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The Raleigh News, NC Sunday, August 3, 2003 12:00AM EDT The key is knowing when to stop driving By TOM CROSBY People older than 65 are the fastest-growing population in the United States. By 2020, there will be more than 40 million licensed drivers 65 or older. AAA is dedicated to keeping senior road-users driving as long as safely possible. The key is knowing when that is no longer possible and making it more acceptable for senior drivers to hand over the keys. Giving up one of the last vestiges of independence is difficult and life-altering. As we age, our bodies and minds change and hearing diminishes. Our eyesight is weaker and no longer reacts as quickly as needed after headlight glare at night. Older drivers have difficulty judging distances. Our reactions slow, and the ability to focus attention on many tasks becomes more difficult. Situations particularly frustrating for senior drivers include driving in heavy traffic , in rainy weather and at night. Fortunately, older drivers are often wiser drivers and avoid risky driving times. Various states have in place provisions to ensure only older drivers who can safely operate a vehicle are behind the wheel. In Maine, a vision test is required during the first renewal after the 40th birthday and at every second renewal until age 62. After that, vision tests are required at every renewal. Renewals are required every six years until age 65, and then every four years. In New Jersey, a pending law would provide funding for senior citizen safe-driving health centers and provide a 10 percent reduction in insurance premiums for participants. Unfortunately, North Carolina does not require more frequent renewals for older drivers. The state actually lowers the standard for drivers 60 and older by no longer requiring them to parallel park during road tests, which discriminates against younger drivers. Improving the highways with larger, more readable signs and dedicated left-turn-only lanes at intersections could make the roads safer for both seniors and the rest of the driving public. Family members have a responsibility as well. If a senior has experienced several near misses, has been involved in several crashes or if other road-users honk their horn, it might be an indication that a senior is not operating a vehicle safely. Driving ability can be assessed by an occupational therapist who is a certified driver rehabilitation specialist. Although it will be difficult for all involved when a family member is no longer fit to drive, making the mistake of keeping him or her on the road is worse. Seniors made up 13 percent of all traffic fatalities and 12 percent of all vehicle occupant fatalities yet were only 10 percent of the driving population in 2001. Most traffic fatalities involving older drivers in 2001 involved another vehicle (73 percent). Family members must be prepared for adjustments in their lives when a loved one is aging. Rotating driving duty could be turned into family bonding time . Or families can help find useful bus routes. Mass transit is often an underused but helpful way to get around. Some families choose to budget as if they are still making a car payment but use that money for taxi rides instead. It is up to all of us to courageously face this looming traffic safety problem and realize that the driving abilities of older motorists need to be assessed on a regular basis. SOURCE: The Raleigh News, NC http://newsobserver.com/news/story/2747111p-2546824c.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn