Who's Better: Oldest Or Youngest Drivers?
How safe are older drivers behind the wheel?
It's easy to notice a car going by, driven by an elderly person, and worry about that driver's ability to control the vehicle.
But, reported medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay on The Early Show Thursday, a new study suggests that older drivers may be more in control than many people think.
The study was done by the RAND Corporation, the public policy think-tank, to address issues of transportation policy raised by the increasing number of older drivers on the road.
The analysis includes a detailed look at how elderly drivers compare in terms of safety with other people who get behind the wheel and, as a group, they stacked up fairly well.
Drivers over 65 were 16 percent more likely to be in a two-car collision than drivers between 25 and 64. But they were only one-third as likely to have an accident as the youngest group of drivers, those between 15 and 24, even though the latter likely has sharper reflexes and the senior citizens may have poorer eyesight and less physical ability.
Senay says the study suggests a big reason is that older drivers frequently recognize their limitations, and drive accordingly. Many elderly drivers have enough self-awareness to stay off the road at night, when eyesight can be a concern, and during rush hours, when the roads are more congested and difficult to navigate. Compare that to young drivers, who drive most often at night. There's also evidence that older drivers as a group drive at slower speeds and take fewer risks behind the wheel. And a certain number of older drivers are so conscious of their limitations, they give up driving completely.
The American Medical Association and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say there's no set age when the elderly should be forced to give up their car keys, Senay points out. They say it's not the numerical age that should count, because every person's rate of physical and mental decline is different. Instead, experts say loved ones, friends and neighbors, and doctors should look for other signals that suggest that a person should not drive.
One way to do that, Senay explained, is to observe the person's driving habits. If he or she misses stop signs or red lights, or steers erratically, those can be signs. In or out of the car, signs such as forgetfulness and confusion, or a loss of coordination, or stiffness when he or she tries to move around, or periods of heightened agitation, can all mean it's time for that person to get around some other way.
If the time comes when someone should no longer be driving, Senay says, calm, loving persuasion and careful evaluation of the facts are considered the way to go, as opposed to refusing to let him or her use a car. You should reassure the person that, even without a car at his or her disposal, you'll make sure he or she won't be homebound, and will get the necessary transportation to do the things that are important in life.
Remember, also, that the observations you make may not be the last word. Before you take drastic action, Senay suggests, you can have the person evaluated by a doctor, and a competent driving instructor, so any remaining ability to drive, under even limited circumstances, will be preserved, and with it as much of that person's independence as possible.