SENIOR SAFETY BEHIND THE WHEEL
America is in the midst of an age boom. Nearly 20 percent of the population in the United States will be age 65 or older by 2030. Seeing your parents as anything less than invincible can be difficult. As loved ones grow older, roadway accidents become more probable.
“This topic ruffles a lot of feathers. I know as I get older, I don’t want anyone preventing or restricting my ability to drive. It’s important to remember that a driver’s license is a privilege, not a right. With privilege comes some obligation and requirements,” Brad says.
While accident rates show that the youngest drivers on the road have the most crashes, drivers over the age of 75 are the next most crash-prone group. These accidents can be linked to several different factors.
POOR VISION AND HEARING
The task of driving is primarily visual in nature, and impaired vision is associated with increased driver discomfort, difficulty and crash risk. A 65-year-old’s eyes may admit only one-third of the light of a 20-something under low light conditions. Night driving is particularly challenging for older drivers. Changes in depth perception may make it difficult to judge gaps in traffic accurately, leading to poorer turn and merge decisions. Eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration can impair visual acuity. Although driving is primarily visual, hearing is also needed for hearing a horn warning from a fellow motorist or a siren from an unseen emergency vehicle.
SLOWER REACTION TIME AND REFLEXES
Skilled driving requires anticipating hazardous conditions rather than relying on quick reflexes to react to them. A common side effect of aging is a decline in the speed of processing. Older adults take nearly two times longer than younger adults for information processing operations including perceptual, cognitive and motor processing.
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND MEDICATIONS
As people age, they are likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. These conditions, coupled with the medications taken to control them, have the potential to impair functioning while behind the wheel of a car.
CONCLUSION
Age will impact us all. And while we all want to retain our freedom, don’t endanger yourself or others if you see some of these signs in yourself or your parents.
At Parker Law Firm, our experienced personal injury lawyers believe people matter. We are committed to our clients, not case numbers, and we believe in the power of the civil justice system. With years spent both representing accident victims and participating in the state legislative process, our founder, Brad Parker, has developed a deep understanding of the law and gained unique experience that helps him get results for his clients.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Area Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Bedford, Texas office directly at 817.440.3888 to schedule your free consultation. We help car accident victims throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington as well as all areas of Texas.
