Older Drivers: Retaining their Independence and Mobility 

By Barbara Riley, Director of the Ohio Department of Aging, wnewsj.com

May 12, 2009

More drivers age 70 and older are hitting the road, keeping their licenses and driving longer than earlier generations. By 2030, one out of four drivers will be 65 or older, according to Census Bureau estimates. This trend has led to dire predictions about increased car accident risks. However, research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows fatal car accidents involving older drivers actually have declined in the past decade.

Getting older does not automatically make us poor drivers. Most older people are capable and have a lifetime of valuable driving experience.

Drivers age 65 and older are only one-third as likely as drivers age 18 to 25 to cause auto accidents, and only slightly more likely than drivers 26 to 64 to do so, according to a RAND Corporation study. However, drivers age 70 to 74 are twice as likely to die when involved in a crash compared to drivers age 30 to 59. For drivers age 80 and older, the risk is five times as high because older drivers tend to be more frail and are more likely to suffer a severe injury, particularly to the chest.

While decisions about a person’s ability to drive cannot be based on age alone, we need to be aware that we change physically and mentally as we age, which can affect our driving skills. Joints may stiffen and muscles weaken. It may become more difficult to turn your head to look over your shoulder or to quickly turn the steering wheel or step on the brakes.

Older eyes need more light to see, but may be bothered by glare, oncoming headlights or streetlights. Your hearing may be diminished as well. Reflexes slow down, and you may find it harder to concentrate on multiple tasks simultaneously.

People who accurately assess these changes can adjust their driving habits so that they stay safe on the road, or they can choose other kinds of transportation. For example:
• If left turns make you nervous, change your route. Make more right turns to eliminate the left turn or make left turns where there is a traffic light with a turn arrow. You can also change your route to an intersection with a four-way stop or, simply, to a less busy intersection for your left turn.
• If heavy traffic makes you nervous, carpool. Offer to drive when you are going someplace less busy.
• If you are uncomfortable driving at night, schedule your appointments during the day. When driving at night, remember to look at the right edge of the road when headlights approach to avoid being blinded by the glare.
• Most importantly, if you are not sure in any driving situation, wait until you are sure. It is easier to survive the honking horn of an impatient driver behind you than a traffic crash.

Many organizations offer free or low-cost driver training for older drivers. Contact your regional post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, local law enforcement agency or area agency on aging to find a program near you.
With smart self-management, older drivers can retain the independence and mobility that comes with driving, while limiting the risks to themselves and others.

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