FREE ESSAY ON SENIOR CITIZEN DRIVING

SENIOR CITIZEN DRIVING

A. Introduction 
One day, not long ago...I came out of my house to leave for work. On
the way to my car I noticed the little old lady across the street walking to here
car with what appeared to be a phone book. To my surprise she laid the
phone book down onto the seat and proceeded to climb in...I then decided to
watch this rare occasion, since she only drives once a month or so. Well after
a few minutes, she finally got her giant Cadilac started and began to back out
of her drive way. She was backing up with one wheel one the drive way and
one on the grass....I felt this was a little humorous, and decided to watch her
drive down the street. She cruised down the street at a top speed of 5 mph!
After watching this I decided to go back into my house for a few more
minutes just to be sure she was out of the area.
Thesis
Senior citizen are unsafe drivers, cause a threat to themselves and
others, and should be required to complete a series of tests.
B. Body
A. Collision rates for both sexes decline until about the age of 70, and
then sharply increase.
B. The increase in at-fault fatal accidents becomes particularly
dramatic at age 80+.
C. The most prevalent time period for fatal accidents involving older
drivers is between noon and 6 p.m.
D. Malfetti and Winter (1990) proposed guidelines for a graded
license for selected elderly drivers that would be similar to a restricted
license, and be adapted to the driver's mode of living, driving needs, and
ability. The graded license would allow impaired elders to operate a moving
vehicle only under conditions that would not exceed their ability.
C. Surveys
A. 100% of this class said that they felt measures should be taken to
ensure everyone's safety, by requiring mandatory driving tests for senior
citizen's.
B. Over 90% of the group surveyed felt as though these new guide
lines would increase the public's safety on the roads.
C. 87% of the class felt as though these new laws would not affect the
Discrimination laws.
D. Conclusion
As one person stated in my survey " Old people are a menace on the
streets. Mandatory driving tests should be given to every one over 65 years
of age. This statement may be a bit rash, but something needs to be done
soon 
to ensure everyone's safety.