With the recent devastating crash involving an 86-year old man
in Santa Monica bringing increased attention to the unique needs of
senior drivers, AAA of Northern California is offering advice for
families trying to determine if their loved ones are safe behind
the wheel.
With the recent devastating crash involving an 86-year old man in Santa Monica bringing increased attention to the unique needs of senior drivers, AAA of Northern California is offering advice for families trying to determine if their loved ones are safe behind the wheel.
“It is important to realize that mobility for the senior members of our communities affects everyone. The crashes involve not only the driver, but everyone else in the community,” said AAA of Northern California spokesman Sean Comey. “We have a responsibility to keep our aging population safe – a responsibility that will ultimately help all of us as we age.”
People over 65 are the fastest-growing segment of the population in the United States. By 2020, there will be more than 40 million licensed drivers age 65 and older.
Senior crash fatality rates have climbed while overall fatality rates for all ages combined have remained stable since 1991. Although they are more likely to wear their seatbelts, less likely to drink and drive, and less likely to speed, senior drivers are more likely to be hurt in a car crash. They have the highest crash death rate per mile of everyone except teenagers.
Senior drivers are over-represented in intersection crashes, and senior pedestrians are up to five times more likely to die in these crashes than any other age group.
As we age, our bodies and minds go through several changes. Vision and hearing tend to diminish and muscles and bones become weaker. Mentally, several other changes may also occur that tend to slow our reaction time and the ability to focus attention on many tasks at the same time. All of the attributes and abilities of the mind and body are integral to being able to operate a vehicle safely.
Seniors tend to have difficulty making left hand turns, judging distance, seeing during night driving, driving during conditions that require quick reaction times and handling tasks that require divided attention.
Families of seniors need to remember that giving up driving privileges can be a traumatic and highly disruptive experience. Offering support and being prepared with transportation alternatives is key to making the transition successful.
Scolding or confronting an older driver will likely only alienate them. Try to assess the driver’s behind-the-wheel skills as objectively as you can. Then, encourage him or her to take a self-assessment test and visit a medical professional for a vision and driving fitness checkup. More information, and a 15-step self-assessment test can be found at www.seniordrivers.org.
When attempting to assess an older driver’s behind-the-wheel skills, here are examples of questions to keep in mind.
• Does the driver get lost or disoriented, even in familiar places?
• Do other drivers honk or pass frequently, even when traffic is moving slowly?
• Does the driver weave or drift into other lanes without signaling?
• Has the driver been issued two or more tickets or warnings or had two “near misses” in the past two years?
• Does the driver have difficulty working the pedals?
• Does the driver have trouble seeing other vehicles or pedestrians, especially at night?
• Does the driver seem to ignore or “miss” stop signs and other traffic signals?
• Does the driver neglect to buckle their seat belt?
• Does the driver take medication that causes drowsiness or slows reaction time?
In California, driver’s licenses must be renewed every five years. At age 70, mail renewal is prohibited and no more than two sequential mail renewals are permitted regardless of age. When renewing a driver’s license in person, drivers must pass a vision and traffic laws test.
Older drivers may find they are eligible for a discount on their auto insurance by taking a DMV-approved course for mature drivers. More information on these courses can be found at www.aarp.org/55alive.
