Special Challenges for Teen and Senior Citizen Drivers
(Featured November 21, 2005)
By Chris Neal, M.A.
Safety Consultant
Driving is an incredibly complex and demanding activity fraught with dangers both within and outside of our control. Two groups that face even more challenges in their driving are teen and senior citizen drivers.
Special concerns that apply to teenage drivers
Automobile accidents are the number one killer of 15- to 20-year olds in the United States, with more than 5,000 teen deaths each year. Half of all teen traffic deaths occur between
-
Driver error—Compared with crashes caused by older drivers, those of 16-year-olds more often involve driver mistakes.
-
Speeding— Sixteen-year-old drivers have more crashes in which speeding is a factor. Many high-speed crashes are single-car accidents caused by the driver losing control of the car.
-
Passengers—Sixteen-year-olds’ fatal crashes are more likely to occur when other teens are in the car. Passengers can distract the driver (usually by talking) and the risk of distraction increases with each additional passenger.
-
Alcohol—Drinking impairs drivers, and even though teen drivers are less likely to drink and drive than adults are, when they do, their risk of crashing is much greater.
-
Night driving—Driving at night is risky for beginning drivers. Per mile driven, the nighttime fatal crash rate for 16-year-olds is about twice as high as the daytime rate.
-
Low seat belt use—Overall, teenagers are much less likely than adults to use safety belts.
What can parents of teenagers do?
When parents understand the risk factors involved in letting their teens get behind the wheel, they can act to improve the situation for their own children. The following recommendations will help ensure that your children make it home safely:
-
Do not rely solely on driver education—High school driver education may be the most convenient way to learn driving skills, but it does not produce safer drivers. Poor skills are not always to blame for teens' crashes. Their attitudes and decision-making skills matter more. Young people naturally tend to rebel, and peer pressure influences them more than advice from adults. They often think they are immune to harm, which is why they do not use safety belts as much and why they deliberately seek thrills, such as speeding. Training and education do not change these tendencies.
-
Restrict night driving—Most nighttime fatal crashes among young drivers occur between
-
Restrict passengers—Teen passengers in a vehicle can distract a beginning driver and/or lead to greater risk-taking. Because young drivers often transport their friends, there is a teen passenger problem as well as a teen driver problem. Almost two of every three teen passenger deaths occur in crashes with a teen driver. While night driving with passengers is particularly lethal, many fatal crashes with teen passengers occur during the day. The best policy is to restrict teen passengers, especially multiple teens, at all times.
-
Supervise practice driving—Take an active role in helping your teenager learn how to drive. Plan a series of practice sessions in a wide variety of situations, including night driving. Give beginners time to work up to challenges such as driving in heavy traffic or on the freeway. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after a teenager graduates from a learner’s permit to a restricted or full license.
-
Remember: you are a role model. New drivers learn a lot by example, so practice safe driving. Teens with crashes and violations often have parents with poor driving records.
-
Require safety belt use—Do not assume that belt use when you are in the car with your teen means belts will be used all the time, especially when your child is out with peers. Remember that belt use is lower among teenagers than older people. Insist on the use of safety belts all the time.
-
Prohibit driving after drinking—Make it clear that it is illegal and highly dangerous for a teenager to drive after drinking alcohol or using any other form of drug (even including many forms of legal over-the-counter drugs such as cold medicines or some types of prescription medications). While alcohol is not a factor in most crashes of teen drivers, even small amounts of alcohol are impairing for teens. Reassure your teen that he or she can call you any time of day or night to come get them if they or their friends have been drinking, and that discipline will not be an issue. The alternative is not worth contemplating.
-
Choose vehicles for safety, and not image—Teenagers should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and offer protection in case they do crash. For example, small cars do not offer the best protection in a crash. Avoid cars with performance images that might encourage speeding. Avoid trucks and sport SUVs (the smaller ones, especially, are more prone to roll over in the event of a crash).
Special concerns that apply to senior citizen drivers
The American population is steadily getting older, with the “over 65” population expected to grow by 60 percent in the next 20 years. Drivers over 60 years of age are showing increased fatality rates, suffering more serious injuries in crashes as compared to younger drivers, and are more likely to die in a crash partly because they are more fragile and tend to have less range of motion.
Changes that come with aging such as vision changes, less muscle strength, slower reaction times, loss of hearing, and use of medications can have an impact on the ability to maneuver a car. As a result, as the older driver ages, he or she often becomes uncomfortable with certain challenges on the road and as a result makes the modifications he or she deems necessary to feel safe, such as limiting driving to daytime hours, and avoiding driving in inclement weather or on expressways.
Most of these drivers received their licenses without any formal training and long before driver education programs were introduced into the schools. As a result, many have developed bad driving habits over the years and do not realize that there are safer ways to drive. Driver education courses that focus on older drivers helps them become aware of the changes that their bodies are going through and the ways in which they can adapt their driving so that they remain confident in their ability and safe in the knowledge that they can remain independent by not having to forfeit their driving privileges. Following are some tips to help the mature driver:
-
Keep current on the rules of the road and follow them. Take a defensive driving course designed for the mature driver.
-
Be a defensive and courteous driver.
-
Allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Being less rushed allows you to be more comfortable with the increased stimulation of heavier traffic.
-
Leave plenty of room between you and the car ahead of you. Use a “3-second” rather than the standard “2 second rule” to allow more reaction time when judging distance between you and the car ahead of you.
-
Decrease your driving in bad weather, avoid dimly lit roadways, and limit driving during peak traffic times.
-
If other drivers seem to be going especially fast around you, use the speed limit as your guide. Do not feel pressured to drive unnecessarily fast, but going too slowly can be just as dangerous. Stay in the right-hand lane when you can.
-
If drivers often seem to suddenly stop in front of you, pay extra attention to vehicles in front of you. Maintain a safe distance between you and other cars: one car length for every 10 miles per hour.
-
If sharp turns are difficult to make, go as slowly as you need to and stay in your lane. Use your signal and be sure it’s off after you’re through the turn.
-
Minimize potential distractions by turning off the radio, avoiding the cell phone, staying out of heavy traffic, and sticking to familiar neighborhoods.
-
If driving long distances, stop and rest at least each two hours, and plan to limit driving to less than six or seven hours each day.
-
If you have a disability such as arthritis in the neck or shoulder, you may not be able to turn your neck well enough to see in reverse. Since that can interfere with backing up, have a “partner” look back for you to help you when you’re backing up.
-
Occupational therapists can help, especially if you are hampered by weakness and inflexibility.
AARP offers a “Driver Safety Program” for motorists age 50 and older, designed to help them improve their skills while teaching them to avoid accidents and traffic violations. The cost for the course is minimal and is not limited to association members. Upon completion, some graduates of the program (more than 9 million since 1979) become eligible to receive automobile insurance premium reductions.
Unfortunately, just like professional athletes, there comes a time when everyone must “retire” from driving in order to provide for the safety of themselves and others on the road. While there is not a “magic formula” for determining when that time comes, there are warning signs indicating that an individual has crossed that threshold and has become an unsafe driver:
-
Running stop signs or red lights without noticing.
-
Stopping at green lights for no reason.
-
Narrowly missing pedestrians or cars without realizing it.
-
Switching lanes or merging without looking.
-
Going the wrong way on one-way streets.
-
Getting lost in familiar areas.
-
Stopping in the middle of intersections.
-
Mixing up gas and brake pedals.
-
Having difficulty in walking, climbing stairs, or performing heavy housework at home.
Intervention with an unsafe driver
If you are worried that a loved one (or maybe even yourself) may no longer be safe on the road, express your concern and urge him or her to take a driving test (your state Department of Motor Vehicles is a good place to go for an evaluation). In addition, a family physician can also help assess a person’s driving ability by testing vision, reflexes, strength, attention, and other factors. Plus senior citizens may have confidence in the recommendations of these professionals when they may not have confidence in the recommendations of family members and others. You can also help by offering rides or by researching the availability of local public transportation and support programs for senior citizens. Check with the Agency on Aging near you to help identify the local transportation programs designed for seniors. In some locales, grocery stores and healthcare centers have vans or shuttles designated specifically for seniors.
However, be prepared for a confrontation since most people understandably resist giving up their independence and mobility. Since giving up driving without an alternative means of transportation can be a profound loss, help arrange an alternative mode of transportation such as an account with a cab company, teenagers who agree to drive for a fee or as a volunteer, or a formal transportation resource. Getting people with Alzheimer’s disease to give up their keys can be especially tricky because they usually do not realize that their skills are slipping. Family members of Alzheimer's patients may have to hide keys, move the car, or disconnect the battery cable to keep their loved ones safe.
For more information:
An informative article on “How To Train Your Teen Driver To Be A Cautious, Responsible Driver” can be found at: http://www.drivehomesafe.com/HowToTrain/HowToTrain_PCP.htm
A guide with practical advice for “Safe Driving for Older Adults” can be found at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/OlderAdultswebsite/index.html
A list of the various “Area Agency on Aging” locations by state can be found at: http://www.n4a.org/links.cfm
The AARP Driver Safety Program lists upcoming classes and online resources at: http://www.aarp.org/drive/home.html
A list of the various Departments of Motor Vehicles for each state can be found at: http://www.usps.com/moversnet/motor.html
An interactive driving trouble-shooting guide for senior citizen drivers can be found at: http://www.seniordrivers.org/driving/index.cfm
References:
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles - Governor's Traffic Safety Committee at: http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us
Shell in the United States at: http://www.shellus.com
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov
National Safety Council at: www.nsc.org
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at: www.cdc.gov
Highway Safety Organization at: www.highwaysafety.org
Teens Health at: http://kidshealth.org/teen/index.html
Loyola University Health System at: http://www.luhs.org
Healthy Me! at: http://www.ahealthyme.com
This article is not part of your continuing training. To access your required bulletins you must log in using the form in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Then go to the TRAINING tab.
