Although elderly people drive fewer miles than any other age group, elderly drivers have one of the highest rates of fatal car accidents in the U.S. today and their rate is still increasing. Old age diminishes people’s physical and psychological abilities. The government should have more rules and regulations for the elderly drivers, to prevent physical harm to the elderly and other drivers, prevent high insurance rates and fewer deaths caused by the elderly.
The physical, mental and social problems of the elderly drivers show that they cannot operate motor vehicles correctly. The physical disabilities of aging affect driving abilities, because old drivers often suffer from partial loss of vision, hearing, physical strength, response time, working memory and attention, which all play a major role when driving. The mental aspect deals with the psychological changes that take place while aging. For instance, the need to feel independent, to go where ever they want when ever they want on their own. The social aspect deals with how society reacts to the elderly while driving, for instance by tailgating, honking the horn repeatedly because their driving to slow when behind them.
Most of the elderly drivers take prescription medication that they take everyday, they take more prescription medicine then any one else. According to Jama, vol. 288, say that older bodies are more sensitive to the effects when taking medicine, the meds effect their central nervous system, which can make their reaction time and judgment impaired. The effect of meds stays in an older person’s body for a longer time then any other age group. There are many different types of medicine that they take that are for sleep aids, depression, antihistamines for allergies and colds, very strong pai ...