In reading Andrew L. Hass’ New York Times articl, “A Crash Course for the Elderly”, reinforces my belief that the government needs to take an active role in implement new legislation for elderly drivers throughtout the United States. With baby-boomers reaching the reitrement age of 65-years old in 2011 the question of when or if senior drivers should stop driving must be addressed. According to the U.S. Cenus Bureau report one out of every four drivers wil be 65 or older in 2030, that is double the number of senior drivers from 2005.
State officials need to consider mandatory legislation requiring drivres over the age of 65 to under go periodic raod and written tests to ensure their skills and relexes are intact. For drivers over the ago of 70 examinations for their diminshing vision, hearing, reflexes, memory lapses, including Alzheimer’s and use of large amount of medication can impair their ability to drive needs to be a mandatory reqirement prior to renewing their licenses. Physicians should also be required by law to inform the DMV of any driver that is not fit to be behind the wheel of a vehicle. These legislations must be the same from state to state.
“The outcomes of aging drivers involve more serious crashes although they have fewer accidents” states staff writer John Latimer of the Lebanon Daily News in Lebanon, PA> Traffic statistics also show that senior drivers are not the greatest risk on the nation’s highways. It shows that by far younger drivers are far more reckless.
In Pennsylvania, there is no legislation that requires vision and hearing tests for senior drivers. However, “Pennsylvania relies on a reporting system and ramdon checks” said Danielle Klinger, coordinator for PennDOT’s Safety Adminstration. These laws require physicians to report any patients, regardless of age who has been disgnosed as having a condition that could impair his or her ability to drive. (Latimer)
There is a great need to discourage older drivers from placing themselves and others at risk. Tragedies as in the case of Russell Weller who stepped on the wrong pedal and contributed to the loss of 10 lives, is one of many examples of when it is time for older drivers to hang up their keys.
I can appreciatge that senior’s do not want to give up their independence, but isn’t society to blame if we do not ensure that our loved ones are safe from harm. It only takes a second for ones life to be changed dramatically.
