Does age matter?
As it relates to driving, we have an established minimum age. Should there be a mandatory maximum?
It’s evident that young drivers contribute greatly to traffic accident and fatality statistics. In fact, motor vehicle accidents remain the number one cause of death for individuals up to around age 40. However, that data is misleading, because life-threatening illnesses begin to take over as we age. So, it’s difficult to quantify whether any one age group collectively represents the best or worst drivers.
But for any given individual, on average, crash rates begin to increase for drivers in their late 60s, and increase at a more rapid pace for those over 75. When drivers reach the age of 85, their vehicular fatality rate is nearly four times that of teens.
And the possession of certain driving-related abilities can be scientifically derived. For example, there is proof that night vision and reflexes deteriorate with age. When other maladies set in, such as arthritis, dementia, or hearing difficulties, elderly drivers become a hazard.
Many older citizens drive safely. Still, they are slightly over-represented, accounting for 14 percent of traffic fatalities and 17 percent of pedestrian fatalities, which both exceed their percentage of driving population according to the American Automobile Association.
The preceding factors highlight the challenge that many older drivers and their families face when determining the right time to give up the car keys.
Many aging drivers recognize their ongoing shortcomings, and adjust their exposure by curtailing night driving or staying off of freeways. They may use care and experience to offset deteriorating hearing or reflexes.
Other drivers, however, stubbornly insist that since they’ve driven all of their lives, they are capable of continuing. A number of those drivers are placing both their lives and others’ in danger.
Since everyone’s health situation varies, it would probably be deemed discriminatory to set a maximum driving age. Nevertheless, if there were a federal law that set the time to quit at, let’s say, 91 years old, everyone would have time to prepare for that deadline.
I’m only throwing the notion out for debate, because without a definitive age to end the driving privilege, the topic of stopping is a touchy one. Candidates for ending driving resent losing their independence. And family members, while concerned each time their loved one gets behind the wheel, are in fear of hurt feelings or starting arguments when mentioning the subject.
Often, enlisting the help of physicians, eye doctors, or other influences outside of the family can be helpful. It is common for parents to resist heeding advice from their children or grandchildren.
Conditions like cataracts or glaucoma can affect the ability to drive, and an optometrist or ophthalmologist can offer a credible recommendation. Physicians can relay the dangers of driving for their elderly patients taking certain medications.
At times, actions speak louder than words, and if the driver in question is having multiple “fender benders,” it might serve as evidence and fair warning that their driving days should be over before one of those accidents ends a life.
Each case is different, but other telltale signs of trouble might be confusing the gas and brake pedal, stopping at a green light or running a red one, and/or getting lost in a neighborhood that should be familiar.
It’s probable that no driver should lose their license based on age alone. For aging drivers who wish to continue, however, agencies such as AAA offer refresher courses for senior citizens. Those courses also pose questions to evaluate driving readiness, which may be an aid to family members who are trying to intervene for everyone’s benefit.
As drivers, we should continue to evaluate our driving effectiveness at every age. If you are honked at continually, are often speaking with law officers, or experiencing an undo number of close calls, some sort of change is definitely warranted.
The driving population as a whole must be considered. Even if advanced age makes it more difficult for you to react to and accommodate the many younger drivers who make mistakes, it could be time to quit. For all collisions, regardless of party at fault, there is still a collision.
Readers may contact Bill Love via email at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.
