BLOG #2: Elder Drivers

We have all driven down a road where the speed limit was 45 Mph, but are forced to slow down because there was a vehicle in front of us that was going around 25 Mph, chances are the driver of that vehicle was an elderly driver. According to Health in the Later Years motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of accidental death among elders aged 65 to 74 and the second leading cause among those aged 75 and over.

Although driving behind an elderly driver maybe annoying to some, their slow driving accounts for the fewest crashes among all age groups. Elderly drivers tend to be more cautious than other drivers, they are less likely to drink and drive, and tend to not speed. Elderly drivers also tend to wear their seat belts unlike other age groups. All these factors show why elderly drivers account for a small percentage of all motor vehicle accidents.

In comparison to other age groups, elderly drivers drive the fewest amount of miles. But according to Health in the Later Years "When the data are analyzed on a per-mile basis, drivers aged 75 and older have the worst record." I for one think that elderly drivers should be given a mandatory road test at the of age 65 and an additional test at the age of 75. I say this because elderly drivers are more likely to sustain injuries, be hospitalized, and even worse die from motor vehicle accidents. Elders tend to have vision problems that may affect their view of the road and their overall driving skills. All these factors show why some elders aren't fit to drive.