If you think there are a lot of elderly drivers on the road today, just wait. According to the Government Accountability Office, the number of elderly drivers will nearly double in 15 years.
The Baby Boomer generation will nearly double the number of drivers aged 65 and older from 30 million today to about 57 million in 2030.
While it’s debatable if elderly drivers pose more of a threat than younger, inexperienced drivers, there are various factors that make older drivers a risk on the road. They generally need more light to see at night, are less able to judge speed and distances, have slower reflexes and have age-related medical conditions that could hamper their driving abilities. Older drivers are also less likely to survive a car accident or recover from injuries.
Expecting elderly drivers to stay off the road, however, isn’t realistic.
As a North Charleston car accident attorney, , I’d like to suggest some safe driving habits for the elderly, including avoiding driving at night, staying off the interstate or roads with high volume and quick reaction times, and using extended mirrors and other items that can make it easier to see. I also urge other drivers to pay attention to elderly drivers but not stress them out by pressuring them to drive faster.