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Staggering Number Of Potentially Unsafe Elderly Drivers Still Behind Wheel, Study Warns
Daily Voice ^ | 01/08/2025 | Joe Lombardi

Posted on 01/08/2025 7:26:28 AM PST by SeekAndFind

A new study reveals a staggering number of elderly Americans experiencing cognitive decline continue to drive, raising concerns about road safety nationwide.

There are approximately 48 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older in the United States, with around 17 percent of seniors suffering from mild cognitive impairment, according to a StudyFinds.org.

This situation presents a considerable challenge in ensuring road safety while also preserving the independence of older adults.

According to an analysis conducted by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the healthcare system must improve its monitoring and evaluation of older adults who are still licensed to drive.

The statistics are alarming: Motor vehicle crashes involving drivers over 65 resulted in 7,480 fatalities and nearly 150,000 non-fatal injuries in 2020.

Family physicians often find themselves in a difficult position when asked to evaluate an older patient’s driving ability. Current cognitive screening tests are inadequate, and specialists also struggle with these assessments.



TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: driving; elderly
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To: clee1

My in laws live in Illinois where there is an annual driver test after a certain age. He was the worst driver ever but he somehow managed to pass the test every year. I think it was a scam to collect more money.


41 posted on 01/08/2025 8:31:30 AM PST by wyokostur
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To: metmom
Lots of data here if you care to glance at it.

I personally believe that as you age your abilities change
for each of us some more than others. That is why I don't
drive as much as I used to. My wife and daughter are here
so I don't have to thus I don't.

42 posted on 01/08/2025 8:38:08 AM PST by deport
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To: SeekAndFind
I’m 70, and willingly turned over the keys due to cataracts. Got the left one removed a month ago, the eye is now 20/20. The right eye will be operated on in a few months, no issues with driving now.

I will quit driving when my time comes, willingly. Too many lousy drivers in North Texas.

43 posted on 01/08/2025 8:46:12 AM PST by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s not a question of age necessarily, but more a question of people who drive as if stop signs, traffic signals and speed limits are merely suggestions... and yeah, don’t forget those smart phones.


44 posted on 01/08/2025 8:50:52 AM PST by vortigern
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To: RWGinger

look at Aunt B’s home page towards the mid bottom....it will explain the crap she went thru since the Alameda fires in 2020 and th Covid crap in California...it’s not for the faint of heart. All the minimum disaster social safety net help systems became nightmares for many who tried to access them, much like what has happened in western NC.


45 posted on 01/08/2025 8:53:31 AM PST by mdmathis6 (A horrible historic indictment: Biden Democrats plunging the world into war to hide their crimes!)
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To: SeekAndFind
I have not had to head for the ditch for a single older driver. I have headed for the ditch while laying on the horn for many younger and mostly younger female drivers many times.

Who among you younger smug ones will decide who will still be allowed to drive? Who among you are lousy drivers to begin with and never improve? Who among you find your cell phone or big screen infotainment center in the car more important than actually driving? Let's quote statistics about your accident rate and ban you from driving.

46 posted on 01/08/2025 8:55:32 AM PST by Sequoyah101 (Donald John Trump. First man to be Elected to the Presidency THREE times since FDR.)
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To: SeekAndFind

65?

Give me a frickin’ break.

I live in Maine and there are plenty of teen and twenty-something stoned drivers who drive like morons.


47 posted on 01/08/2025 8:58:30 AM PST by july4thfreedomfoundation (Russia? China? Democrats and RINOs are the biggest threat to the survival of America.)
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To: Skwor

The phone use is much worse than the elderly drivers.


48 posted on 01/08/2025 9:01:23 AM PST by Thomas Jerome (noob,retread,seagull,Chuck Schumer etc...)
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To: july4thfreedomfoundation
I live in Maine and there are plenty of teen and twenty-something stoned drivers who drive like morons.

Those and the illegal aliens, donkey cart foreigners, ignorant food delivery drivers, and rideshare drivers screwing with their phone trying to bid for their next fare, are far worse than any senior driver.

49 posted on 01/08/2025 9:07:06 AM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: pnz1

IMO a lot of them are in FL..


We used to refer to it as “The Claude Pepper Lane” where the old drivers would always hold up traffic.


50 posted on 01/08/2025 9:07:58 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Roadrunner383
Senior citizens 65-74 are the safest group of drivers

As I've gotten older, I've become more aware of my limitations and have adjusted accordingly. For example, you'll rarely see me driving on a rainy night unless I absolutely have to.

51 posted on 01/08/2025 9:10:02 AM PST by CommerceComet (Re-elect Donald Trump - AGAIN)
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To: pnz1

“IMO a lot of them are in FL..”

And FR. 😁


52 posted on 01/08/2025 9:11:37 AM PST by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they. control you. )
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To: SeekAndFind

KISS MY GRITS

AM 85

HAVE driven over 1 MILLION miles since age 16.

NO ACCIDENTS

MOST RECENT TICKET: NO SEAT BELT 1998.

LIVE ALONE RURAL

DO ALL MY OWN SHOPPING, ETC.

TAKE CARE OF MY ACREAGE.


53 posted on 01/08/2025 9:13:34 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: SeekAndFind

“There are approximately 48 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older”

Does that mean 90% of freepers shouldn’t be driving?


54 posted on 01/08/2025 9:14:11 AM PST by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they. control you. )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

CORRECT.....


55 posted on 01/08/2025 9:14:37 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Gil4

NOTICE THERE IS A COMPLETE LACK OF DATE CONCERNING ILLEGALS


56 posted on 01/08/2025 9:16:36 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Gil4

NOTICE THERE IS A COMPLETE LACK OF DATA CONCERNING ILLEGALS


57 posted on 01/08/2025 9:16:47 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Owen

SOOOOOOOO—YOU ARE USING THE AGE OF THE VICTIM OF A YOUNGER MORE AGGRESSIVE DRIVER TO HALT OLDER DRIVERS???


58 posted on 01/08/2025 9:18:30 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Skwor
Given the retirement age is currently 67 something seems to be a problem here, you expect everyone to work but don’t want them to drive.

I'm 68 and working full time. Fortunately, I work from my home office. Little need to drive, but I want the option to drive when I need to travel. My 1999 F150 was purchased in 2003 with 22500 miles on the odometer. It now has 64,000. I put under 100 miles on it in 2024. The last big trip was a drive from Pocatello to San Diego in Sept 2023 for my 50th high school class reunion. For many years I made the 925 mile drive in one day. I opted to grab a room in Nevada on the southbound trip and Utah for the return trip in Sept 2023. I was a little run down...didn't know I had cancer brewing in my gut. Good sense said take a break halfway.

I'm not worried about cognitive decline at this point. I'm still building sophisticated software for my government customer and not missing a beat (or a deadline). When I can't drive safely for reasons of impaired vision or cognition, I'll happily hang up the keys.

59 posted on 01/08/2025 9:31:09 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: RWGinger; AuntB
Ahh so you lived in a city and your house burned down? So you moved back to the boonies.

No, she said the back boonies burned down so she moved her city into her house.

60 posted on 01/08/2025 9:37:27 AM PST by Lazamataz (The BEST birthday present I ever got WAS DONALD TRUMP WINNING IN 2024!!!)
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