Cause and Effect Essay: Deteriorating Health Causes Problems for Elderly Drivers

Driving is a simple task that many of us do on a daily basis. Most

people are safe drivers, while a few are incapable of driving safely.

Safe and capable is how most senior citizens can be viewed; however,

there are some factors that can make a senior citizen dangerous

behind the wheel. Some of the problems with the elderly today are that

their reflexes react slower, they are hearing impaired, or a physical

health change can be a big problem. Research has shown everyone ages

differently and growing old does not necessarily mean a person becomes

a safety hazard on the road. Much depends on the person's physical and

mental health as the years pass. Because people age differently there

should be certain test given to the elderly after the age of 65.

First, an annual hearing test should be given to the elderly. About

thirty percent of those over age 65 are hearing impaired. The ability

to hear is more important to driving than most people realize. Hearing

can warn a driver of danger signals like the sound of screaming

sirens, honking horns, or screeching tires. There are occasions when a

driver can hear a car but can't see it because of a blind spot. Good

hearing helps drivers to be sensitive to what is happening on the

roadways around them.

Secondly, An annual visual acuity test should be given to the elderly.

The elderly are not tested periodically so more often than not visual

changes occur and go undetected. Passing a simple eye-test should

guarantee clear sight. But many elderly people have visual defects

that make it difficult for them to see road signs and pedestrians.

Senior citizens may need to slow their vehicles to read a road sign,

which can put them at risk for an accident with faster traffic. If

they do not slow down, the risk may be smaller, but they cannot read

the sign. Obviously, challenge of driving is not one that can be

easily solved for the elderly.

Lastly, a test on sensory motor skills should be given to the elderly.