Old people driving

[Bigg AG]

WASHINGTON (July 18) - It's not easy to know when to take the car keys away from grandpa.

But as the number of older drivers rises, states are taking a closer look at ways to make sure they're not dangerous to themselves or others.

Accidents like the one in Santa Monica, Calif., this week in which an 86-year-old driver killed 10 people and injured dozens more when he drove into a crowded farmers market, are cited by those who believe older drivers should have to prove their capability.

Others point to statistics showing that older drivers are safer than teens - at least until they reach 75 - and are less likely than other drivers to drive drunk.

``It's tricky. You can't just as a matter of course say, `Once you reach 85, you can't drive anymore','' said Susan Ferguson, senior vice president of research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is funded by auto insurers. ``It would take driver's licenses away from people who are perfectly fine to drive.''

In 2001, 16 percent of drivers were 65 and older; by 2030, one in four is expected to be in that age group.

At least 21 states have requirements for older drivers, varying from more frequent license renewals to vision tests. New Hampshire and Illinois require road tests for those 75 and older, while in Nevada drivers 70 and older who renew licenses by mail must include a medical report.

Missouri allows people to submit confidential tips that an older driver is no longer safe on the road. The state then can require the targeted person to pass a driving skills test or physical examination.

A bill in the California Legislature requiring road tests for people 75 and older was killed in 2000 after senior citizen groups protested. Among those who would have been affected was Russell Weller, the man police say was responsible for the Santa Monica crash.

Weller told police he may have hit the gas pedal instead of the brake when he plowed through the farmers market. Results found no traces of alcohol or psychoactive drugs such as antidepressants and hallucinogens in his blood.

AARP, the advocacy group for people 50 and older, favors better tests rather than age limits for drivers.

``We need to develop means to determine who can drive safely and who can't,'' said Cheryl Mattheis, AARP's director of state affairs. ``People should be able to drive as long as they can drive safely and effectively.''

Taking away a license can rob older people of their independence, forcing them to rely on others for trips to the grocery store or doctor's office. AARP and the auto club AAA have programs to help such drivers keep their skills.

``It's an issue of driving ability, not age,'' said Dr. Jeffrey Runge, head of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Key to determining if someone is fit to drive, he said, are effective screening methods for physicians.

The American Medical Association is issuing guidelines this month outlining what doctors should look for in assessing driving skills.

Some states give special benefits to older drivers. For example, North Carolina doesn't make people 60 and older parallel park during the road test.

Statistics from the Insurance Institute show that older drivers generally are as safe as other age groups until they reach 75, when they tend to have more accidents.

Drivers 85 and older are about as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as those ages 16 to 19, but they're more likely to die than others in car accidents because their bodies are frailer, the institute's Ferguson said.

Wendy Stav, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Cleveland State University, said older people are more apt to have health issues that affect driving. For example, people with heart disease or diabetes can have conditions that cause them to lose feeling in their feet.

Other conditions that can affect older drivers' performance are decreases in attention span, failing vision, inability to see well at night or in the rain, slowing of reaction time and decreased ability to do more than one thing at a time, Stav said.

She said the best way to identify impaired older drivers is to have them evaluated by doctors or through driving evaluation programs run by rehabilitation hospitals or state motor vehicle departments.

07/18/03 03:53 EDT

[CharlieBrown]

I think once you get to 75 you should have to be tested every year to make sure you're safe to drive on the road. Maybe 70 if you have heart problems or diabetes etc.

[Trauma-san]

I think it lies on the family.  If your old man can't drive anymore, it's your responsibility to take the keys away.  Government doesn't have to make every decision in our lives.

[Jim Jones]

old farts shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel unless they past a driving test when they reach the age 75.

[mauzip]

I think it lies on the family.  If your old man can't drive anymore, it's your responsibility to take the keys away.  Government doesn't have to make every decision in our lives.