In 2016, there were 222 million licensed drivers in the United States(Number of Licensed Drivers in the US). According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, in 2015 there were more than 40 million licensed drivers in the United States above the age of 65. With such a large number of elderly drivers, the US has seen an increase in the number of vehicle-related deaths and injuries in those over 65. There are two states, Illinois and New Hampshire, that have a mandatory driving test for the elderly while most states only require vision tests at varying ages. Once a driver reaches the age of 75, they should be required to take a driving test to keep their license because it will help ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road and decrease the number of motor vehicle accidents. A mandatory test will help ensure that the test taker is still mentally sound and physically capable of operating a car safely. Many elderly citizens experience some form of dementia which can make it difficult to remember where they are going or the current laws of the roads. As people age, they often experience delayed reaction times that can cause more car accidents. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has found that the risk of fatal crashes begins to increase when a driver turns 74 and are highest among drivers ages …show more content…
Many states do not allow those over 75 years old to renew their license by mail and require them to renew their license in person. These requirements show that the officials who implement these procedures are taking steps to make sure that the senior citizen is still capable of safely driving because it can be dangerous for the elderly to drive cars(Requirements in other states for elderly drivers renewing drivers’ licenses
Ever since the invention of the automobile, numerous efforts have been employed to try and improve its safety features. Judging by the current statistics, one could argue that driving has so far turned out to be a risky business. In actual fact, people of all ages and social status are considered to be in control of lethal weapons whenever they have to drive. According to the National Safety Council, it is estimated that more than 41,000 people lose their lives in road accidents annually and no less than 2 million more suffer from serious life threatening injuries (2009). Furthermore, it is estimated that at least 50% of the people killed in road accidents is as a result of their failure to adhere to safety measures such as wearing seatbelts while driving, driving under the influence, or careless driving (Ingalls, “Defensive Driving Strategies”). As an effect, huge losses occur with respect to life, injuries sustained, and damage to property.
The cars swerved left and right causing My head to smash against the window with force. The car then bounced over the curb then smashing us down making me noxious. finally, “splat.” The squirrels guts splattered everywhere leaving its cute innocent body laying their drowning in his own blood. “Grandpa stop” he slammed on the brakes, and I never got in the car with him again. Within 3 minutes, my grandpa served up a curb and hit a squirrel, and the worst part is he did not realize that he hit the squirrel. Senior citizens have way too many health problems to drive,Their crashes cost money, and They crash a lot. Because senior citizens are a menace to society and should be required to retake their drivers test after 70 years of age.
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.
2.) Yes, I do believe that my home state should have such a law because it's not safe for people with Alzheimer's disease to be on the roads driving. It's not safe, if they do not know where they are going. Many people with Alzheimer's disease, would probably get into car accidents and maybe even die, which is not good. If that law was put into action, then people with Alzheimer's disease would be more safer and their families, would not have to be worrying about them all the time.
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...
So they tend to start new activities, visiting family and friends more often, and taking more vacations. Driving is an important part of staying independent do things such as goes shopping, do errands, and visit the doctor (Older Drivers , 2012). Older adults 70 and older have driver’s licenses and they tend to drive fewer miles than younger drivers. Yet, they are driving more miles than in the past and keeping their licenses for a longer period of time. There will be more elderly drivers on the road as the overall population ages (Older Drivers ,
Although previous research found driving experience to be related to self-reported risky attitudes, Arnau-Sabatés, Sala-Roca, & Jariot-Garcia found no correlation between the two (2012). However, there may be an indirect link between age and risky driving behaviors because emotional skills tend to increase with age (Arnau-Sabatés et al., 2012). A driver who cannot control
We understand the dangers of driving under the influence, texting while driving and distracted driving; however, drowsy driving continues to be a problem on our roads. Needs assessment Between 1998 and 2008, 16.5% of fatal car accidents in the US involved a drowsy driver, and 13% of non-fatal accidents where at least one person was admitted to the hospital involved a drowsy driver (Tefft, 2012).... ... middle of paper ... ... Sleepiness, Driving, and Motor Vehicle Crashes.
In recent years, the legal driving age has become a topic of heated debate. There are many supporters that advocate for raising the legal driving age to eighteen or twenty-one. However, raising the driving age would cause some major problems. Sixteen should remain the legal driving age in most states and areas because the economic burden would be extremely large and the problems related to young drivers would not be adequately solved by simply rising the legal driving age. This essay will outline the reasons why the legal driving age should not be raised and what some of the better choices are instead.
Today’s society appears to be constantly on the go. People seem to be pulled in multiple directions at once. Individuals never appear to have enough time to complete tasks that continually accumulate. It can be difficult to criticize someone that tries to make the most out every minute. Unfortunately, some of today’s drivers show a lack of judgment and trying to perform other tasks, while behind the wheel. People may feel this is best use time while getting to a destination. Occasionally, the small amount of time that people are trying to gain results in a time consuming accident. With modern conveniences that are geared toward an on the go public, individuals appear to be too preoccupied to driving safely.
This should not even be a question if the driving age should be the driving age should be raised to 18; that can be answered easily , YES!!! Alarmed by the car accidents involving teeagers , a number of states are considering raising the age for getting a driver's license. On december ,8 , 2005 four teenage boys from atlanta went out for a night dive and had a terrible accident. The state government should raise the driving age from 16 to 18 because teens under the age of 18 are at a high risk for accidents and are easily distracted while driving
Again, it makes the headlines; an older driver causes a dangerous automobile crash. As the amount of elderly driving has increased in the past decade, the risk for others to be out on the road has increased. In 2012, there were 36 million licensed older drivers in the United States. (Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation (US)) As a 34% increase from 1999, it has been noted that seniors are driving past their ability by an average of 10 years. (Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation (US)). Elderly continue to drive despite the prominent physiological changes that worsen as they age. The amount of automobile collisions suggests that prevention must occur in order to make the roads safer. By examining older drivers’ medical complications, older drivers must be retested to be able to drive a vehicle.
In the 1990's teens would get full licensing and all privileges with little or no testing at all. It wasn’t until 1995 when around twenty states required a learning permit, but the system was still very weak, as teens only had to keep their permit for two to three weeks. But somehow, teen drivers are not as dangerous as they are today. Experts say it is mostly because of deadly distractions in and out of the vehicle (Boulard 38). In 2003, teenagers topped the charts with ten teenagers dying each day in a motor vehicle; that's over thirty-six hundred kids dying because of weak, bendy laws that are meant to protect them....
Introduction The aging process is one that comes with many obstacles to our daily lives. Illnesses are developed, handicaps are acquired, and simple, everyday capabilities, such as seeing and hearing, slowly become less and less unflawed. Muscles and bones begin to lose their strength, and reaction times begin to decrease. In order to be a safe and capable driver, one must be able to both see, and hear, their surroundings, as well as be able to quickly, and efficiently, react to any sudden obstacles in those surroundings. Whether or not elderly drivers are able to do these things is a topic for much debate.
“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.