When Should Seniors Stop Driving?
According to AAA Foundation Study, drivers over 65 are twice as likely as middle-aged drivers to die in car crashes.
“As we age, our reaction time and other cognitive skills can diminish,” said Peter Kissinger, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “For instance, our eyesight deteriorates to such an extent that by age 60 we require ten times the amount of light necessary to see an object as when we were 16.”
In Canada physicians are required to report any concern about a patients ability to drive, and are being paid for it. There is no such thing in the US so while some seniors opt for public transportation, many others stick to the roads.
Often it is up to family members to help seniors decide when it’s time to stop driving for others safety as well as their own.
“Second only to teen drivers, older drivers are the second most likely group to sustain injuries or death in traffic crashes,” said Kissinger. “It is vital that seniors periodically and honestly review their driving performance.”
It is up to both physicians and children of senior drivers can play a major role in assessing older driver’s capabilities.
We all know accidents can happen to anyone, but some groups pose a greater liability than others. If you have been in an accident with a person who is in an at-risk group, it is entirely possible that accident could have been avoided entirely had that person been more conscientious of the increased risks they posed behind the wheel – choosing to ignore the dangers may put them at fault. You may deserve compensation to help cover the costs associated with medical expenses and damage to your car, especially when your accident could have been avoided.
