Elder Drivers

An article on elders driving said, "Whether or not to hang up the car keys is a very difficult issue for older people and their families," Dr. Gene D. Cohen, former Acting Director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), acknowledged. "Losing a license to drive can mean the end of the independence to visit friends, to go grocery shopping, or to go to the doctor's office."1 I think Florida should adopt mandatory testing of drivers over the age of 65. Although it is in some way taking away a sense of independence, it is in the best interest of them and the other people on the road. Studies have been done that show the number of older drivers killed or injured in traffic accidents rose rapidly during the last decade. "We have to find ways to identify the driving limitations of older people. But we also have to make our cars and highways safer for them," says John Eberhard, Ph.D. who co-edited the NHTSA-NIA report.1 A way to do this would to have a mandatory testing to ensure that even at the age of 65 they are still safe drivers. This test would need to include eye sight, quick reflexes and reaction time, and still mentally alert.
The scary thing is that 25% of the drivers on the road are over the age of 65. We need to make sure that they are capable of being on the road. Another article says, "Researchers say that drivers begin to pose a greater risk around age 70, with crash-rates increasing markedly after age 80. Older drivers are also more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than other age groups, researchers say, although many attribute that to frailty."2 Since this is a growing concern as the number of elder drivers increase. It is important we implement a mandatory test soon.
1. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1000/is_n366/ai_15951098/
2. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/08/pressure_building_to_test_elderly_drivers/?page=2