are bad drivers in all age groups but if you noticed my report was based on one sector of the population. So, instead of leaving a comment like you did you should just write something yourself on how you feel about young drivers who are inexperienced.
The missing link..!
My comment was cut off and the link is missing. Here it is.
http://web.utah.edu/unews/releases/05/feb/cellphones.html