The Dilemma of Older Drivers

States are beginning to look at age-based re-licensing laws and high tech driver assessment tools like driving simulators that can test an older person's vision and reaction times in a safe environment. Across the country, 19 states require older drivers (65 or 70) to renew their licenses in person, to renew them more often or to pass road and vision tests, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Some groups object to these age-based steps saying that they are age-biased. They also contend that computer based testing is intimidating to seniors who have not grown up in a computer age. But the biggest issue is increased costs for equipment and personnel in a period of economic stagnation.


The government recently earmarked $1.6 million to start a National Older Drivers Research Center. Run by the University of Florida and the American Occupational Therapy Association, it will train more certified driving rehabilitation specialists and create better off-road tests to screen drivers for problems.

Steps
If you are an elder driver or someone in your family is getting up in years there are steps you can take to be sure he or she is not a hazard on the road:


> Have periodic vision tests.


> Stay off the roads in bad weather.