OLDER DRIVERS: RESPECTFULLY IDENTIFYING WHEN IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE
The death and injuries suffered by the three seniors from the University of Chicago Laboratory School on their bicycle trip over spring break turned out to be anything but a celebration of their friendship. The trip, which was planned for months and chaperoned by one parent, was cut tragically short when an 86-year-old driver veered across a rural stretch of highway in Southern Illinois and struck the bicyclists. The Chicago teens were all wearing helmets when the minivan crossed the line. Inevitably, questions and discussions have been brought up as to when should elders stop driving.
There may not be a specific age but age does, in fact, affect driving. More and more older drivers are on the road these days. Getting older does not automatically turn people into poor drivers. Conversely, many continue to be safe drivers as they age. But there are physical changes that could impact an individual’s driving skills. For example:
1. Reflexes. As people age, they find that their reflexes are much slower. Slower reflexes may force a longer reaction time for a driver to address to traffic signals or to adjust to appropriate speeds.
2. Joints and muscles. Over time, any individual will experience stiffness in their joints. As one ages, it may be more difficult to move your head to look back, quickly turn a steering wheel or apply the brakes in a timely manner.
3. Vision and hearing. Over time, eyesight and hearing will change. As one gets older, they may need more light to see things. Night driving, glare from the sun, oncoming headlights or other street lights may trouble a driver more than before. This does not even account for vision problems for eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration.
Elder drivers should take a driver refresher class every few years. Check with AARP, or local private driving schools to find a class near you. Similarly, state laws will regulate how and when elder drivers can renew their licenses. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s website discusses the license renewing provisions for elder drivers for each state.
At this point, no one knows if this incident could have been avoided or if this elder could have driven in a safe manner. It is a tragic event that has impacted not only the families of the bicyclists but also the family of the elder driver. If you are concerned that an elder drive may becoming dangerous on the road, you must broach the subject. For many people, an end of driving signals the loss of independence and limitations in their lifestyle. This is something that must be discussed with friends and family and alternatives to driving must be investigated. Our condolences go out to the families of the bicyclists.
