You’ve undoubtedly heard about young people and their risky driving behaviors, such as texting, speeding and showing off to their friends. But what about elderly drivers?
Considering that Florida has the second-highest percentage of residents aged 65 and older, it’s essential to see their impact on crash statistics.
Aging is a natural process
No matter how hard people try to fight the facts, the truth is that our bodies undergo changes as we grow older. The process may be slower in others, but everyone goes through it. Many of these changes have no impact on our daily lives. Still, there are other ones that can affect a person’s driving abilities, including:
- A person who enjoys 20/20 vision and can hear a pin drop across a busy room will suddenly discover that their senses aren’t working too well anymore. Cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration can impair vision, while hearing loss can prevent the driver from hearing honking horns or sirens.
- When driving, it’s crucial to always be prepared for the unexpected, such as a child running into the street or a car stopping abruptly. As we age, our reaction times tend to slow, meaning it may take longer to respond to sudden changes.
- Arthritis can make driving tasks such as turning the steering wheel, applying the brakes or turning your head painful and difficult.
- Many senior citizens take medications for health issues. Some drugs can have side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness or blurred vision, which can impact their driving abilities.
This doesn’t mean that all elderly people are bad drivers. However, 20% of all fatal vehicle crashes in 2022 involved people 65 years and older. It’s imperative that they have routine medical examinations to detect any physical decline. The physician should also review all medications, along with the side effects.
While we don’t want an elderly person to lose the independence that driving gives them, it’s also imperative that innocent people don’t get hurt. Victims of serious car accidents caused by older adults may be entitled to receive compensation for their injuries and lost wages.