From the Publishers of the New England Journal of Medicine
Older drivers are involved in a relatively small number of crashes overall. But per miles driven, seniors have one of the highest rates of accidents,
injury, and death of any age group. Although the standard eye tests given by state
licensing agencies do rule out some unsafe drivers, other factors come into play in
assessing crash risk,including medical problems, medications, and mental and physical
abilities.
Two recent studies of drivers 55 and older found that a few simple tests
can help identify who is most likely to be involved in an accident. Both reports appeared
in the May Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. In one study of 125 drivers
age 72 and older, researchers found that tests of near visual acuity (sharpness), neck
rotation, and visual attention were the best predictors of crash risk. These tests can be
given in a doctor's office in less than five minutes, the researchers
say. In a second study, scientists found that crashes were most likely to occur in
drivers who had a history of falls or who had a reduced "useful field of view,"
which measures visual function and attention. Oddly, people not taking beta-blocking drugs
were also at higher risk, possibly because of the drugs' ability to reduce performance
anxiety and tremors.
Falling may be tied to crashes because of common risk factors, such as drugs or medical conditions that affect balance or reaction time. By pinpointing those at risk, the researchers hope to find ways people can become less crash-prone. Older drivers who recognize their limitations may choose to avoid difficult situations, such as driving at night or in bad weather.
Other strategies include correcting visual problems or adjusting drug
dosages. But be prepared to accept what can't be changed and give up the keys when
necessary, says HealthNews associate editor Arthur Feinberg, MD.
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Stop aging drivers before it's too late
By Ann Landers
Dear Ann: I was furious when
I read the letter about ``Uncle Bob,'' the 86-year-old man who is fighting to hang on to
his
driving privileges even though he has failed his driving test five times and his doctor
has
ordered him to stop driving.
Last year, I was struck by a car while crossing the street with a green ``walk'' signal.
The
driver was an 86-year-old woman in a 1984 Cadillac Coupe De Ville. She told the police
she didn't see me until I landed on the hood of her car. I was lucky to escape with two
sprained ankles. Her driver license? She didn't have one. -- Oakland, Calif.
Dear Oakland: I don't know when I've received so much angry mail. The readers were
truly incensed. They called Uncle Bob a potential murderer, among other things. Keep
reading:
From San Francisco: At age 85, Dad bought a new car. It wasn't easy to wrest the old
Dodge Dart from him, but we did it. When he turned 90, we knew it was time for him to
stop driving. He did, too, but resisted. Then, we showed him a news story about a
90-year-old man who went for a Sunday drive, encountered a steep hill, lost control and
plowed into a car, killing the driver and her four young children. That did it.
Santa Ana, Calif.: Two years ago, I was driving along, five months pregnant, when out of
nowhere, a car slammed into me. I was stunned and terrified. The driver of the other car
was an elderly man returning to his retirement home. An ambulance arrived, and the elderly
driver and I were told to get in, even though neither of us was hurt. Soon, it became
obvious
from his senseless babbling that he was in the latter stages of senility. Something must
be
done to get these very old drivers off the road. They are every bit as dangerous as
drunks.
Euless, Texas: Many elderly people quit driving when their eyesight fails. Bless them. The
ones who are too stubborn to give up their independence will continue to victimize others
because of their selfishness.
Waco, Texas: I am an M.D. who had to take my father's driver license away because I
knew if I didn't, something terrible was sure to happen. My mother was furious with me.
She
said I was not ``defending'' him as a son should. I told her I was ``defending'' the
pedestrians
and other drivers because driving is not a right, it's a privilege. -- Harry Slade, M.D.
Boca Raton, Fla.: Two years before my father died at 85, he tried to drive while
experiencing a heart attack. When we arrived at the hospital, I told him his driving days
were
over. Although I provided him with alternate transportation, he never forgave me. If an
elderly parent insists on driving, hide the keys, disconnect the battery, remove the
distributor
cap or let the air out of the tires.
Chicago: My 86-year-old father should not be driving. He has had a heart attack and is
stone deaf, and his vision is poor. He refuses to give up his car keys. Driving is his
whole life.
When my mother was on her deathbed, his main worry was that people who came to see
her would block the driveway and he wouldn't be able to get out. What can we do? --
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Dear Between: You can bite the bullet, take away his car keys and arrange with family
members or a livery service to take him wherever he wants to go. Expensive? Yes, but a lot
cheaper than hospital bills or a wrongful-death suit.
Thanks to all who wrote for those excellent letters. You have helped save some lives
today, and I am grateful.Write to Ann Landers c/o Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60611.
Links about Aging drivers
1) Stats on New York drivers with suggestions for solutions
2)
The laws regulating the licensing of elderly drivers need to be made stricter!! If you or anyone you know has been affected by a dangerous elderly driver please email me with the details. I would like to compile a list of people affected by a driver that SHOULD NOT be on the the road because of age. You can email the details to me by clicking the following or emailing me at
