Study Finds That Falls Limit Ability Of Older Drivers To Function Behind Wheel

Even with the power steering that comes with most vehicles these days, driving requires some strength. It also requires coordination.

Nick Jarmusz, public affairs director at AAA Wisconsin, said that drivers must master many physical skills behind the wheel.

“You are doing things, ” said Jarmusz. “Especially, if you are in a heavy traffic area, you’re moving to react to things, whether it’s turning the wheel, switching from the accelerator to the brake frequently and those are things that do require a certain amount of physical agility”

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that falls could be an early indicator of declining physical fitness, which could affect driving ability. Jarmusz said a low-impact fitness program or driver improvement course could extend an older driver’s years on the road.

“With the baby boom generation reaching retirement, now there’s going to be an explosion in the number of senior citizens that are driving. By 2030, one of every four drivers is going to be over the age of 65,” he said.

Jarmusz said that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He said elderly drivers are more cautious and are involved in fewer accidents . However, they are more likely to be severely injured or killed in a crash.

“The effects of age affect people differently and its a very individual process for everyone. But this study does establish a link where we can say if you do have a fall, or you have a relative who has a history of falls, that’s a good indicator that it may be time to look into alternative transportation options for them because statistically there is a much higher crash risk for them,” he said.

AAA officials don’t reccomend a specific age at which people should stop driving.