It is not uncommon for us to worry about the safety of our parents and grandparents and with good reason: Older drivers are at high risk for a car accident in Ozark or elsewhere in Missouri. It's no secret that along with old age comes diminishing function, eyesight, coordination and other driving skills, according to US News. Do you know when it's time to hang up your keys or urge a loved one to stay off our roadways?
A Springfield Missouri auto injury can lead to a difficult recovery -- particularly for older motorists who may never regain their quality of life after a serious accident. Our Springfield injury lawyers understand that there are a plethora of risks that motorists face on our roadways on a daily basis, whether it be road construction, drunk drivers, varying weather conditions or distracted driving. The best way to protect yourself from a serious accident is to practice safe and defensive driving habits. But at some point in each of our lives, driving because too much of a risk.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), offers you these key points to help you determine if it may be time for you to retire, or urge a loved one to retire from driving:
-Noticing scratches and dents on your car.
-Becoming lost when taking a familiar route.
-Receiving tickets for a number of traffic violations.
-Getting into accidents or having near-misses.
-Receiving a recommendation from your doctor urging you to reduce your driving.
-Experiencing health problems that could intentionally affect your driving abilities.
-Taking medications that urge you to refrain from using a motor-vehicle
-Finding that road signs or road markings are suddenly overwhelming.
-Driving too slow or too fast for no apparent reason.
The NHTSA reports that people over the age of 64 made up nearly 15 percent, or 40 million, of the total population of the United States in 2009.
On the bright side, nearly 80 percent of the individuals in this age group that were involved in motor-vehicle accidents were reportedly wearing their seat belts. This is greater than the percentage of any other age groups, which sat at roughly 60 percent.
In that same year, nearly 5,500 people age 65 and older died in motor-vehicle accidents in the United States. Another 187,000 were injured in these incidents. The fatal accident that occurred within this age group made up nearly 20 percent of all traffic fatalities throughout the year. They also totaled nearly 10 percent of all the people injured in traffic accidents. This number of injuries from traffic accidents increased 2 percent from the previous year.
In 2009, Missouri saw nearly 150 fatalities result from traffic accidents involving those ages 65 and older.