Should we be concerned about elderly drivers?
Reese Witherspoon was hit by an elderly driver this week which has prompted the conversation.
“When is it time to surrender the car keys?”
It is not an easy conversation to initiate but as Baby Boomers age it will be increasingly necessary to discuss the driving ability of an aging population.
In a study released in January, scientists from the University of Rochester suggested older people have trouble driving because they have a heightened awareness of people and cars moving around rather than what’s right in front of them. In particular, drivers over 80 have an elevated crash risk when trying to deal with more complex road situations, such as intersections, left turns and reacting to an imminent crash, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The American Automobile Association estimates 37 million drivers will be 65 and older by 2020, and 90 percent of them will be licensed. Drivers 85 and older has surpassed 3 million.
