After an 81-year-old driver in Arizona caused three car accidents in as many days, police are seeking immediate revocation of his license on medical grounds. Reportedly, the man had no recollection of any of the accidents; in each case, police report that he appears to have suffered a seizure.
In such extreme situations, license revocation is an obvious choice. In many cases, though, the need for revocation is not quite so clear.
Everyone ages at a different rate; there is no such thing as a clear cut-off point for safe driving. However, on the whole elderly drivers have risk factors that can make car accidents more dangerous.
According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), older drivers are at an elevated risk of fatal accidents for a variety of reasons.
For example, generally, elderly drivers are frailer than their younger counterparts, which means that car accidents are more likely to be fatal. All drivers face cognitive declines as they age; at some point, this diminished psychological capacity can result in driving errors. Older drivers are also more likely to take medications that may diminish mental and physical abilities.
Sometimes older drivers recognize these risks and choose to give up their driving privileges. However, this is not always the case.
Driving privileges offer freedom. Taking away someone's ability to drive can restrict personal mobility and autonomy. Surrendering a license often requires surrendering a great deal of independence.
In these cases, persuading an elderly person to stop driving may require the efforts of concerned child, friend or medical professional. If someone you love has started to demonstrate memory problems, trouble with reflexes, vision issues or increased anxiety as a result of driving, it may be time to talk to that person about handing over the keys.
These conversations may be difficult, and older drivers may be reluctant to stop getting behind the wheel, but ultimately this is too important to postpone. Anyone who is unable to effectively maintain control over a vehicle can cause serious accidents and injuries to others. And such accidents could result not only in injuries to the driver but also in criminal charges or financial consequences.
Knowing when to hand over your driver's license and keeping risky drivers off of Arizona roads ensures that these roads are safe for everyone.
