Age-Related Vision Loss and Driver Safety Issues :: Optometry Vision Sight Driving Essays

Age-Related Vision Loss and Driver Safety Issues With dramatic increases in the number of motor vehicles on public roadways in this century, driving safety is an issue that affects every one of us. Most Americans rely on the use of personal motor vehicles as their primary means of transportation, and must put themselves at risk every day. The risk of a motor vehicle accident increases when our perceptive skills are degraded in any way. Such is the case with alcoholic intoxication, impairment from the use of narcotics, and loss of perceptual accuracy due to any biological reason. One of the many issues in current debate with regards to motor vehicle safety is that of the growing numbers of elderly drivers on public roadways and the perceptual problems they may encounter with age. Age-related vision loss is becoming a more prevalent issue in roadway safety. Most states require a simple form of vision testing in order to become a licensed driver. These tests are rapidly being seen as inadequate, and in need of revision. Some state s do not at all require a vision test to become licensed to drive. Currently, the states not requiring vision tests for license renewal include: Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia. These states could cut the accident rate in people over age 60 by 12 percent, if they would simply utilize testing procedures (N.S., 1999). In this paper, issues facing the aging driver, and possible solutions to ensure safe roadways for the public as a whole, will be explored. The average driverà ­s age is steadily increasing. Census estimates show that by the year 2020, approximately 50 million people over the age of 65 will be eligible to drive on public roadways (Cobb & Coughlin, 1998). With a significant increase in the number of people likely to be affected by age-related vision loss, society may need to re-evaluate vision standards for license testing. It is standard practice for a motor vehicle bureau to test only visual acuity. This practice does not take into consideration perceptually impairing factors encountered in driving such as glare or fog (Voelker, 1999). The lack of adequate visual testing is commonplace in all states that test vision ability. It has been found however, states that at least test for visual acuity during license renewal have approximately 12 percent less automobile accident deaths among older drivers (Voelker, 1999).