Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Elderly drivers and the risks they take pdf essay
Elderly drivers and the risks they take pdf essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Elderly drivers and the risks they take pdf essay
Safety Outweighs Risk Behind the Wheel
Federal statistics show that drivers, aged 85 and older, are involved in 3 fatal accidents per day (Davis & DeBarros). Currently in the US, less than half of all states require elderly drivers to appear in person to renew their driver’s licenses. Only two states, Illinois and New Hampshire, require elderly drivers to pass road tests before a new license can be issued. Forcing elderly drivers to appear in person is the only thing that has been scientifically proven to reduce fatal accidents because state employees can visibly analyze these applicants for physical impairments (Davis & DeBarros). Elderly drivers put themselves, and others, at a much higher risk of accidents and death due to lack of abilities caused by the aging process. State legislation, countrywide, should impose laws that are stricter to prevent incidence with drivers 65 and older.
Accidents and fatalities are an immense concern for the population of elderly drivers in America. Statistics show that, at age 65, driving becomes much more difficult for people (Davis & DeBarros). Licensed drivers over the age of 85 have a fatality rate four times more than that of teenagers and five and a half times more than middle-aged drivers (Davis & DeBarros). Davis and DeBarros report that, “Elderly drivers are less likely to be involved in crashes involving high speeds or alcohol but are more likely to crash at intersections where they miss a stop sign or turn left into oncoming traffic” (Davis & DeBarros).
The future of this problem is daunting. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the elderly population of drivers will grow 73% over that of today (Davis & DeBarros). In 2030 the estimated number of citizens aged 85 and older will be ...
... middle of paper ...
...an make roads more safe for everyone. Ann Dellinger, Ph.D., agrees that, “It will end up that we will all play a part in maximizing mobility in the community” (qtd. in Teenagers and Older). When it becomes apparent that things have become unsafe, it is better to take the keys from our loved ones rather than them lose their lives. Even worse, they could cause the deaths of other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.
Works Cited
Bieliauskas, Linas A. "Neuropsychological Assessment of Geriatric Driving Competence." Brain
Injury (2005): 221-26. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
Davis, Robert, and Anthony DeBarros. "Older, Dangerous Drivers a Growing Problem." USA
Today. N.p., 02 May 2007. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.
"Teenagers and Older People Are the Riskiest Drivers." Old Drivers | Teenage Drivers –
Consumer Reports. N.p., 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
A Modest Proposal For Making Driving More Entertaining, While Creating The Same Risks For Everyone On The Road
Statistics show 16- to 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger, which is due to distracted driving. Taking your eyes off the road for 2 (two) seconds, at 60 mph, means you have driven blindly for half the length of a football field. The risk of fatality is 3.6 times higher, when they are driving with passengers than when alone. For many years, the correlation between driving behavior and age has interested highway safety researchers and administrators. It is general knowledge that the greatest risk of motor vehicle crash...
The car accidents you see on the roads are most likely caused by an elderly person as they are unaware of their surroundings and what is actually happening on the road. Elderly drivers are not aware of the dangers they put themselves and others into every time they drive. Most elderly take medications that are known to impair driving. Most elderly have trouble turning and have a hard time seeing things correctly, therefore this causes ultimate risks to them and their surroundings. If you have an elderly loved one that is above the age of 80, don’t wait until it’s too late to save your parents and other’s
Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes (NHTSA). In a class of 30 High School sophomores students between the ages of 15 and 16, will be in their twenties within 4-5 years. Within this short amount of time, that means that 8 of them will be responsible for a fatal car crash. If they survive the crash, they will face charges of irresponsible driving, if not something worse such as vehicular manslaughter which can result in up to 20 years in prison. This will affect them for the rest of their lives. But the answer lies not in stricter driving laws. The solution lies in educating motorists about the dangers and punishments of distracted driving. For example, a study was conducted using a driving simulator.
a plethora amount of car accidents. However, most car accidents are caused by old citizens. Every day, seniors die in a car accident because they don't pay close enough attention to the road. Some elderlies don’t want to give up their keys because their car represents freedom but, they are part of the reason why thousands of people are dead. Seniors citizens are considered a risk on the road because there have been an abundance amount of accidents due to these reasons; the loss of eyesight, the ability to react quickly and the new medication that can cause them to be drowsy.
Teens need to be taught that driving is a task that is complex and demanding. Parents know how much experience a young driver has, and they know exactly how inconvenient it is when they have to drive with their teen everywhere while they have their permit. Teens tend to cause most traffic accidents in adults’ eyes. They are not experienced yet, and often fail to pay attention to others on the road. They often think of a car as being some type of toy, but they do not know how powerful it really is. The driver education programs must be strengthened in order to make sure that students really have safer habits, behind the wheel experience, and by having a better understanding of all the laws on the road.
According to Carnegie Mellon University the casualties’ rate for drivers 85 years and older is 4 times more higher than it is for teenagers who are considered are most reckless drivers. Penndot statistics shows that the number of crashes involving drivers age 65 and older in 2013 was up 12 percent from five years before. Voanews indicates that in a lot of elderly drivers accidents they mistaken the gas pedal for the brakes or vice versa. One fatality crash can affect and impact people for their whole lives. These crashes can occur in seconds. According to cdc.gov there were nearly 5,700 elderly drivers that were killed. Police are already busy enough the more we can reduce their work the more it will help keep our community safer; not only in crashes but the police can also focus more on preventing drug deals and gang fights. To put it another way we don’t want families to be stressed out on their elderly parents safety we want them to feel like their parents are safe, so they can go help other issues in this
Although it is a controversial topic, many individuals believe that the driving skills of senior citizens have declined and need to be addressed. According to The Telegraph, “more than a quarter (respondents) admitted to feeling unsafe when driven by someone over the age of 65” (The Telegraph). This topic dominates many family discussions, news stories, and headlines due to the risk that these driving skills have on others on the road. The Secretary of State Office in Michigan “receives 400 driver re-examination requests every month for drivers suspected to be unsafe, and the largest number, behind law enforcement, comes from family members” (USA Today). Although it is a hard discussion to introduce, families have a responsibility to address their concerns with their loved ones. Acknowledged as a popular and controversial topic, addressing the problem will ultimately prevent accidents and save
The biggest problem with drunk driving by young adults is the high rate of traffic accidents. Although young drivers ages 16 through 25 makeup only 15% of U.S. licensed drivers, they constitute 30 percent of all alcohol-related driving fatalities. This is double the amount of licensed drivers in that age group. Inexperience with both drinking and driving may contribute to this disproportionate rate. Nationwide in 1996, people ages 15 to 24 died in fatal motor vehicle crashes and 45 percent of those deaths were a result of alcohol (NHTSA 4). So it comes to no surprise that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for people younger than 25 (NCHS 98).
Teens only make up seventeen percent of the population today, but almost twenty percent of fatal crashes are due to teenagers behind the wheel. Growing numbers suggest changing the driving age to eighteen and some even believe that changing it to twenty-one may save even more lives. With a sixteen year old behind the wheel, accidents are even more likely to occur when compared to a seventeen year old (Boulard). With so much new technology in today’s society there are more distractions on the road than ever before; therefore the legal driving age should be raised to save more lives. If we do not act quickly, then more lives will be lost.
“Sensor and autonomous technologies can transform automotive safety and convenience for preexisting American drivers, but they can do more; they can increase mobility for the elderly and Americans with disabilities who may be constrained from driving altogether” (Huffington). In addition to the safety of the preexisting driver, the elderly who cannot drive anymore would still be able to own a vehicle so they can still travel without the difficulty of
There are currently alternative methods for transporting elders, with “on-demand services like Uber and Lyft are viable alternatives to autonomous cars, but are not available in many areas where older adults live… some older people are wary of riding with strangers” (Chapman). At face value, it may seem like driverless vehicles are unnecessary and a hassle to produce when there are already services like Uber to get to your destination. However, the disadvantages of calling an Uber are not present in self-driving vehicles, including feeling uncomfortable driving in a stranger’s car, long waiting times for the driver due to poor accessibility in remote places, and having to pay for each ride. Although the fare of an Uber drive is only a few dollars, the costs accumulate making it a costly method of transportation, as those with severe health conditions need to constantly rely on these services. By owning their own autonomous vehicle, there will no longer be any waiting times for a ride, no worry of a complete stranger driving you each time you need a ride and no additional payments per
Disk and drum brakes are the two types used in cars. Drum brakes are very good to have on your rear axel but not as effective on the front where better balance and heat dissipation is a must.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional deaths for teens (16-17),” reported The New York State Department of Health. The most exciting thing about being sixteen in the United States is driving. Teenagers can not wait to be sixteen to drive, however, they do not understand the dangers that come with driving at such a young age. Sixteen is the age between child life and adulthood. It is a time when they are not stable and undergoing change, which makes them unsuitable to drive. Many teenagers would say that they need to get to places. In response to that claim, there are public transportation systems and bikes as available alternatives for young drivers. The financial stability and matureness of eighteen year olds proves
“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers” -Dave Barry, comedian. The number of accidents over the last ten years have drastically increased, drivers are paying less attention to the road itself. Many individuals behind the wheel of a car believe that their driving does not affect the road conditions, however it always will. The driving habits of today are catastrophic due to the reasoning that the driving will affect other lives through reckless or distracted driving, and disobeying traffic laws.