Seniors far more likely to die in crashes, study says

Thursday, February 19th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Drivers in their late 50s and early 60s are among the safest on the roads, but motorists who reach retirement age are much more apt to get into an accident, a AAA study finds.

Drivers over 85 were nearly four times as likely to die in a crash as middle-aged drivers, according to the study released Wednesday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The study found that as drivers grew older, they suffered increasingly from decreased perception and motor skills. Frailty also caused serious injury and death in crashes that might not kill younger people.

The study also found that the elderly were more likely to get into crashes while turning to the left, when drivers often must make quick judgments about whether to stop or go. Drivers over 65 were 25 percent more likely to get in a crash than middle-age drivers; drivers over 85 were 50 percent more likely to get in a crash.

Researchers have long suspected that older drivers were more likely to die in crashes, but the study quantifies that, AAA spokesman Mantill Williams said.

Bella Dinh-Zarr, AAA's director of traffic safety, said the study also makes clear that cases like last year's accident at a farmer's market in California, when an elderly man hit and killed 10 people, are anomalies, because seniors statistically are at greatest risk when involved in accidents. The 87-year-old driver in that case survived.

``The common misconception is that older drivers are a danger to others, but the reality is, older drivers are a danger to themselves,'' Dinh-Zarr said. ``As a country, we should really be thinking of ways to help older drivers.''

AAA did not recommend new laws to govern elderly drivers. Twenty-two states already have such laws. Florida requires drivers age 80 or older to have their vision checked when they renew their licenses, while New Hampshire and Illinois require road tests for those 75 and older.

AAA says seniors should consider taking specially designed driving courses; 35 states provide insurance discounts for drivers who take such courses. Older drivers also should assess their driving skills regularly along with their doctors, AAA said.

Dinh-Zarr said vehicles can be modified to help older drivers. Larger rear and side mirrors, larger and brighter dashboard displays and seat belts that are easier to lock would help, she said. Dinh-Zarr said seniors wear their seat belts more often than any other age group but often complain that the belts are difficult to put on.

She also said better lighting and signs at intersections and protected left hand-turn lanes would help decrease confusion among older drivers.

The study, by the Texas Transportation Institute, analyzed police records from 3.9 million crashes between 1975 and 1999. Those crashes caused 90,036 fatalities. During that time, the number of licensed drivers 75 or older in Texas increased faster than other age group; they now comprise more than 5 percent of Texas drivers.

The numbers in Texas are mirrored nationally. The number of people over 65 is expected to double over the next 30 years; by 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older, AAA said.