Current Understanding og Older Driver Issues and Policy Concerns - Coursework Example

The increasing number of elderly drivers is becoming a concern especially as regards safety. It is therefore important to identify the effects of age to the driving ability of an individual and the policies, which would ensure safety of elderly drivers, as well as the community, to which they live in. Studies are presented as to an understanding of the effects of old age on the driving skills of an individual and some policies of some states regarding the issuance of drivers licenses. Studies conclude that the older the age of the driver, the more it becomes difficult for them to drive safely. Some states have also enacted policies, which ensure they take the necessary exams to be capable of driving safely. Having a changed policy on driving will identify the role of the licensing agencies, the community and individual in ensuring safety but also will find ways in which the elderly can still enjoy their mobility or the things they use to do without compromising their own safety. Current Understanding of Older Driver Issues and Policy Concerns As an individual grows older mobility issues become a concern. Many cannot get out of their homes as often as they once did and they cannot maintain their quality of life. Those who are still driving have to consider whether they are able to drive as much or as long as they once did. Unfortunately many are not able to drive because they either cannot see well enough to do it or their reflexes are not as quick as when they were younger. Some people are concerned about this issue and are bringing it up as a matter of policy. According to USA Today dated 02 May 2007, elderly drivers aged 65 and above are becoming a problem because they lack the ability to drive vehicles after a certain point in their lives. They are unable to make quick responses to driving situations and reaction time slows while confusion can grow. Within this process arthritis can also play a part in the way that their body reacts to looking over their shoulder for traffic or when they use the steering wheel (USA Today "Interactive", 2007). Generally speaking according to fatality rates where older drivers are at fault begin to climb at age 65. According to a study by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety 2004, that looked at driving data from 1999-2004 older drivers from age 74 to 84 caused about 3 deaths in 100 million miles which equates to the same amount of fatalities as teen drivers (Davis & DeBarros, 2007). States are not certain as to what they need to do to combat this challenge and many are turning to policy issues to make changes. Some have encouraged more frequent eye tests, behind the wheel tests, and making seniors go to Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) in person to renew their driver’s license. This provision does not happen today in most states. However there are states which provide policies for in-person renewal of driver’s license such as Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Vermont, among others (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2009). Another repost for The Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Division and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2006 says that the most challenge is for drivers who are 85 and older as they tend to be involved in more accidents than those who are 65 and older (Vanderbur and Silverstein, 2006, Community Mobility and Dementia: A Review of the Literature Pg. 9). Some older drivers also have dementia which causes more problems for them behind the wheel. According to Community Mobility and Dementia: A Review of the Literature, “Dementia is thought to affect many critical abilities needed for driving, including perception and visual processing; the ability to maintain selective attention on particular stimuli for extended periods of time; the ability to attend to multiple stimuli at once; the ability to make correct judgments (such as which drivers have the right of way); and the ability to react appropriately when pressured in a traffic situation (Vanderbur and Silverstein, 2006, Community Mobility and Dementia: A Review of the Literature Pg. 10).” It is important to note that dementia is not present in every driver but it is a condition that must be addressed if an adult is still driving. The challenge is that family members will have to take time to drive the individual around. This means that the individual may have to endure social isolation and loss of their independence (Vanderbur and Silverstein, 2006, Pg. 12). Many researchers have directed legislation to increase the number of times that an individual with dementia needs to take their drivers test in order to get a "good read" on their abilities. Unfortunately they cannot seem to decide how often this should be done or who should give the test (Vanderbur and Silverstein, 2006, Pg.16). The challenge for every state at this point is that there is a large shift in older drivers as the baby boomers age. As this shift happens there are more concerns for this population because they become more vulnerable to car crashes themselves and in the way of hurting others (Granda and Thompson, 2006). The major factors that influence whether an older person can continue to drive will be based on health. Challenges like dementia, macular degeneration, arthritis, hearing loss and eye sight may be challenges to them when they are behind the wheel of a car. Many states are looking at the issues around the change of policy and this can create a problem for the states. They have to decide what they need in order to determine when an individual is no longer able to drive. As an example, someone with dementia would be considered by many unable to drive, but researchers cannot decide the degree of cognitive impairment that is an unacceptable risk (Vanderbur and Silverstein, 2006, Pg. 14). Another challenge is to determine who is responsible for making these policies and enforcing them. Some research shows that physicians in cooperation with the Department of Motor Vehicles are responsible for making decisions for people with dementia behind the wheel but it is not clear who will do this for those without dementia. There are a few suggestions regarding the types of screenings that could be done with the older worker. These would entail possible neuropsychological tests in addition to a "Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) that would be used to rate an individual’s cognitive ability and to help estimate their fitness for driving from the results (Vanderbur and Silverstein, 2006, Pg. 14). This could be difficult in that some people may think this a discriminatory act for these individuals. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) is another test that some people are using to rate the severity of the individuals dementia. The challenge is that these tests can only be an assessment of what an individual psychologist or doctor can see and is not easily administrated in other settings (Vanderbur and Silverstein, 2006, Pg. 14). Alternatives to driving for seniors may be difficult depending on where they live. If they are still in their homes they may be able to rely on family members or senior centers for transportation or other persons who are available and could accompany them to doctor appointments, grocery shopping and social gatherings that they may attend. Senior centers often take them to doctors appointments and may take them to senior center activities. Some seniors may need public transportation which can be confusing to them. Seniors who are still working may need a family member or friend to get them to work. The challenge is that when a senior citizen does not have their own transportation, they cannot do the things they did in the past and it can lead to a very isolated life. A lot of seniors feel independent when they are behind the wheel. Some live in smaller communities, while some live in much larger cities and therefore are at a higher risk when it comes to driving. In addition to this, martial status also plays a role for senior citizens and their driving. When a senior is alone, or without some type of mutual support, he or she tends to want to drive, and of course be independent. By taking this away from them, there can be several different reactions to it. This is why there needs to be some sort of plan put in place for the individual in order to maintain their freedom. As policy makers continue to look at the challenges of the aging driver it will be necessary to take into consideration this loss of mobility because it means that they lose interaction with other people on a daily basis. Today there are many older seniors who sit in their homes wasting time away because they cannot get out of the house. Their relatives will not take them places and the only thing they have is their televisions. Public policy will also have to look at their quality of life in order to really help them. Examination of current legislation should also be made to study the role of licensing authorities, the communities’ role in the passure of mobility and to identify the responsibility of families as well as individuals in their fitness to drive. There must be more effective programs put into place for the elderly to maintain active lives. It’s tough to take something away from them, but if it is done gradually over time, that includes, alternative modes of supportive transportation then the transition from driver to passenger can be a lot easier. Reference List 1. Davis, R. & DeBarros, A. (2007). Older, Dangerous Drivers A Growing Problem. USA Today. Retrieved 17 March 2009 from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-02-older-drivers-usat1a_N.htm 2. Granda, T. M. & Thompson, S. (2006). The Older Driver Comes of Age. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Commission. Retrieved 17 March 2009 from http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/06jan/04.htm 3. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (2009). Licensing Renewal Provisions for Older Drivers. Retrieved 17 March 2009 from http://www.iihs.org/laws/olderdrivers.aspx 4. Vanderbur, M. & Silverstein, N. M. (2006). Community Mobility and Dementia: A Review of the Literature. The Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Division and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pages 9-12, 14 & 16. Read More