From the Director
Some facts about older drivers
By Robert P. Dean
Nearly 10% of all drivers in the United States today are age 70 or older - an increase of nearly 36% in the last 10 years. In 2006 there were 20 million drivers age 70 or older in the United States. This number is expected to continue to increase as Baby Boomers move into their senior years and as seniors continue to live longer, healthier, and more active lives. By 2020 it is estimated that one in four drivers - or 40 million drivers - will be age 65 or older. Although accidents involving older drivers frequently draw attention to their age and driving abilities, statistics indicate that older drivers are safe drivers. According to a 2007 Rand Corporation study entitled “What Risks Do Older Drivers Pose to Traffic Safety?” people age 65 and older accounted for about 15% of all licensed drivers (in 2001) but only 7% of all two-car accidents (both fatal and non-fatal). It is the younger drivers, age 15 to 24, who pose the greatest risk to traffic safety. According to the Rand report, these younger drivers represented 13% of all licensed drivers yet were responsible for 43% of all traffic accidents in the United States in 2001.
Driving is a fast-paced, complex activity. It involves processing information about traffic and road conditions, deciding what to do, and then acting on those decisions in a matter of seconds. Age affects driving ability in a variety of ways including diminished vision, and reduced decision making and reaction time. Despite medical evidence that demonstrates that driving skills decline with age, the Rand report states that older drivers are not significantly riskier drivers. This is primarily because older drivers modify their driving habits to compensate for diminished driving skills as they age. For instance, older drivers drive far less frequently and average far fewer miles driven. Most older drivers use seat belts and have fewer citations for speeding, reckless driving, or alcohol-related charges. (In regards to drinking and driving, 6% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers age 70 and older had blood alcohol concentration levels of 0.08 percent or higher compared with 41% for drivers age 16 to 59). Additionally, older drivers tend to avoid driving conditions that put them at greater risk for an accident, such as poor road conditions, or driving during peak traffic times or at night. The Rand report contrasts these tendencies with those of younger drivers, who show no particular driving pattern during the day, and drive more frequently at night. The Rand report also found that many older drivers give up driving entirely if they feel they are a driving risk to themselves or others. AARP identifies fifteen warning signs to help determine when someone should begin to limit their driving or stop altogether. Some of these warning signs are as follows: feeling uncomfortable, nervous or fearful while driving, difficulty staying in the lane of traffic, getting lost, frequent “close calls”, difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead, having a hard time turning around to check over your shoulder while backing up or changing lanes, being easily distracted or having a hard time concentrating while driving, and/or frequent traffic tickets or warnings in the last two years.
There are additional precautions that an older driver, who may be concerned about his or her driving ability, can take to help ensure that he or she continues to drive safely. These precautions include regular vision tests, reducing unnecessary distractions - such as cell phone use - when driving, staying off the road in bad weather, taking a refresher driver course, and listening to your family, friends or doctor if they are saying you have a problem driving. The decision to stop or limit driving should be based on each individual’s circumstances and abilities. For some individuals the decision to stop driving may be the best solution, for others a better option may be to limit their driving and to learn safe driving techniques. Those who participate in a driver safety course will learn defensive driving techniques and how to adjust to age-related changes in perception and response.
The decision to limit or to stop driving is a difficult one. So much of our independence is based upon our ability to drive. This is especially true in a rural area such as Berkshire County where easily accessible public transportation is limited. It would be helpful if additional alternative transportation options for seniors were more readily available throughout the county.
(Editor’s Note: If you think you or someone you know could benefit from a safe driving program check out the AARP website at www.aarp.org for additional information. The Rand report can be found at www.rand.org.)
Robert P. Dean is Executive Director of Elder Services.
