A ‘silver tsunami.’ That’s what many experts are calling the ever-growing wave of baby boomers who are reaching retirement age, and accounting for an increasing number of the drivers on the road. And with September marking national pedestrian safety month, it seems as appropriate a time as any to address the dangers and complexities that this rapid increase in senior drivers poses.

According to the CDC, there were almost 48 million licensed drivers ages 65 and older in the United States in 2020, a 68% increase since 2000. In Calif., more than 2.5 million are currently 70 or older. And while age alone doesn’t determine whether someone is fit to drive, it can be a good indicator. Medication effects, physical fragility, and declines in reaction time, situational awareness, vision and motor skills are all common age-related issues that can impact safety. 

Seniors are sometimes in denial about their own decreasing mental acuity, and many are resistant to handing over their keys, associating their license with independence, and relying on it for running essential errands like going to grocery stores or medical appointments. 

The Pew Research Center states that 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65 every day for the next 18 years. By 2030, they’ll represent about one in five drivers, and will outnumber 16- to 19-year-olds more than three to one. This could be deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that drivers older than 69 saw an increase in the rate of involvement in fatal crashes of about 11% every five years. As these numbers continue to rise, it’s becoming clear that greater restrictions and transportation options must be implemented.

For Jorge Romero, a third-year electrical engineering major at SSU, this issue is personal. He was hit by an elderly driver several years ago, but the driver’s cognitive impairment led them to relay inaccurate accounts of the accident to police, resulting in a lost insurance claim for Romero. 

“I believe [seniors] should take [the behind-the-wheel test] again so that instructors can still visualize the driver being able to drive, and not have any problems when they are in the vehicle,” he stated.

He isn’t alone. Nicole Vera, a liberal studies major, agreed that a behind-the-wheel test should be required at a certain age, also citing her own experiences. “I have personally seen an elderly person commit a traffic violation. Instead of using the turning lane which they were in, they kept going straight and almost caused an accident,” she stated. 

At age 70, drivers in Calif. are required to renew their license in person at the DMV, but this only involves a written and vision test. And despite many advocating for requiring behind-the-wheel tests at a certain age, AARP and other groups have been resistant. The DMV states that road tests are only necessary if there are indications of driver impairment, based on reports by a law enforcement officer, a physician or a family member.

Ideally, families should be proactive, and address the issue with elderly family members before incidents like what Romero and Vera experienced occur. Mariana Guerrero, a fifth-year biology and psychology major, stressed that alternatives to driving should also be made available, stating, “If seniors have timely and efficient access to transportation, it could help mitigate potential safety risks for themselves and the general public.”

Many local senior centers and retirement homes do offer such transportation, but this may not be a feasible option for everyone. However, with so many delivery services now available for items like groceries, and the slow but steady rise in self-driving cars in cities, there is some hope that technology will increasingly facilitate safer roads. 

For families with senior drivers, it’s important to monitor their abilities, and adjust limitations as needed, such as restricting them from nighttime or freeway driving, and reminding them what’s at stake when they get behind the wheel.