Aging drivers on the rise

By: Drivers.com staff

Date: Monday, 24. September 2007

One of the most significant social trends of the new century will be the graying of the population, a fact that raises serious questions for everyone concerned with traffic safety and education.

By the year 2020, for instance, it's estimated there will be 38 million drivers over the age of 70 on roads in the U.S. alone compared to 13 million today. This, in itself, isn't necessarily a problem. In fact, reports show that mature motorists are not involved in a disproportionate number of motor vehicle crashes. Most mature drivers self-assess their skills, modifying their driving habits to fit declining capabilities.

They tend to become more conservative on the road, driving less often at night, avoiding busy highways, and taking fewer long-distance trips to unfamiliar areas.

However, older drivers are more likely than younger ones to be involved in multi-vehicle crashes, particularly at intersections. They're also more likely than younger drivers to be seriously injured in a crash because their bodies are simply less able to withstand an impact. This raises the likelihood of increased medical and insurance costs in the future.

Not only that, accidents can have tragic consequences no matter who is behind the wheel. A recent case in Britain, for example, saw a 90-year-old driver jailed for 12 months for running over and killing a girl and her grandmother. The motorist, who had driven for 73 years without a blemish, is currently free on bail pending appeal.

Valuable information on how to address issues involving aging drivers is contained in a new booklet entitled "Supporting the Mature Driver: A handbook for Friends, Family Members and Advisors." The handbook's author is Barbara L. Spreitzer-Berent, founder and president of Quest Learning Resources and its specialty division, AgeQuest.

AgeQuest addresses the training needs of professionals in the field of aging, older adults, family caregivers and businesses to serve the mature market.

In her introduction, the author says most people would agree that mobility is crucial to a sense of independence, competence, and well-being at all stages of life.

"People of every age value their ability to get to work or volunteer assignments, to the store, to the doctor's office, to social functions, and to other everyday destinations-preferably under their own power. In much of the United States, people rely upon a car to meet their mobility and needs.

"Yet, not everyone will retain the ability to drive a car throughout a lifetime. Physical illnesses, mental frailty, or other losses may affect some people's capacity for safe driving. And the risk of these losses tends to increase with age.

"As a result, you may wonder about your old friends and family members and their performance on the road. On one hand, you want to support their mobility. On the other hand, you may be worried, rightly or not, about their safety and skill."

Spreitzer-Berent says a decline of skills necessary for safe driving may occur suddenly or subtly. Signs may include a pattern of close calls, violations of collisions, even if they're minor; consistent and increasing difficulty in noticing pedestrians, signs, objects, or other vehicles; an observable decline in physical abilities; rapid onset of fatigue from driving.

She also includes advice on how to communicate effectively with aging parents. "The thought of losing a driver's license is very traumatic for most people. They equate it with being dependent, feeling trapped, or losing choice and spontaneity in life. So discussing driving skill with an older person requires great diplomacy. If Mom or Dad feel that you are accusing, criticizing, threatening, or embarrassing them, they're less apt to listen and more likely to argue with you about their abilities on the road."

"Supporting the Mature Driver" is endorsed by the Traffic Safety Association of Michigan. It is available for $6.95 plus tax, postage and handling and may be purchased by contacting AgeQuest at (248) 547-4618.