It's official: Old people 'most dangerous' drivers, Newspoll reveals

The young rate old people as the most dangerous Older people consider young to be the problem Driving slowly the biggest issue raised THERE is a growing generation gap on our roads, with young and old drivers mistrusting each other. More than 60 per cent of drivers aged 18-24 rate older people as the most dangerous group of drivers, according to Newspoll research conducted for GIO Insurance, reported The Daily Telegraph. The national survey of 3740 people also found 52 per cent of drivers aged 50 and older believed younger drivers were in the top two dangerous groups, closely trailing cyclists (57 per cent). Most drivers interviewed rated their own age group as a lesser danger on the road, at 36 per cent of younger drivers and 32 per cent for older drivers. Jemma Ford, 21, agreed with the survey, and said older drivers had scared her when she was driving her hot pink Toyota Yaris on the freeway. "When I get on the freeway they are doing about 70 in 110 zone and it's quite dangerous," she said. "I understand they are being cautious, but it does cause some problems. I've seen drivers around me get frustrated and do silly overtaking, causing more danger." Former public servant Bill King, 74, said younger drivers were his biggest worry - because of their "risk-taking behaviour". "My principal concerns are P-platers speeding past you like the police are chasing them," he said. But he agreed that older drivers who had lost their confidence shouldn't be driving on highways. "I don't consider myself an older driver, but when they get to 80 and above they become fragile and are over cautious on the road and might be doing 10-15km/h under the speed limit annoying the hell out of people who want them to go quicker," he said. "If they are blocking the right-hand lane then they are losing their confidence and shouldn't be driving on the highways and freeways." He was also concerned about tailgating truck drivers and he was not alone. The survey found cyclists were rated as the most dangerous type of road user by 54 per cent of all drivers, followed by taxi drivers (45 per cent), motorcyclists (44 per cent) and truck drivers (37 per cent). GIO spokesman Duncan Bone said safety on the road meant drivers had to have trust in others. "Ultimately the only actions we can control are our own," he said. "People need to concentrate more on their own driving." The number of older drivers will soar to record levels as the post-war 'baby-boom' generation reaches retirement, according to a report published yesterday. By 2032 the number aged over 70 will have risen to 5.8million, and the total will include almost two million over 80, it says. The increase continues a trend. In 1992, there were only 2.2million drivers over 70, but today there are 3.9million. However, the report's authors insist that contrary to popular belief advancing years do not make even doddery drivers any more dangerous, and that the experience of age is a powerful counterbalance to the dangerous exuberance of youth. Older drivers compensate for their advancing years, deteriorating eyesight and slower reactions by driving more carefully and with more experience than youngsters, says the report by the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

But the Government must prepare for the changes by including a 'national strategy for older drivers' as part of its road safety policy. The report, called Holding back the gears the ageing process and driver safety, was presented to road safety minister Stephen Hammond yesterday. The study was carried out for the IAM by experts at the Transport Research Laboratory, who put 32 drivers of varying ages from 17 to 75-plus through a driving simulation test to check reactions. It found that drivers over 75 react just as quickly as other age groups when a vehicle emerges from a side road or if the car in front brakes suddenly on a rural road. Where older drivers have slower reaction times they use their experience on the road to compensate. They drive slower and they keep a bigger following distance than drivers from other age groups. But older drivers appear to stop short of the stop line at junctions and not look as often as others before pulling out. They also fail to look in their rear view mirror as much as other age groups on the motorway. And they are likely to have less flexibility in neck movement and poorer vision standards. But this did not translate into differences in driving performance. IAM chief executive Simon Best said: 'There is no doubt that older drivers get a bad press. They are an easy target for other motorists' frustrations. 'A dramatic increase is imminent as the "baby-boomer" generation reach retirement age and beyond.' 'At times the demands for them to be stripped of their licences or face compulsory re-tests is deafening. But older drivers are as safe as drivers from all other age groups.' The IAM says reports from the police show that last year the over 70s accounted for 9 per cent of drivers but 6 per cent of casualties. By contrast, people under 30 accounted for 20 per cent of drivers but 35 per cent of casualties. But those over 70 are more likely to be in an accident caused by 'failing to look properly' 30 per cent among older drivers compared with 19 per cent among those aged 25 to 69. Commenting on the number of licence holders over 70, the report says: 'A dramatic increase is imminent as the "baby-boomer" generation reach retirement age and beyond. Levels of vehicle ownership have risen dramatically over the last 50 years. In 1975/76 only 15 per cent of people over 70 had a licence. Now almost 60 per cent do.' The IAM arrived at its figures by analysing official statistics and projections from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Office for National Statistics. There is currently no upper age limit for holding a driving licence, but all drivers over 70 have to renew their licence every three years and have to tell the DVLA about any conditions medical or otherwise which might affect their driving. The DVLA said: 'If we find evidence a driver does not meet the appropriate medical standard we suspend their licence.'

Why people over the age of seventy shouldn't drive sample essay Although people over 70 are safer drivers, still the question of whether or not allowing these people to drive is relevant today. Surely, older people are less likely to involve in interstate races, or drunk driving as compared to younger drivers. However, the older population of drivers is much more likely to be involved in a car accident, and what is even more dangerous, for obvious reasons they are more likely to die in these accidents. Thus, people over seventy must not be allowed to drive, at least in urban areas with high traffic.

An old driver may be a good driver as well as a very dangerous one. The degree of this dangerousness depends on the person and is very individual and unique. While there are many older rivers that feel comfortable at the wheel, there is a majority that for certain physical problems cannot perform all drivers functions well. The four main problems that turn driving for older people problematic are: medications, changes in thinking, changes in their bodies, and other health problems. Now let me discuss each of these in detail. Surely older people take more medications than others. Some of them affect their minds and bodies. Younger drivers take medications too, but because older people are more sensitive to these effects, their central nervous system is even more affected. This may result in slower reaction, and other difficulties while driving. Also, some medications may cause dizziness, sleepiness, and other effects that make driving problematic and even dangerous. Some old people may change their thinking, and thus react to certain situations differently as compared to a reaction of a normal person. Depressions and dementia are rather frequent cases, and both of these influence the drivers mentality and decision -making. And so in extreme situations they my fail take the correct decision. Certainly, older bodies are weaker and slower. This aspect may also influence the older persons driving in extreme situations. Eyesight and other senses are poorer, and people might simply miss an important sign or object. Finally, health problems and illnesses are a threat to the persons driving ability. The Parkinsons disease or arthritis influence a person so that driving becomes much harder. These and many other illnesses also affect the older drivers. The problem is that many older people need to drive, because they live in distant rural areas or suburbs, however their need to drive several miles to the grocers may and up in a huge car crash. Thus, people over 70 should not drive. The Elderly The mentally frail elderly People normally start to deteriorate mentally at around 45 years of age. For some, this develops quickly, in the form of Alzheimer's disease or similar, for others, the process is much slower. The generally frail elderly Some accidents also occur because the driver has weakened motor skills. This is the interplay between the ability to sense and think, and motor skills, which makes sure that input is received and processed in the nervous system, and the muscular system. The physically frail elderly Here we're talking about the elderly and their ability to move in traffic. As an example, consider the case where an elderly person had only 13 seconds to cross a wide, heavily trafficked road. It cased an intense debate in the media. Older drivers with acute health conditions This includes conditions such as heart failure or loss of consciousness. The material says very little about the health problems which have arisen in the individual accident. Considering individual risks for acute health issues in road traffic is difficult, and so far has not received a high priority. Older Drivers, Elderly Driving, Seniors at the Wheel In the next 20 years the number of elderly drivers (persons 70 & over) is predicted to triple in the United States. As age increases, older drivers generally become more conservative on the road. Many mature drivers modify their driving habits (for instance to avoid busy highways or night-time

driving) to match their declining capabilities. However, statistics show that older drivers are more likely than younger ones to be involved in multi-vehicle crashes, particularly at intersections. Research on age-related driving concerns has shown that at around the age of 65 drivers face an increased risk of being involved in a vehicle crash. After the age of 75, the risk of driver fatality increases sharply, because older drivers are more vulnerable to both crash-related injury and death. Three behavioral factors in particular may contribute to these statistics: poor judgement in making left-hand turns; drifting within the traffic lane; and decreased ability to change behavior in response to an unexpected or rapidly changing situation. Concern about the increased number of older drivers and their potentially decreased driving abilities is growing, especially among younger drivers. Statistics, based on all people injured or killed in traffic crashes, indicate that older drivers are at a disproportionate risk for becoming involved in fatal crashes. A NHTSA study of 1995 FARS (Fatal Accident Reporting System) data reports that senior citizens accounted for:

5% of all people injured in traffic crashes 13% of all traffic fatalities 13% of all vehicle occupant fatalities 18% of all pedestrian fatalities In a 1997 NHTSA study, older people made up 9 percent of the population but accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities and 17 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. NHTSA's "Traffic Safety Facts 1997: Older Population" (DOT HS 808 769) reports that:

In 1997, more than 24 million people in the United States were over 70 years of age. Representing 9 percent of the population in 1997, the 70-and-older age group grew 2.1 times faster from 1987 to 1997 than the total population. In 1986 older drivers were 7 percent of licensed drivers; in 1996 they were 19 percent of licensed drivers. Of traffic fatalities involving older drivers, 82 percent happened in the daytime, 71 percent occurred on weekdays, and 75 percent involved a second vehicle. When a crash involved an older driver and a younger driver, the older driver was 3 times as likely as the younger driver to be the one struck. Moreover, 28 percent of crash-involved older drivers were turning left when they were struck-- 7 times more often than younger drivers were struck while making left turns. Older drivers involved in fatal crashes and fatally injured older pedestrians claimed the lowest proportion of intoxication--defined as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 grams per deciliter or higher. While only 55 percent of adult vehicle occupants (ages 18 to 69) involved in fatal crashes were using restraints at the time of the crash, 70 percent of fatal- crash-involved older occupants were using restraints. "On the basis of estimated annual travel, the fatality rate for drivers 85 and over is nine times as high as the rate for drivers 25 through 69 years old." Statistics show that in two-vehicle fatal crashes involving an older and a younger driver, it is 3.1 times as likely that the vehicle driven by the older person will be struck. In 27% of these twovehicle fatal crashes the older driver was turning left. Drivers over 65, along with new teen-age drivers, have the highest accident rates per miles driven. Another NHTSA study found that on the basis of estimated annual travel, the fatality rate for drivers 85 and over is nine times as high as the rate for drivers 25 through 69 years old. Lawrence Nitz, a political scientist from the University of Hawaii, conducted a three-year study of Hawaiian traffic records and found that drivers over 75 were far more likely than other motorists to be cited for certain offenses, including failing to yield to pedestrians, backing up unsafely and failing to stop at a flashing red light.

What is being done to address the problem? Mandatory driving tests - California, which requires retesting for anyone involved in a fatal crash or three or more crashes in one year, requires drivers over 70 to retest if they are involved in two or more crashes in one year. Proposals in several other states to toughen licensing requirements for older drivers have been thwarted by senior-citizen lobbying groups (AARP & others), who say age-based measures are discriminatory. They claim that a person's chronological age is not an accurate predictor of driving ability. The lobbyists argue that if seniors are forced to take mandatory roadtests in the absence of an incident, other age groups should be required to take them as well. Deficit reporting laws - Pennsylvania is one state that has a physician's reporting law, requiring physicians to report disabilities that may affect driving ability. Some physicians, however, are reluctant to jeopardize their relationship with a patient by making such a referral. Most other states do not require physicians to report psycho-motor, visual, and cognitive deficiencies that may affect driving to licensing agencies. What else can be done?

Deficit screening - Screening could be given to all drivers for whom age-related decline is suspected and whose performance is viewed as a safety concern for themselves and other motorists. In addition, health professionals and others who work with older populations could administer the tests. Screening could become a part of the regular process of license renewal. By reducing testing time, drivers could be quickly screened and identified either as capable, or as in need of further testing. Crash statistics - DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and insurance company records can help identify high-risk older drivers. In addition to crash counts, the details of the crash (roadway condition, time of day, location, fault) are important. Some crash patterns (e.g., the driver stopped in the middle of the roadway) may be better predictors of future crashes than others. Given that many older drivers involved in crashes have never had a crash before and may not have another one during the following year, crash records will identify only a few high-risk older drivers. However, crash statistics may be an important part of a comprehensive program to identify highrisk older drivers. What can you do? - You may wonder about older friends and family members' performance on the road. You want to support their continued mobility but on the other hand you worry about their driving abilities. Unfortunately we don't all retain the ability to drive a car throughout our lifetime. Physical disabilities, mental illness, medications, loss of vision, or frailty can end anyone's driving career prematurely. Before you bring up the subject, keep in mind that the thought of losing a driver's license is very disturbing to most older people. Americans rely upon their cars to get to work, go to the doctor, go shopping, and visit their friends and relatives. The elderly equate losing their driving privileges with being dependent, feeling trapped, perhaps losing choice, control, and spontaneity in life. Discussing driving skill with an older person requires great diplomacy. AgeQuest, a specialty firm addressing the training needs of professionals in the field of aging, older adults, and family caregivers, suggests in its publication "Supporting the Mature Driver" that the decline of skills necessary for safe driving sometimes occurs suddenly or subtly. Signs may include a pattern of close calls, violations or collisions, increasing difficulty in noticing pedestrians, signs, objects, or other vehicles; an observable decline in physical abilities; or a rapid onset of fatigue from driving. Older drivers need to be aware that medications can significantly impair their driving by making them drowsy or distracted. Physicians and pharmacists should be consulted before starting new medications, to see if the drug can affect the ability to drive. Since side effects are often worse for the first few days of a new medication, people should avoid driving until they know exactly how a new drug affects them. If any medication causes sleepiness or disorientation, someone else should do the driving. Eyes change with age. They lose the ability to focus quickly. Peripheral vision narrows and the retina becomes less sensitive to light. Physical activity is needed to keep a person strong and

flexible for those quick reactions needed while driving. To be a safe driver, paying attention to road conditions and your own body changes is essential. A person's chronological age is not an absolute predictor of driving ability, but its impact should not be denied. Ultimately, however, what counts on the road is performance. Statistics for the argument USA institute of insurance In 2006 older people (65 and older) made up 14.1 percent of all traffic fatalities, 13.5 percent of vehicle occupant fatalities and 18.9 percent of pedestrian fatalities, according to NHTSA. In 2006, 81 percent of fatal accidents involving older drivers happened during the day. Seventytwo percent involved another vehicle. In two-vehicle fatal crashes involving an older driver and a younger driver, older drivers' vehicles were nearly twice as likely to be struck than younger drivers' vehicles (61 percent versus 32 percent). quoted from More fuel for the Debate!! From Australia 2nd October 2011 THE debate about elderly drivers keeping their licences has been reignited after a tragic crash in a Gold Coast hospital carpark. A woman, aged in her early 50s, was struck and killed as an elderly man parked his car at the John Flynn Private Hospital on Inland Drive, Tugun, on Friday afternoon. John Flynn Private Hospital confirmed the name of the deceased woman as Deborah Whorley. A clinical director at the hospital said Ms Whorley, aged in her 50s, was going to visit her elderly mother Betty who is a patient at John Flynn Private Hospital. The accident comes after other serious crashes involving elderly drivers earlier this year, including a 79-year-old woman who struck and killed her friend while reversing her car after Bible study at the Taringa Baptist Church on Brisbane's westside in July. Death sparks elderly licence debate Carpark tragedy followed Bible studies MP's daughter pinned by car, loses leg That came just months after the daughter of Southport MP Peter Lawlor, Alison France, 38, lost her leg when she was struck by an 88-year-old driver in a shopping centre carpark. In the latest incident, the 73-year-old Burleigh Heads man, who was dropping a family member at the emergency department, lost control of his car as he tried to park. Ms Whorley was walking in the hospital's multi-level carpark when the man's runaway car crashed over a kerb and knocked her over a steel fence, about 4.40pm. Ms Whorley, who lived in northern NSW, sustained serious injuries from the collision and fall and was taken to Gold Coast Hospital, where she later died. Emergency and intensive care staff at the private hospital assisted the woman until an ambulance arrived. The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the incident.

Over 74? Then it becomes dangerous ! Recent study at leading University shows.. Older drivers (aged over 64) were involved in relatively few crashes compared with younger drivers (aged under 65), and also had lower crash rates than younger drivers after adjusting for differences between the specified age groups in terms of population, and the number of licence holders. After adjusting for differences in the amount of driving done by each of the age groups, it was found that crash rates were reasonably constant for those aged between 25 and 74. Higher crash rates were found only for those drivers under the age of 25 and over the age of 74. When crash rates per licensed driver were analysed in terms of crash injury severity, it was found that older drivers were over-represented in crashes resulting in fatal injuries. *M Baldock & A McLean Adelaide university SA 86 year old in Horror smash Woman maimed , heres part of the story A judge has called for checks on elderly drivers after an infirm 86-year-old man ploughed into three pedestrians, maiming one and contributing to the death of another. Allan Skoyles was registered deaf, had undergone eight heart operations and had suffered a stroke which left him barely mobile, but was still allowed to drive. He was pulling up in his Ford Focus outside a church in Gorleston, Norfolk, when he accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. The car mounted the pavement and hit an elderly couple, Joyce and Arthur Willett, and Emma Woolnough, 24. Miss Woolnough had a leg amputated, while Mr Willett, 78, died three months later. His family believe the crash in February led to the deterioration in his health. His 77-year-old wife remains in hospital with serious hip injuries. Older, dangerous drivers a growing problem READERS' OPINIONS Here's what readers had to say when asked: Have you dealt with an elderly driver or are you one yourself? Do you think elderly drivers should face increased restrictions based on their age? collinsfriend wrote: Driving should always be ability based. This justifies removing DUI's licenses, and anyone who demonstrates the lack of ability to drive regardless of age. Both under 22 years old and over 80 years old should have a more frequent and extensive re-exam, and anyone at-fault for an accident at any age as well. pjenni wrote: It would be helpful if each state had a way for family or neighbors to report people who need to be tested. I had to take the license away from the Alzheimer's person that I caretake. It would have been much less hurtful if I could have had a way to make the State send a letter stating they needed to be tested or that their license would be revoked ... This person is only 59 years old so a mandatory test after age 70 or so wouldn't have helped. I was very aware of the problem as I myself had been hit (in the side) by a 76 year old woman who mistook the gas for the brake at an intersection and blasted into my car, totalling it. I was lucky there was no oncoming traffic or I might not have survived. TJMort wrote: Perhaps if we had walkable communities older folks would more easily give up their licences. If they could walk to the store, to the pharmacy, to their friends it would not be such a problem. Problem is that suburbanization has made having a car essential and the fact that many older folks don't have their children living nearby as young people move to where the jobs are leaving their parents behind.

ElisaG wrote: The AAA does not want to give as a solution more public transportation, like buses and lightrails. They want their yearly payment. Annual visits to the DMV is not going to solve that much of the problem. I got into an accident with an elderly couple - who were on their way to a glaucoma clinic!!! smearjay wrote: My Grandfather was 80 when he started having his accidents. Once he hit a cop on a motorcycle as he was leaving town. He stopped turned around and berated the police officer for getting in his way, turned again and drove home. (Thank God the Chief of Police knew him). My father took his keys and told him he could no longer drive. The next morning. There goes my grandfather to town again, on the tractor, again on the lawn mower. etc.... Ordinary Joe wrote: I feel [that] teenage drivers are a much bigger threat. Having 3 teens on the road, almost all of their friends have been in an accident. With cell phones & text messaging being vital components of "teen life", the roads are becoming more dangerous. By Robert Davis and Anthony DeBarros, USA TODAY DALLAS As his 90-year-old neighbor struggled last May to set out on a morning drive to the store, David Prager began to worry. Elizabeth Grimes, a widow who had lived on Meaders Lane for 50 years, had backed out of her driveway, across her lawn and off the curb. Her 1994 Mercury Grand Marquis then hit the curb across the street, Prager recalls, before Grimes mistook the gas pedal for the brake and "took off with a jackrabbit start." Six blocks away, Grimes drove through a red light. The car slammed into Katie Bolka, a 17-yearold high school junior who was driving to school to take an algebra test. Five days later, Bolka died. The crash was emblematic of what health and safety analysts say is likely to be an increasing problem as the elderly population booms: aging drivers, clinging to the independence that cars give them but losing their ability to operate the vehicles, causing more accidents. Fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65, according to a recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, based on data from 1999-2004. From ages 75 to 84, the rate of about three deaths per 100 million miles driven is equal to the death rate of teenage drivers. For drivers 85 and older, the fatality rate skyrockets to nearly four times higher than that for teens. The numbers are particularly daunting at a time when the U.S. Census Bureau projects there will be 9.6 million people 85 and older by 2030, up 73% from today. Road safety analysts predict that by 2030, when all baby boomers are at least 65, they will be responsible for 25% of all fatal crashes. In 2005, 11% of fatal crashes involved drivers that old. Debates over how to prepare for a boom in elderly drivers are resonating in statehouses across the nation including Texas, where Bolka's death has inspired the Legislature to pass a measure that could lead to more frequent vision tests and behind-the-wheel exams for drivers 79 and older. The only measure scientifically proven to lower the rate of fatal crashes involving elderly drivers is forcing the seniors to appear at motor vehicle departments in person to renew their licenses, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), citing a 1995 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. But most states do not require older drivers to renew licenses in person, and only two Illinois and New Hampshire require them to pass road tests, which can be crucial in identifying drivers whose physical ability or mental awareness has diminished.

States have tried a range of approaches, but for the most part they have struggled to establish precise standards for determining when seniors should be kept off the road while being fair to older drivers who remain capable. State laws are inconsistent on the issue, according to the IIHS, which researches factors that cause crashes. Most state driver's license laws require basic eye exams but typically cannot detect a driver's diminished physical capacity and cognitive awareness.No state has an age limit on drivers. "It's a huge problem, and we really don't have any solutions to it yet," says Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "We need to keep moving on it and try to find solutions as quickly as possible." Safety and health specialists are especially concerned about drivers 85 and older, who, federal crash statistics show, are involved in three fatal accidents a day. "You always hear about teenage (driver) risks being so incredibly high, but to me the amazing thing is there are two clusters you really have to focus on": teens and elderly drivers, says Paul Fischbeck of the Center for the Study and Improvement of Regulation at Carnegie Mellon. Normal aging causes medical problems that affect driving. Reflexes, flexibility, visual acuity, memory and the ability to focus all decline with age. Medicines that treat various ailments also make it more difficult to focus and make snap decisions. Elderly drivers are less likely than other drivers to be in crashes involving high speeds or alcohol, but they are more likely to crash at intersections where they miss a stop sign or turn left in front of oncoming traffic. "Where single-vehicle rollovers can be described as a young person's crash, side impact appears to be an old person's crash," National Highway Traffic Safety Administration researchers Rory Austin and Barbara Faigin wrote in a 2003 study of crash occupants published in the Journal of Safety Research. Crashes shine a spotlight Even so, a series of incidents involving elderly drivers in the past few years has fueled the debate over how to deal with the risks they can pose. Among them: George Russell Weller, then 86, killed 10 people and injured more than 70 when he drove his Buick Le Sabre into a crowded farmers market in Santa Monica, Calif., on July 16, 2003. His attorneys explained that Weller had confused his car's accelerator for the brake. He was convicted of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. A judge ruled that Weller was too ill to be imprisoned and sentenced him to probation and $101,700 in penalties. The case fueled a nationwide debate over how elderly drivers should be screened. Brian Fay, 19, was making change for a customer at a Sears store in Orlando on Oct. 9 when he heard what he thought was a bomb. Fay looked toward the store entrance and saw a pane of glass shatter and fall to the floor. Then he "looked down and saw (a) car barreling" toward him. Elizabeth Jane Baldick, 84, drove her car into the cash register counter Fay was using, knocking him over. Bleeding, he rushed to check on Baldick, whose car had come to rest against a concrete pillar. Her foot was still pressed firmly against the accelerator, the tires screeching against the tiles on the floor. Florida revoked Baldick's driving privileges in December, citing medical reasons, says Kim Miller of the Florida Highway Patrol. The Grimes accident in Dallas is typical of many crashes involving elderly drivers, health and safety specialists say: It involved someone who was reluctant to give up her car keys, and who drove mostly on familiar roads near her home.

Elinor Ginzler, AARP's director of livable communities, says the elderly can "suffer because they are stuck at home" after giving up their keys. So they drive for as long as they can by going only where they must as their skills diminish. "Many elderly drivers do what we call 'self-regulate,' " says Ginzler, whose association for seniors encourages its members to assess when they should give up driving. "They only drive the places that they know, on familiar roads, at certain times of the day." As long as a driver can navigate such trips safely, "those are very, very good decisions to be making," she says. "Making a decision (not to) drive at night anymore is terrific. It means you recognize this isn't safe anymore." AARP offers a Driver Safety Program at sites around the country and online. The program is an eight-hour class for drivers 50 and older that deals with the effects of aging on driving. The organization's website, aarp.org, also offers advice for seniors and their adult children on how to stay safe. Most elderly drivers decide to stop driving themselves. More than 600,000 drivers age 70 and older decide to give up driving each year, according to a 2002 study published in the American Journal of Public Health. That's partly why insurance rates usually are only slightly higher for drivers 75 or older and far lower than such rates for teenage drivers. Insurance analysts say the car insurance industry does not see a big liability threat from the rising number of elderly drivers because such drivers hurt themselves more than others and tend to stop driving on their own. "When they realize they are driving in dangerous conditions they generally stop doing it," says Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute, based in New York City. "The industry views them as pretty much a self-policing group. Many elderly drivers do not drive at night. Many will make three right-hand turns instead of one left-hand turn." Grimes, who died Jan. 15 from what Dallas County medical examiner Richard Baer says were complications from a stroke and old age, had cooked her own meals, cleaned her house and mowed her lawn which she called her therapy. Through their attorney, her family members declined to discuss her driving. But Grimes said after the crash that she frequently had made short trips around her neighborhood. "I'm not going at any high rate of speed because I'm here, there and yonder along the way," she said about three months after the crash in a videotaped deposition for a lawsuit filed by Bolka's family. "This is my area." Grimes' family members say they suspect she had a mild stroke the night before the crash that fatally injured Bolka, and the stroke caused a sudden decline in Grimes' ability to drive safely. The lawsuit filed by the Bolkas was settled on Sept. 14 for an undisclosed amount. Harsha says no state has a good "early warning system" when it comes to identifying elderly drivers in declining health. The burden rests on spouses, family members, doctors and police to request that a license be revoked. Appealing for a state to revoke someone's driver's license on medical grounds is a cumbersome process, and such requests are rare. What states are doing Twenty-three states require licensed drivers of a certain age to appear periodically at a department of motor vehicles office to renew their license. In 16 states, older drivers must prove that they can see well enough to drive. Some states have tried other ways to identify drivers who, because of age-related health problems, put themselves or others at risk. But the IIHS says such efforts have failed to accurately predict the risk an elderly driver may pose. Without precise measures, analysts estimate that 500 good drivers would have to be taken off the road to prevent a single crash. Among states' efforts to restrict elderly drivers:

California tested a three-tiered pilot plan for assessing drivers of all ages that included a driving knowledge test, cognitive screening and vision tests. People who failed the first tiers had to pass a road test. The 2003 study of 152 drivers did not predict who would go on to have a crash. Maryland conducted a study that found drivers who performed poorly on certain cognitive tests such as following basic commands and repeating simple movements were about 25% more likely than others to go on to cause a crash. Results of the study of 1,910 drivers ages 55 to 96 were published in January 2006 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Maryland now uses such screening on a regular basis with drivers whose actions raise concerns about their cognitive abilities. Florida's requirement that drivers 80 and older pass a vision test resulted in the loss of a license for about 7% of elderly drivers seeking renewal, according to a study by the IIHS. But nearly 20% of those 80 and older who needed to renew their license told researchers they decided to give up driving because they did not think they could pass the vision test. "We don't know for sure if any of these (efforts) will prevent fatal crashes," says Russ Rader of the IIHS. "But having drivers go in person for renewal allows the examiner to see the person and spot impairments. That can be effective." 'I did it. I'm terribly sorry' David Prager, Grimes' former neighbor in Dallas, says there was little he could do to keep her off the road. "There was no way Mrs. Grimes was going to stop driving," Prager says. Grimes said in her deposition taken in the nursing home where she went after suffering two broken ankles in the accident that killed Bolka that she "never had a reason until now" to discuss giving up her car. Just before the fatal crash, Grimes' car had suffered front-end damage after an accident in a parking lot at the same intersection where Grimes struck Bolka. "I had it repaired," she said in her deposition. "Everything was happy." Bolka's family members say they pushed the Texas Legislature to pass the bill toughening the state's laws on bad elderly drivers because they believe states should be more aggressive in keeping such drivers off the road. Right now, "the first level of defense is the driver," says Rick Bolka, Katie's father. "The second level of defense is the (driver's) family. The third level of defense is the (driver's) physician. We would like to see the state become the first level of defense. The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens." Texas Sen. John Corona, R-Dallas, the Bolkas' state senator, said during a recent hearing that his mother "is blind, and they just renewed her license by mail." The bill, which is scheduled to be signed soon by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, would require drivers 79 and older to appear in person for renewals and subject them to mandatory vision tests and behindthe-wheel exams if officials have any question about their driving ability. Drivers 85 and older would be required to renew every two years. During his deposition of Grimes, the Bolka family's attorney, Peter Malouf, asked Grimes whether she understood that she had crashed into a young girl's car and killed her. "I'm aware of that very sad story, yes," Grimes said. "Sure I did it. I'm terribly sorry. But I did it." Malouf asked whether there was anything she would like to say to the family. "What is there to say to people who have been hurt?" Grimes said. "That's best left alone, I think." Davis reported from Dallas and McLean, Va.; DeBarros reported from McLean. Contributing: Katie Holeman and Susan O'Brian.