Discussion

For this project we have conducted a survey on Driving
and Old Age. We interviewed a total of 90 people
through Google survey. We did our best to access a
wide range of people (in regards to sex, age,
occupation, marital status, and education) for our
survey so we could obtain general and unbiased
results. Each participant in this study consented prior
to being surveyed. This survey consisted of four
questions which were aimed to get a general
understanding of a wide range of peoples’ opinions of
elderlies, as well as whether restrictions should be
placed in regards to driving at a certain age. It also
focused on providing a means of transportation for the
elderly, and limiting driving for those with severe
mental disorders.

16
-2

1
22

-2
7

28
-3

3
34

-3
9

40
+

40

30

20

10

0

0 25 50 75

Highschool Diploma

Associates Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

None

single
57.3%

Married
40.4%

Divorced
2.2%

Car Painter/repairman
20.5%

Student
14.8%

Aftercare Counselor
8%Barista

8%

Unemployed
5.7%

Sales
3.4%

Teacher
3.4%

Assistant Loan Officer
2.3%

Hostess
1.1%

Gym
1.1%

Should there be an age at which a person should be tested yearly in
order to maintain a driver’s license? Should there be an age at which
people are no longer to drive? These are just two out of the many
questions that need to be answered in order to ensure the safety of
drivers and pedestrians. As humans grow older, their reaction time slows
down which can prevent them from acting quickly in an emergency.
Physical and motor decline could also prevent older people from being
able to maintain their car in its lane, and it may be difficult to properly
turn around when it comes to reversing a car. Elderly people who are bad
drivers actually tend to believe that they are good drivers, which is why
they do not make any effort to improve their skills or avoid any bad
driving habits (Karthaus, M.,Falkenstein, 2016).

Demographics

Methods

DRIVING AND OLD AGE

In total, 61.8% of the participants are
female while 38.2% are males.

Our survey had a range of all ages.
The majority of the participants
were between the ages of 16-21.

A high school degree is the highest
level of education completed by our
participants.

The majority of our participants,
or 57.3%, are single. Only 2.2% of
our participants are divorced.

Our participants have many different
occupations as well. The largest category
being Car Painter/Repairman and Student.

Sex of Participants Age Marital Status

Occupation Highest Completion of degree

Yes, 80 years or older
21%

Yes, 70 year or older
18.9%Yes, 65 years or older

15.6%

Yes, 60 years or older
11%

No
11%

Other
9.5%

Yes, 75 years or older
8%

Yes, 40 years or older
2%

Yes, 90 years or older
30%No

27%

Yes, 85 years or older
15%

Yes, 75 years or older
10%

Other
5%

Should there be an age at which a person should be tested
yearly in order to maintain a driver’s license? (If you answer

yes, put age you think people should get tested)

Should there be an age at which people should no longer be
allowed to drive? (if yes, put age you think people should no –

longer be allowed to drive)

0 10 20 30 40 50

Government should provide

Public Transportation (Bus, Train, Taxi, etc.)

Uber or Lyft Car services

Elderly Specific Transportation

Family/Friend Provided

Other

If older adults were to come to a point where they no longer are allowed to drive, half of
our participants agreed that public transportation would be a good provident for those
individuals. The other half of our participants stated that the government should find a
way to provide for those individuals who are no longer allowed to drive. Our participants
also almost completely agreed that there should be discounted rates for the
elderly no matter what transportation they end up deciding on.

Survey Results

If older adults are restricted from driving, should other types of
individuals also be restricted, such as individuals with severe
ADHD? (yes or no; you can explain your answer if you want to)

No
58.5%

Yes
34.4%

Other
7.1%

If older adults are not allowed to drive, what means of
transportation are to be provided for them (if any)?

Our participants mostly
agreed that yes, there should
be an age at which a person
is tested in order to maintain
a drivers license. Some
participants said as low as 18
years old should be tested
but the majority, 21%,
agreed that people around
the age 80 and older
should be tested to
maintain their drivers
license.

When asked this question
our participants were
split pretty close between
“yes there should be” and
“no there should not be
an age that we are no
longer allowed to drive”.
27% said “No” while 30% said
that “Yes”, around 90 years
and older you should no
longer be driving.

When provided with this question, the majority of
our participants stated that “No”, others should
not be restricted from driving., even individuals
with severe ADHD. But when given the chance to
explain themselves they agreed that as long as
an individual can pass the driving exam
then they should be able to drive. Another
common theme within the answers was that our
participants added that a person should be
mentally stable in order to be behind the wheel,
even if that means they need to be on
medication to have that ability.

1. Do you think individuals older than 65 should
have their licenses revoked? Why or Why not?

2.If not having their licenses revoked, should
older individuals driving hours be restricted to a
certain time of day?

3.Do you think there should be yearly mental
health and vision tests for older drivers?

4.Should older individuals with minimal
impairments have driving instructors with them
on the road?

5.Could specialized shuttles for older individuals
be an alternative for transport?

Add a little bit of body text

Age and motor responses and vision abilities have a point of
intersection. Besides, mental and visual acuity increases to a certain
point and finally shows a falling curve. Driving is a mental and
physical process that needs quick motor responses to reduce the
risks of accidents. Our survey on the revocation of driving licenses at
a certain age shows an increase in percentage from 60. The majority
argues that mental checkups should be yearly checked to validate
their driving license. In our opinion, individuals aged 65 years should
be allowed to drive but under yearly mental and eye checkups
(Wright, 2016). Beyond this, these individuals have high experience
in the driving industry, including good mastery of roads. Besides,
experience is perceived to be the best teacher hence need for
experienced drivers. Therefore, there is no need to revoke old
drivers’ licenses unless diagnosed with vision or mental challenges.
Due to declining visual abilities as age goes by, old drivers should be
allowed to drive during day hours only and not for a long distance.
Men should be prioritized at old age than women due to differences
in physical abilities and body functions (Reid, 2016). Again, yearly
mental health and vision tests should be done to ensure they are fit
to drive on busy highways. Those diagnosed with difficulties should
be dismissed immediately to avoid accidents (Wright, 2016).
Furthermore, availing road instructors to aged drivers having
minimal impairments is never a solution. Driving requires a
stimulus-response connection which is possible when major
common senses (sight and hearing ability) are working correctly. It’s
impossible to use another person’s senses and respond
immediately hence prone to accidents. Again, it’s normal that sight
reduces due to age. Involving specially designed vehicles equipped
with sight boosting gadgets for an old individual on transport could
create a solution at some point. Generally, an alternative solution
should ensure those experienced fellows serve the society rather
than rendering them jobless through license provocation.

Discussion Questions

Conclusion

1.Karthaus, M., & Falkenstein, M. (2016). Functional Changes and
Driving Performance in Older Drivers: Assessment and Interventions.
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland), 1(2), 12.
https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics1020012

2. Reid, M.L. (2012). Fathers Shaping Child Development, 2nd ed.
Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt

3. Wright, Chrysalis. Developmental : Stories in Context.
2017.

Group 8 Members:

References:

Katrina Amaro

Corena Vlahakis

Isabella Rodriguez

Valentina Perez

Nicolas Marquez

Aliyah Dyer

Riley Ware Iv

Robert Comunale

Chelsea Arturo Castro