Older Does not Always Mean Wiser (on the Road)

As we get older, our sight, reflexes, hearing, and other elements of decision-making characteristics tend to weaken. In most scenarios, these deficits would not be dangerous, but when you put an older person behind the wheel of a car, it can be deadly.

According to the CDC, in 2018, there were more than 45 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older in the US, with a 60% increase since 2000. This is a trend that will only continue, as it is estimated that, by 2025, nearly a quarter of all drivers will be over the age of 65.

For many of these drivers, having the ability to drive allows them to remain independent and mobile. However, their risk of being in an accident increases as they age, as senior drivers find themselves more likely to be involved in angle crashes, merging crashes, and intersection crashes than younger drivers. According to a Carnegie Mellon University study, the fatality rate for drivers 85 and over is four times higher than it is for teenagers, and for each day in 2018, there were more than 20 older adults killed and almost 700 injured in motor vehicle accidents.

In New York, the DMV will not revoke driving privileges based on age. However, if the agency has “reasonable grounds” to believe that a driver is no longer qualified to operate a motor vehicle, that person could be subject to a re-evaluation. Those reasonable grounds are determined and evaluated based on someone, such as a doctor, police officer or another individual, who observed the driver’s behavior or an incident on the road that created a cause for concern.

In order to determine whether a driver should be re-evaluated, the DMV Medical Review Unit and the Testing and Investigation Unit will review the case and circumstances.  If they conclude a driver should be re-evaluated, the driver will undergo the re-evaluation process, which could include a vision, written, and road test.

Recently, Senate Bill S5075 was submitted before the Transportation Committee of the New York State Senate. This bill, named the “Bill Geller Act” after a forty-seven-year-old man who was struck and killed by a senior driver, aims to tackle the risks associated with older drivers by creating a senior driver safety commission. This commission is intended to study and evaluate the effectiveness of current laws, regulation, and legislation, to offer recommendations to make all drivers, especially seniors, safer.

While it is important to remember that not all older drivers are a risk – in fact, most are not – it is important to recognize that, as drivers age, the experience that comes from years of driving can become compromised by the vulnerabilities and conditions that accompany aging. Make sure to encourage any older driver (friend and family) to always wear a seatbelt, drive when road conditions are safest, have their glasses or hearing aids if necessary, and limit all distractions inside their vehicle.

If you have any questions about the DMV process or concerns about an accident, give us a call.