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CARMEN D. COSTA
ELDERLY DRIVERS INCREASE TRAFFIC FATALITIES
As winter approaches, many elderly "snowbirds" have returned to Florida to enjoy the mild weather. Because of several "close encounters" with elderly drivers who were driving erratically, the writer wished to discover if those individuals have more accidents than do their younger counterparts. A casual review of the literature shows that older drivers become more crash-prone with age, even though they drive less miles. In addition, because older drivers are more fragile, their fatality rates are 17 times higher than those of 5- to 64-year olds. The problem at hand is the high accident and death rate associated with a large population of elderly drivers.
Last year, a woman sitting in the nail salon, enjoying a refreshing manicure looked up to see a bright red Cadillac coming through the shop window, stopping just short of a startled patron. Fortunately, no one was injured. The newspaper report of this incident stated that the 87 year old driver was in a hurry to get to her appointment, and drove into the parking lot at an excessive speed. When she thought she was putting her foot on the brake, she actually stepped on the accelerator and drove through the window. The newspaper also stated that this was not an uncommon cause of similar accidentsthinking that the accelerator pedal was the brake pedal.
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America is undergoing a major demographic transformation. The " graying of America" has resulted in an increase in the number of elderly drivers. Drivers over 70 years of age number 18 million today, up from 1 million in 185. Why do these very experienced drives have such an excessive number of accidents? Although driving seems an easy activity, it actually requires the complex coordination of many different skills. Sometimes, when elderly drivers are the ones behind the wheel, this coordination is hard to accomplish. Older drivers experience physical changes that can affect driving ability such as changes in vision, a slowdown in response time, and loss of strength and flexibility. Confusion caused by increased use of medications and a reduction in ability to focus and concentrate add to the problem. Driving requires multi-tasking and rapid integration and response to information coming from all directions. The sight of a traffic light changing from green to yellow, the sound of cars behind and on either side, and the need to quickly move the foot from the accelerator to the brake while simultaneously turning the wheel to avoid a mother and stroller becomes a whirlwind of spinning images that the 78 year old man just cannot respond to quickly. If you then factor in other effects add a cell phone or a cup of McDonald's coffee in their hands the risks of a fatal accident increase dramatically.
What is the solution to this problem of elderly drivers? The solution is complex because the problem cannot be solved simply by banning these individuals from driving. Some years ago, there was an award-winning movie called "Driving Miss Daisy", about a son dealing with his elderly mother who was no longer a safe driver. She tried public transportation, but it was not a satisfactory alternative in her small town. After that, her son hired a chauffeur to solve the problem. But hiring a chauffeur it is not an option for most elderly people.
How can society address this epidemic of traffic injuries and deaths as our population continues to age? The solution must include an understanding of the psychological and practical effects of losing the privilege to drive. Driving represents freedom and independence for seniors. Telling an elderly relative that it is time to stop driving is a very difficult task for an adult child. It is also quite difficult for other authorities, such as doctors, to get their elderly patients to give up the keys. In addition, it is a very emotional issue for the elderly. Many different agencies and states are addressing this problem in novel ways.
The first step in the solution is recognition that there is a problem. The statistics quoted earlier in this paper clearly demonstrate this. The next step is education. In a state like Florida, where every year the number of old people increases; there is a need to help aging individuals to recognize their changing abilities and adapt their driving practices appropriately. A number of organizations recognize this and offer courses for older drivers to sharpen their skills and learn different ways to cope with traffic challenges such as avoiding left turns and leaving a greater distance between cars. , . While it is important to realize that much of the literature counts elderly drivers as those who have reached 70 years of age, the AARP course is for those 55 years and olderwhen reaction times first begin to slow down under stressful circumstances.
A third important part of a solution to this problem is periodic reevaluation of an individual's ability to drive. This starts out by self-monitoringwhich ties back to the need for education in this area. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety distributes a booklet designed to allow older drivers to assess their own skills, and encourages them to do this frequently.
Beyond self-monitoring is external monitoringfamily, physician and the state's requirements for driver's license renewal. Imposing driving restrictions based on age is politically difficult and an age-limited driver's license is not an option. In fact, when a proposal to require individuals over the age of 70 to renew their driver's license by visual and road test rather than a telephone call came before the Florida legislature several years ago, it was defeated on the grounds that it was age discrimination. The opponents conceded that elderly individuals had more accidents than any group except the novice teenage drivers, but felt that they should not be "singled out" for retest.
The obvious answer to this political "hot potato" is to require all drivers to renew their license by retest periodically; as is done in England, Germany, Spain, and many other countries. Unfortunately, this would have to be a national change in order to be effective. The graying of the driving population is not just a Florida problem, and requiring Florida drivers to take a test for driver's license renewal will not solve the problem of our large "snowbird" population. However, the National Conference of State Legislature counts at least 1 states that call for more frequent license renewals, restrictions, and retesting after a driver reaches a certain age. Florida should be a leader in periodic retesting for driver's license renewals rather than a follower. This solution, while important, is politically unlikely to occur in the near future. .
A fourth component of the solution is to improve the roads, and take the special needs of elderly drivers into consideration. Some states have special programs for road enhancements to prevent common driving infractions and accidents. The Elder Roadway Use Program in Florida is using reflective pavement markers to better illuminate roads when it is dark or rainy, while Wisconsin is designing intersections and road curvatures for easier navigation by older individuals. These changes and others will lead to safer driving for younger drivers as well. A fifth component of the answer to the problem of elderly drivers is to provide acceptable alternatives, such as mass transportation, car pooling, and safer walking. One reason that loss of a driver's license is so devastating is that there are few good alternatives for travel.
Mass transit is not very good in most cities, and individuals find it burdensome that they must rely on somebody else to visit friends, shop, go to the movies, or simply go to a doctor's appointment.
In an effort to address this, Miami has recently removed all fees from public buses in an effort to decrease the total volume of cars on the road and lure older individuals out of their cars by providing a free alternative transportation. . Many urban areas are improving mass transportation vehicles and their routes for the elderly; often using smaller vans with fewer steep steps that trip older feet. These smaller vehicles have routes designed for the needs of the senior citizento the shopping center, medical center and mall.
Old age should not mean isolation and immobility. Anyone who lives long enough will need some other transportation than the automobile. Programs that assist the elderly nondriver are vital. This includes the recognition that elderly individuals are also at more risk as pedestrians for many of the same reasons that they have higher traffic accident rates. Again, state programs are focusing on these issues. The state of Maryland is expanding the sidewalks in Urban Services Areas, including using wheelchair ramps at corners rather than high curbs that cause more tripping of elderly pedestrians. Simply requiring sidewalks on every street and in all subdivisions can make walking safer for alland walking to a bus stop or even to a shopping center is an important component of being a successful nondriver...
No one likes to get old, but it happens to everybodyand the alternative is even worse! Driving plays an important roll in everyone's lifestyle; it gives people the freedom to get where they want to go when they want to go there. The loss of that freedom is both inconvenient and psychologically difficult to manage. Telling elderly drivers when to stop driving it is not an easy task. The issues involved with loss or modification of driving privileges are very emotional. Thus, it is important to include them in the decision, rather than dictate it to them. Discussing the problem with the elderly driver's doctors and researching alternatives prior to initiating the discussion make it more likely that the elderly driver will listen.
The multipronged practical approach to this problem as outlined above involves personal, political and commercial solutions. Personally, one needs to monitor one's own elderly relativesand resolve to monitor oneself when the time comes. The solution is also to encourage aging relatives to participate in AAA and AARP structured programs that are designed to educate older individuals on ways to cope with aging driving skills. Politically, the state of Florida has had several initiatives regarding retesting of older drivers, and is exploring ways to make mass transit more practical. Commercial solutions require funding for alternative transportation such as the vans transporting elderly individuals on a scheduled basis for routine activities such as medical care, grocery shopping, and other activities.. These are small but practical steps; each community and individual will need to consider how best to solve this problem in their unique situation.
The graying of America is accelerating as the baby boomers age. An automobile is a powerful weapon. Deaths, injuries and mangled lives occur when it is not driven carefully. The data supports the need for action to increase safety and reduce this terrible cost to society. The writer believes we need to address the problem of the elderly driver, not ignore it or sweep it under the political rug. Think about the number of compromised drivers on the road the next time you drive the streets of St Petersburgthen act within your own unique situation.
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