Traffic School & Defensive Driving

Two specific groups of drivers deserve special attention: older drivers, (55+), and new drivers, usually teenagers. Both of these segments of the population are at high risk for crashes and fatalities, but for different reasons. Drivers in these groups can minimize their risks by becoming aware of their driving habits, recognizing their driving limitations, and taking steps to modify or compensate for those limitations.

The leading cause of accidental death for older drivers is a car crash. During the 1990’s, people over 85 were the fastest growing group of drivers in the United States. By 2030, twenty percent of Americans will be over 65. These statistics taken together spell out a growing need for improved awareness and education of senior drivers. Can we screen older drivers for possible impairment? Should we change the driver license exam to more accurately test for seniors’ strengths and weaknesses? Who should be responsible for declaring a person unfit for driving? The answers to these questions carry implications not only for quality of life issues, but for health care costs and insurance rates also.

The changes that people go through as they age can be divided into two categories: physical, and cognitive. Both areas pose challenges and risks to older drivers. Vision, hearing, and strength are common physical areas that diminish with age. Of these, vision loss has the greatest effect on driving skills. While visual acuity (20/20, 20/40, etc.) can be corrected with glasses or surgery, loss of peripheral vision, and the ability to follow moving objects, is not reversible. Loss of peripheral vision means that you can’t see out of the corner of your eye. As a result, you might not see another vehicle approaching, or you might not notice the pedestrian stepping out into the sidewalk. Failure to yield the right-of-way is the number one cause of crashes for older drivers.