Senior Citizens

3 Pages 724 Words

Senior Citizen Driving

1. One day, not long ago...I came out of my house to leave for work. On the way to my car I noticed the little old lady across the street walking to here car with what appeared to be a phone book. To my surprise she laid the phone book down onto the seat and proceeded to climb in...I then decided to watch this rare occasion, since she only drives once a month or so. Well after a few minutes, she finally got her giant Cadillac started and began to back out of her drive way. She was backing up with one wheel one the drive way and one on the grass.... I felt this was a little humorous, and decided to watch her drive down the street. She cruised down the street at a top speed of 5 mph! After watching this I decided to go back into my house for a few more minutes just to be sure she was out of the area.
The old people driving today pose a definite threat to everyone else’s safety. I recommend that we impose regulations that work to cease allowing old people to drive after they are unable to think for themselves.
2. Body
Concern, particularly among "younger" drivers, about the number of "older" drivers on the roads and their driving abilities is already growing. Statistics, when calculated based on all people injured or killed in traffic crashes, may indicate that older drivers are at a disproportionate risk for becoming involved in fatal crashes. For example nationally, in 1995 senior citizens accounted for:
· 5% of all people injured in traffic crashes;
· 13% of all traffic fatalities;
· 13% of all vehicle occupant fatalities; and
· 18% of all pedestrian fatalities.
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 two-vehicle fatal crashes the older driver was turning left.

A. According to the Highway Traffic Safety Commission, Collision rates for ...