MISSION SENIORS A monthly guide to events, resources and services for Mission Seniors
September 2014
Aging can impair
driving ability
The number of drivers 70 and over is predicted to triple in North America over the next 20 years. Research indicates that the older a person is, the higher the risk of driver accident or fatality. The risk posed by older drivers and the inevitable increase in older drivers on the road over the next two decades has sparked debate as to whether or not such drivers should be reexamined to ensure safety on the road? In 2003, an 86-year-old man unintentionally killed 10 people and injured more than 70 when he drove his car through a crowded farmer’s market in Santa Monica, Calif. In 2010, a 72-year-old Connecticut man faced vehicular manslaughter charges for allegedly striking and killing a motorcyclist. In 2012, an elderly man in Buffalo, N.Y. caused an accident resulting in three fatalities when
he traveled in the wrong direction on the New York State Thruway. Very frequently the local news is peppered with
The physical and mental changes that accompany aging can have a profound impact on a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
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reports of elderly drivers causing serious accidents. Some wonder if more stringent
requirements for elderly drivers would help the situation. Thirty-three states presently have legislation in place to ensure drivers can retain driving privileges once they reach a certain age. It’s important to note that, according to the National Safety Council, drivers over the age of 75 account for only 3.3 percent of accidents in the United States. Drivers age 25 to 34 account for the largest number of accidents, at nearly 20 percent. Some argue that these findings do not paint an accurate picture because senior See next page
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