• 06
  • December
    2011

A 76-year old woman accidentally caused an Ocala car accident on Monday morning when she hit the gas pedal instead of her brake. Her car crashed into a bank lobby on Maricamp Road and Southeast 36th Avenue.

According to an article in the Ocala Star-Banner, "the timing was oddly appropriate." This week is Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, a week supported by the American Occupational Therapy Association that brings to light the increased risk of car accidents for older drivers.

With slower reaction times, it is not surprising that senior drivers are at a greater risk of car accidents than other adult drivers. Research shows the severity of this risk. For example, an 80-year-old driver is 13 times more likely to be in a car accident than a 30-year-old driver. Even drivers over 65 have an increased risk of car crashes.

According to the studies on driving age and car accidents, three factors cause this increased risk: slower reaction time, poor judgment when making left-hand turns, and drifting in and out of traffic lanes.

Driving Tips for Older Drivers

In 2008 alone, 447 senior citizens died in Florida motor vehicle accidents, accounting for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities. However, most older drivers are not willing to turn in their keys. Responding to a survey by Florida State University and the Florida Department of Transportation, 13 percent of older drivers said they will not stop driving.

There are steps that older drivers can take to keep the roads safe for everyone, including:

  • Taking senior citizen driving classes from organizations such as AARP
  • Using turn signals frequently, even when driving in parking lots
  • Turning off all distractions, including GPS and cell phones
  • Assessing your driving skills - Do you frequently drift across lanes of traffic? Do intersections bother you more than they used to? Has it become difficult to merge? Do you think you are reacting slower in traffic than in the past? Are you missing exits that used to be second nature to you?
  • Choosing to drive a car that has automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering, and keeping the car in good condition
  • Leaving room in between you and other cars, and driving defensively

Source: Ocala.com, "Traffic Crash Risks Increase With Age of Driver," Joe Callahan, Dec. 5, 2011.