Many people's first reaction to a 93 year old man crashing his car into a Danvers, MA, Walmart, by hitting the gas instead of the break, is that "people that old should not be allowed to drive." I disagree.

There are plenty of 93 year old drivers that are good, safe drivers. There are plenty that are not. There are plenty of 18, 40 and 65 year olds that should not be allowed to drive.

The system is set-up, right or wrong (I think right), to keep people driving as long as possible. Driving equals freedom. Those that have that ability taken loose a great deal of that freedom. They feel they become burdens on their family and friends; in some cases justified, in others not.

These types of elderly crash situations (confusing the accelerator for the brake) are rare. The statistic show us that the biggest cause for concern in car crashes are with our youngest and oldest drivers. However, consider the following statements from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

News Release | December 16, 2008 - Despite growing numbers on the road, fewer older drivers died in crashes and fewer were involved in fatal collisions during 1997-2006 than in years past, a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study reports. Crash deaths among drivers 70 and older fell 21 percent during the period, reversing an upward trend, even as the population of people 70 and older rose 10 percent. Compared with drivers ages 35-54, older drivers experienced much bigger declines in fatal crash involvements. Reasons for the fatality declines aren't clear, but another new Institute study indicates that older adults increasingly self-limit driving as they age and develop physical and cognitive impairments. Compared with drivers ages 20-69, fewer people 70 and older are licensed to drive, and they drive fewer miles per licensed driver.

Fatality Factors for Older People (2007) - a total of 4,598 people ages 70 and older died in motor vehicle crashes in 2007. This is 22 percent fewer than in 1997 when deaths peaked, but a 22 percent increase since 1975. The rate of fatalities per capita among older people has decreased 35 percent since 1975 and is now at its lowest level.

As we live longer, we will continue to drive despite our age. Science shows that as we age, we lose some physical and mental abilities. These abilities, that were honed over years of driving and just plain old living, will diminish in people differently. However it seems prudent that as we age and continue to drive, we need to determine if those required skills are still intact and support what we deem to be safe driving. Perhaps we need a validated cognitive, motor skills and vision assessment beginning at a certain age and increasing in frequency with age. For example, the first assessment might occur at 75, then at 80, then at 83, then 85, then annually.

Just like we have graduated licensing for novice drivers, perhaps we need something analogous for elderly drivers. A "stop driving at a specific age" is not warranted. But a formal, medical evaluation on our cognitive abilities, motor skills and vision might be worthy as we age.