NSW seniors face driving restrictions

Tougher licence restrictions for elderly drivers have beenproposed in a NSW Roads and Traffic Authority discussion paper.  About 88,000 licensed drivers in NSW are over the age of 80,with the number expected to grow over the next 30 years, the RTAsays.  The authority’s paper says dementia and vision problems arelikely to be the most significant health issues affecting olderdrivers.  The current system requires annual medical tests for all NSWdrivers once they turn 80 and annual driving tests for car andrider licence holders from age 85.  Annual driving tests for heavy vehicle drivers kick in at age80.

Source/more:  The Age, http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Elderly-NSW-drivers-face-restrictions/2007/07/20/1184560022712.html

Meanwhile, a RAND Corp. study of US traffic accidents showed that the elderly are much safter drivers than those in the 15-24 age group, see http://www.rand.org/news/press.07/07.18.html