Repeated Elderly Driving Accidents and Sneaky Sudden Acceleration: Should Driving Come to a Halt?

The recurring incidents of accidents involving elderly drivers are increasingly raising concerns about safety on the roads. So, is there indeed a critical decline in driving abilities that affects older drivers?

 

Driving is a complex task that requires the brain to process various information simultaneously. Almost every area of the brain interacts to ensure compliance with traffic regulations while driving. Visual information is processed in the occipital lobe, memory-related information is processed in the temporal lobe and hippocampus, the cerebellum handles body movements, and the frontal lobe integrates and controls the overall situation.

 

Considering the heightened risk of accidents among elderly drivers, it is imperative to explore wise alternatives for evaluating and restricting driving abilities.

 

As aging progresses, the size and number of neurons in the brain decrease. This results in structural changes in the brain, prompting an exploration into how these changes may impact driving abilities. However, a reduction in the size of brain areas does not necessarily lead to a decline in cognitive function. Research indicates that cognitive functions are divided into various types, and there is generally no significant problem in performing familiar tasks as one ages.

 

Nevertheless, the ability to react to sudden situations can become an issue. A decrease in brain areas may impair the seconds-long tissue involved in information transmission, leading to a slower processing speed. According to the Road Traffic Authority, the stopping and dynamic visual acuity of elderly drivers decrease with age, requiring more light to obtain visual information, which can slow down their response to sudden situations.

 

Various degenerative diseases also exist that can affect driving abilities. Conditions like degenerative myopia, cataracts, hearing loss, and Meniere's disease can cause difficulties in detecting visual information and perceiving surrounding sounds. Musculoskeletal disorders make steering control difficult, while cardiovascular and mental disorders can increase the risk of sudden accidents.

 

The decline in driving abilities due to degenerative diseases can vary for each individual, with 70 years old being a common reference point in academia. A study conducted by the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Traffic Safety Culture Research Institute from 2017 to 2020 revealed that the average age for the onset of diseases leading to accidents for elderly drivers is between 67 and 72 years old. This pattern is particularly evident in conditions such as degenerative myopia, bipolar disorder, motor disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, and others.

 

Considering the heightened risk of accidents among elderly drivers, it is imperative to explore wise alternatives for evaluating and restricting driving abilities. Due to limitations in the current aptitude test system, there is a need for the development of efficient and accurate driving ability assessment technologies. Additionally, considerations such as providing appropriate benefits upon license surrender or introducing specialized vehicles for the elderly should be explored. Efforts in these aspects are essential to maintaining a safe road environment.