Personal Injury Law

Elderly woman killed in West Pam Beach Car Accident

By LaBovick Law

Yesterday a Senior Female Driver,  age 76 years old,  was killed in a fatal car accident in West Palm Beach Florida. While driving, she lost control, and the car overturned and came to a rest on the shoulder. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of the woman that died in this tragic accident.

In looking at traffic fatalities involving older drivers, we came across the following study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, based on data from 1999-2004. From ages 75 to 84, the rate of about three deaths per 100 million miles driven is equal to the death rate of teenage drivers. For drivers 85 and older, the fatality rate skyrockets to nearly four times higher than that for teens drivers.

However, according to reports studies on traffic deaths from IHHS and the Department of Transportation studying traffic fatalities across the United States, there is a decline in fatal traffic accidents involving Senior drivers ages 70 and older. In 2008 there was a total of 4,268 traffic fatalities involving drivers ages 70 and older. This is a decrease from 2007 where the total number of traffic fatalities involving drivers ages 70 was a total of 4,631.

Motor vehicle crash death for Senior Drivers by sex
In 2008 motor vehicle crash deaths per capita among males and females began to increase markedly starting at ages 70-74. Across all age groups males had substantially higher death rates than females.

Pedestrian deaths involving Senior Drivers 
The rate of pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people in 2008 was higher for people 70 and older combined (2.2 per 100,000) than for those younger than 70 combined (1.4 per 100,000).

Motor vehicle crash deaths for Senior Drivers with Alcohol involved
Six percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers 70 years and older in 2008 had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at or above 0.08 percent, compared with 15 percent for drivers ages 60-69 and 41 percent for drivers ages 16 to 59.

Driver renewals and restrictions vary by State for drivers. In Florida, drivers must  renew every 6 years with clean driving record; otherwise it is 4 years. Senior drivers age 80 years and older  must pass a vision test; only two successive renewals may be made electronically or by mail, regardless of age.

The Personal Injury lawyers in our firm frequently work with clients that have lost loved ones in motor vehicle accidents involving senior drivers and teen drivers. The loss to the loved ones is always devastating, when the crash could have been avoided. We encourage drivers to drive responsibly and to ask themselves honestly if they are equipped to get behind the wheel of a car. If the driver is older or needs transportation and feel that their reflexes are not as sharp as they should be, there are programs and organizations that will assist them with transportation. In Florida. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Senior Driver has a great website, Seniors.org, that gives Seniors supportive information on Driving safely and transportation options.  The AAA Foundation also produces a great Brochure on Helping the Older Driver that can be shared with the family members and the Senior Driver.

In an effort to keep the highways safe, we hope that drivers of all ages act responsibly and make the proper judgment of whether or not they should be behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Click on the following link to see how  Renewals and restrictions vary across the United States



Click on the following links to read more on fatalities and traffic accidents involving Older  drivers
Fatality facts for Older Drivers
Older, dangerous drivers a growing problem
How aging affects the ability to drive
 

• Alaska 5 years Those 69 and older must appear in person to renew license
• Arizona None until age 65 Drivers 65 and older must renew every 5 years; 70 and older must renew in person and have a vision test within 3 months.
• California 5 years Those 70 and older must renew in person.
• Colorado 10 years Drivers 61 and older must renew every 5 years, in person.
• District of Columbia 5 years Those 70 and older must pass a vision test, provide a doctor's statement that they are fit to drive, and may be required to pass a reaction time test. Drivers 75 and older may be required to pass written and road tests.
• Florida 6 years with clean record; 4 years otherwise Those 80 and older must pass a vision test; only two successive renewals may be made electronically or by mail, regardless of age.
• Georgia Drivers choose 5 or 10 years; veterans' licenses valid until age 65 Those 64 and older must renew in person and take a vision test.
• Hawaii 6 years Those 72 and older must renewevery 2 years.
• Idaho 4 or 8 years Drivers 21-62 may renew every 4 or 8 years; those 63 and older must
• renew every 4 years.
• Illinois 4 years Drivers 80-86 must renew every 2 years; 87 and older, every year; 75 and older must pass a road test.
• Indiana 6 years Those over 75 must renew every 3 years; after 85, every 2 years.
• Iowa 5 years Drivers 70 and older renew every 2 years; all must pass a vision test.
• Kansas 6 years Drivers 65 and older must renew every 4 years.
• Connecticut 6 years Optional renewal for a 2-year license at age 65 and older.
• Louisiana 4 years Those 70 and older must renew in person; a vision test is given.
• Maine 6 years Those 65 and older must renew every 4 years. A vision test is required for those older than 40, and then with every other renewal until age 62. After 62, a vision test is required at each renewal.
• Maryland 5 years Drivers 40 and older must pass a vision test. Applicants for an initial license age 70 or older must provide proof of previous satisfactory operation of a vehicle or doctor's certificate of fitness.
• Missouri 6 years Those 70 and older, or 21 and younger, must renew every 3 years.
• Montana 8 years, or every 4 years if renewing by mail Drivers 75 and older have to renew every 4 years; only two consecutive renewals may be made electronically or by mail, regardless of age.
• Nebraska 5 years Vision test required for all drivers with each renewal.
• Nevada 4 years Drivers must renew in person every 8 years; applicants for mail renewal who are 70 and older must include a medical report.
• New Hampshire 5 years Those 75 and older must pass a road test with each renewal. All drivers must pass a vision test with each renewal.
• North Carolina 8 years Drivers 54 and older have to renew every 5 years.
• North Dakota 4 years Vision test required for all drivers with each renewal.
• Ohio 4 years Vision test required for all drivers with each renewal.
• Oklahoma 4 years None that is safety-related; vision test is required only at a doctor's discretion. License fee reduced for drivers 62-64 and waived for drivers 65 and older.
• Oregon 8 years Those 50 and over must pass a vision test every eight years.
• Pennsylvania 4 years None; at 65, drivers have the option of renewing every 2 years at a reduced fee.
• Rhode Island 5 years Drivers 70 and older must renew every 2 years.
• South Carolina 10 years Those 65 and older have to renew every five years and take a vision test. Beginning Oct. 1, 2008, every license holder will have to take a vision test every 5 years.
• Utah 5 years Vision test required for drivers 65 and older.
• Virginia 5 years Vision test required for drivers 80 and older.
   

Full post as published by LaBovick Injury Law Blog on March 05, 2010 (boomark / email).