mature vs. younger drivers
Butler County
14,497 drivers ages 75-100; 101,156 drivers ages 16-41
48 percent of drivers 75-100 have a record, up from 38 percent in 2006
78 percent of drivers 16-41 have a record, up from 75 percent in 2006
Warren County
7,766 drivers ages 75-100; 63,130 drivers ages 16-41
46 percent of drivers 75-100 have a record, up from 35 percent in 2006
78 percent of drivers 16-41 have a record, up from 72 percent in 2006
Source: Ohio Department of Public Safety, 2011
The rate of drivers 75 and older is increasing faster locally than drivers under age 40, but fewer senior citizens are at fault in accidents, according to state figures.
Fewer than 2 percent of drivers over age 75 involved in a Butler County crash in 2011 were found to be at fault — whereas drivers ages 16-40 were found to be at fault about 5.7 percent of the time, according to statistics from Ohio’s Department of Public Safety.
In Butler County, the number of elder drivers (75 years and older) grew 24 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 10,728 to 14,127, according to U.S. Census data. That number is expected to double in the next 20 years and is a concern for safety experts who encourage seniors to test their skills.
Robert Fox, 89, said he’s been driving since age 17 — when a driver’s license cost 35 cents and a gallon of gas 14 cents — and even at a young age he was a conscientious driver.
“If you keep active and control your faculties you can drive,” Fox said.
During 2011, drivers ages 16-40 were involved in more than 12,100 fatal, injury and property damage accidents in Butler and Warren counties. The rate only reaches 660 accidents with drivers over age 76, according to state figures.
The rate of drivers between ages 16-41 with a driving record is more than 30 percent higher than drivers 75-100 years of age, according to figures from the Department of Public Safety. Seventy-eight percent of drivers 16-41 have a driving record in Warren and Butler counties — the rate reaches 48 percent for drivers 75-100.
Fox said he re-tests his vision every four years when he renews his license but otherwise he has not had to have a re-examination of his driving skills.
One of the biggest issues facing older drivers is the decline of “attentional memory,” which is the ability to filter relevant information from useless information, said Kate de Medeiros, assistant professor of gerontology with the Department of Sociology and Gerontology at Miami University.
De Medeiros said many older drivers struggle with making left turns because they require processing multiple pieces of information, making a judgment and executing an action.
“To make a left turn, you have to be able to hold in your attentional memory what’s on the right, what’s on the left and you then have to know when to proceed,” she said. “Slow attention and slower processing speed means you may not be able to filter that information.”
According to state law, Ohio drivers renew their license every four years with no special provisions for older drivers. States such as Rhode Island require adults older than age 75 to renew every two years.
“For mature drivers there is no re-testing (required); we don’t want to be biased toward one group or another,” said Lindsey Bohrer, spokeswoman for Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
All drivers must pass a eye examination. If an elderly driver or anyone else fails the test, it can be taken seven days later, according to Bohrer.
Between Jan. 1, 2011 and May, the state investigated and closed 52 complaints and referrals for elderly drivers, none of which resulted in a driver’s license being revoked, according to Bohrer.
Todd Ballinger, an investigation supervisor for the Department of Public Safety, said complaints to take away an elderly persons’ licence are usually made by a joint-network of family members of the elderly driver in question.
“It can be a hostile reaction (from the driver) depending on the person we’re dealing with,” Ballinger said. “We’ll take a family member with us, usually those who complained.”
Ballinger said the investigator’s recommendation — along with a completed physician’s form and recommendation — are submitted to the Department of Public Safety’s special case unit for the medical division to make a final ruling.
The medical form includes information on medical history including vision impairments and neurological diseases, prescription medications, and the doctor’s recommendation on retaining full driving privileges with or without stipulations such as having to complete a partial or full driving exam, according to the investigator’s physician form.
Laurie Petrie, spokeswoman for the Southwest Ohio Council on Aging, said her organization encourages older adults to have their driving skills tested or complete a self-assessment when experiencing changes in vision, attention, or physical abilities.
She said most older adults with impairments will voluntarily limit their driving. Free services are available, such as Partners in Prime offering AARP’s “55 Alive” driver safety course twice a year.
With more than 70 years of driving experience, Fox said driving is more a chore now than the joy it used to be. Fox said he hasn’t been involved in an accident for about 30 years when he was last hit by a driver on an icy road.
“I don’t drive to a point where I have accidents,” Fox said. “I’ve revised my driving (over the years). I won’t drive over the speed limit so I can concentrate on the road in front of me.”
Fox said he will usually drive three to four times a week, alternating between a Honda Hybrid and Ford Ranger.
Fox said he doesn’t race through traffic lights and slows up on the gas pedal when approaching a yellow or red light.
“It frustrates the people behind me that want to go around but I just go along,” Fox said. “The kids who race will be right on my rear bumper sitting with a phone; put your attention on driving.”
Corey Frolick contributed to this story.
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