Experts Say Monitoring Senior Drivers Is Important

Jan. 15--As the number of older drivers in Maryland increases, experts say it's often difficult but necessary to decide when to hang up the keys.

There are about 815,000 drivers aged 50 to 59 in Maryland, which makes up the largest group of the more than 4.3 million licensed drivers in the state, according to a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration manual. The 50-59 age group of drivers has grown by 36 percent since 2000.

Additionally, drivers 65 and older make up 17 percent of all drivers. Maryland also has about 20,000 licensed drivers age 90 and older -- more than twice as many as it did in 2000.

The MVA provides a "Resource Guide for Aging Drivers" to help drivers and their families deal with the issues that come with getting older.

Getting older can affect drivers in many ways, from decreased sight and reaction time to decreased mobility that can affect the ability to see around corners or at intersections. Taking medication can make them drowsy or disoriented.

There's no particular age range when drivers' skills and abilities start to erode, said Carolyn True, director of the Frederick County Department of Aging.

Giving up their driver's license is a tough transition for many people, as it takes away independence that they have had for decades.

"It's a difficult conversation to have," True said.

She said department staff members are sometimes asked to help initiate conversations, and often have been part of meetings with families to help generate discussions.

A doctor can help with a physical exam that can provide an introduction to a discussion.

As for the right time for that conversation, "it depends on the family, it depends on the dynamics," True said.

While doctors can help assess an aging driver's cognitive and physical abilities, only the Motor Vehicle Administration has the authority to suspend someone's driving privileges in Maryland.

Insurance risk for younger drivers comes from inexperience, but the risk for older drivers comes from physical problems, said Dave Phillips, a spokesman for State Farm insurance.

Conversations are definitely important if a loved one's abilities start to fade, he said.

If drivers get into more crashes as they get older, they could have their insurance dropped or pay higher rates that can be difficult on a fixed income, Phillips said.

True encourages people to watch relatives for signs of decline around the holidays, when families are together more often.

Older drivers are "overrepresented in certain types of crashes," especially ones involving left turns and merging, said Myra Wieman, traffic safety program manager for the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education.

Many crashes result from not checking blind spots -- often because physical mobility in the neck is limited -- or because their mirrors aren't properly adjusted, she said.

Older drivers, and even some younger ones, can get disoriented by lights, noise and vibrations caused by newer car features such as blind spot detectors, lane departure warning systems and rear-view cameras.

"It's still kind of new to everybody," Wieman said.

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