More Than Statistics

One sunny May afternoon an 81 year old man and his healthy 79 year young wife pulled out of their driveway to head to the beauty parlor. Turning left across the road to Pink Hill in a small Eastern North Carolina town, their car was violently met by a truck who happened to have the right away. The 81 year old man's delayed reflexes were no match for the speed of the F150 and his beautiful wife was struck directly through her passenger door.
This story is one of too many involving elderly drivers whose seemingly innocent intentions of continued independence change lives forever. This story is more than a 1999 statistic. This story, is my family's story. And that day in the ICU, watching my mother sit beside her mother as she died, I couldn't help but wonder how avoidable this all could have been. I had ridden with my granddaddy the month before and noticed how he swerved in that big old Buick. I had even stopped short for a moment and wondered if I should say anything to the family about it. We all knew his health was beginning to fail. He was slowing down and looking more frail. Grandma, on the other hand, was as healthy as the day she was 61. But instead of mentioning it...I forgot about it. It is not a question of guilt that I have--don't misunderstand. The point is this--how many other families notice their loved one's driving abilities changing and don't take it seriously? How many families don't think it's that important or worse yet, don't want to "deal" with the chaos taking the keys away would cause? Think about it. Are families really the ones who need to be regulating this? Will the individual stop themselves entirely when the time is right? My experience says "no" to all of these questions. Our states and governments and local associations govern so many things (perhaps things that they shouldn't), why can't they lay down the law about who can control such a deadly machine?
I know. I'm biased, obviously. But in speaking to this subject I have something valid to say. NO state has now nor has ever had an age limit on drivers. Illinois and New Hampshire are the only states that require older driers to pass on-the-road tests. Although a 2002 study showed that of drivers aged 70 and older, 600,000 choose to give up their keys, I say this isn't good enough. Mental awareness and physical ability decrease as we age. Mental awareness and physical ability are two huge factors which encompass so many details of driving--decision making, sequencing, balance, reflexes, memory, judgement, visual acuity...the list can go on and on. When these abilities are affected by alcohol, laws are broken and lives are changed forever when others fall victim to someone's irresponsible behavior. The world frowns on this DUI business. The courts take this seriously--at least more seriously than they used to. Can I not compare an elderly driver to the driver whose under the influence? This may seem harsh but physical and mental abilities are dulled and in the case of the elderly driver, these abilities are changed forever. Most of the tasks required for safe driving are ones that the elderly will not recover no matter how much rehab or practice or therapy they have.
So what should we do? It is my opinion that individuals over 65 should be required to renew their licenses every 3 years. Every 5 years this renewal period should drop one year so that at 75 elders are renewing their licenses annually. The exams should include an extensive vision screen and an on-the-road exam. When an individual struggles with either test, they should be referred to  a safety training class, and be allowed to take the exam again. If they fail the exam, their license should be revoked. At this time, it is the family's responsibility to support their elder and help them with community mobility.
Now, I understand this plan will never work because it would cost too much money. And in an ideal world, no one would speed, be irresponsible, and individuals would have enough support at home that they could easily regulate their driving at the right time. As we all know, this world is not ideal. And unfortunately, none of these rules or regulations will bring my grandma back to us. I just hope someone will make a decision to change the laws and follow through on that decision with action.
Usually, it is an innocent stranger that is harmed by an elderly driver. But sometimes, they hurt their own.