Senior Citizens Driiving - 1577 Words

Times are changing and the world is evolving. New technology and medications are constantly emerging and because of this it is no wonder that today people live an average of six years longer than they did in 1990 (Life Expectancy). With the life expectancy continually increasing, there are more and more elderly drivers on the roads. In fact, the total annual miles older drivers traveled climbed twenty nine percent from 1995 to 2001 (â€Å"Should elderly†) and that number is probably even greater now. This can cause a huge problem not only for the elderly drivers themselves, but for other people on the road too. As the body ages, reaction rate, hearing, and vision naturally decline which makes an aging driver much more susceptible to driving accidents and fatalities. Senior citizens should not be denied the right to drive, but they should be required to retake driving tests when they renew their license. This will confirm that they are mentally capable of operating a c ar and will assure more safety for all drivers on the road. In attempts to aid senior drivers even more, measures should also be put in place to make the roads easier for them to navigate. It is no secret that as people age their bodies start to slow down. Even though these changes are natural and extremely common, it does not mean they should be ignored, especially when it comes to driving. Vision, reaction rate, and hearing are three major concerns for elderly drivers. In the United States alone more