Should There Be Stricter Guidelines for Elderly Drivers?
April 16th 2012 by Richard Console
Did you now that every day another 10,000 Americans reach the age of 65? It has also been reported that by the year 2020 one in six people in this country will be 65 or older. With that in mind there has been a long standing debate about if or when licenses should be taken away due to age.
Car accidents are a sad reality of our society, and when we are injured in an accident that was the result of someone else’s negligence there are Paterson car accident lawyers there to help. A skilled attorney will be able to not only help you navigate the sometimes difficult avenues of the civil justice system but will also help you to get your life back on track following an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2009, 16 percent of all traffic fatalities were people aged 65 or older—5,288 elderly drivers were killed. It was also reported that another 187,000 elderly drivers were injured during the same year. The NHTSA does not suggest that older drivers have their privileges taken away, just that they plan for, along with their family, when that time comes.
There are several factors that should be taken into consideration with regards to ending your driving days including:
- Eye sight
- Hearing abilities
- Medical conditions
- Cognitive abilities
- Reaction time
- Reflexes
- Physical fitness
- Familial concerns
Age alone is not distinguishing factor of your ability to drive, but older motorists need to take responsibility and know when it is time. Often times the best thing to do is to listen to your family members when they express concern about your ability to operate a vehicle safely.
Unfortunately, most times people wait to make this decision until there is an accident or until a serious health even occurs, but it is best to prepare for this ahead of time. You should have a plan in place as to how you will get around when it is no longer safe for you to drive. This could mean finding out more information about public transportation options or making arrangements with relatives.
While some states do have regulations with regards to elderly drivers, New Jersey does not. That makes it even more important for older motorists in Paterson and other New Jersey cities to have a plan in place and be willing to stop driving when the time comes.
As you age the physical impacts on your body can significantly impair your ability to drive safely. As hearing and vision abilities decline, the likelihood of an accident increases. It is a difficult time in one’s life, and further losing you freedom can be difficult to cope with but the most important thing to focus on is your safety and that of the people on the roads around you.
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