New evaluations needed for elderly drivers
Piotr Skrabacz
Issue date: 7/18/07 Section: Opinion
We've all experienced it: rolling down the road at a glacial pace behind the one car that seems to be driving itself. As you finally get a chance to pass this mysterious technological advance in automobiles, you notice that it's not new technology at all, just an elderly driver running some errands.
This snag in our on-the-go society may be no more than irritating to most, but in some cases it could hint that some elderly drivers are ready to retire more than their career.
Senior citizens make up about 9 percent of the nations motorists with approximately 19 million registered drivers.
It may not seem like a large portion of the total, but somehow these drivers stick out more than almost any other demographic. This is partially because of their deteriorating senses, which make it more of a challenge to judge distances and perceive possible threats on the road. It's no secret that when you get older the things once thought of as daily routines become daily challenges, including driving.
Now, I'm not saying that all senior citizens shouldn't be on the road, because everyone is unique in his or her skills and the level of danger he or she poses when on the road.
Although, when nearly being pushed off I-88 repeatedly by an elderly man who fell asleep at the wheel, you look at those stories of senior citizens crashing into buildings a little differently.
Currently, Illinois law mandates that any citizen must retake the hearing and vision test at 75 years old, and from 81 to 86 years of age, drivers are required to renew their license every two years. After that period of time, the renewal requirement changes from every two years to a mandatory annual renewal.
It sounds peachy keen, but the fact still remains that the DMV doesn't administer an actual driving test when renewing licenses.
It just doesn't make sense that the most important skill to have in driving is being able to read a line of letters with your left eye closed. The environment when driving is completely different than simply sitting down relaxed and reading off a chart.
When driving, all of your senses have to be alert and prepared for whatever may or may not happen, but when reaching the ripe old age of 75, it's inevitable that the once sharp reflexes have dulled down.
This obvious fact makes it easier to see senior citizens have a 37 percent higher chance of causing an accident compared to younger drivers. Although senior citizens may not drive as much as their juvenile counterparts, the mile-to-accident ratio for elderly drivers is drastically higher than among any other demographic in the United States.
There's no way to completely prevent accidents on the road, but there are ways that have yet to be implemented to help reduce fatalities.
Until driverless cars are mass produced, the restrictions on elderly driving should be reevaluated to not only save lives, but also to make those irritating slow times a little less frequent.
This snag in our on-the-go society may be no more than irritating to most, but in some cases it could hint that some elderly drivers are ready to retire more than their career.
Senior citizens make up about 9 percent of the nations motorists with approximately 19 million registered drivers.
It may not seem like a large portion of the total, but somehow these drivers stick out more than almost any other demographic. This is partially because of their deteriorating senses, which make it more of a challenge to judge distances and perceive possible threats on the road. It's no secret that when you get older the things once thought of as daily routines become daily challenges, including driving.
Now, I'm not saying that all senior citizens shouldn't be on the road, because everyone is unique in his or her skills and the level of danger he or she poses when on the road.
Although, when nearly being pushed off I-88 repeatedly by an elderly man who fell asleep at the wheel, you look at those stories of senior citizens crashing into buildings a little differently.
Currently, Illinois law mandates that any citizen must retake the hearing and vision test at 75 years old, and from 81 to 86 years of age, drivers are required to renew their license every two years. After that period of time, the renewal requirement changes from every two years to a mandatory annual renewal.
It sounds peachy keen, but the fact still remains that the DMV doesn't administer an actual driving test when renewing licenses.
It just doesn't make sense that the most important skill to have in driving is being able to read a line of letters with your left eye closed. The environment when driving is completely different than simply sitting down relaxed and reading off a chart.
When driving, all of your senses have to be alert and prepared for whatever may or may not happen, but when reaching the ripe old age of 75, it's inevitable that the once sharp reflexes have dulled down.
This obvious fact makes it easier to see senior citizens have a 37 percent higher chance of causing an accident compared to younger drivers. Although senior citizens may not drive as much as their juvenile counterparts, the mile-to-accident ratio for elderly drivers is drastically higher than among any other demographic in the United States.
There's no way to completely prevent accidents on the road, but there are ways that have yet to be implemented to help reduce fatalities.
Until driverless cars are mass produced, the restrictions on elderly driving should be reevaluated to not only save lives, but also to make those irritating slow times a little less frequent.
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