SYRACUSE -- The U.S. expects the number of drivers over the age of 65 to nearly double in the next 15 years. That means accidents involving seniors could rise as well.
Just last week a 96-year-old woman from Syracuse flipped her car over near Shoppingtown Mall in DeWitt when she accidentally hit the accelerator while backing out of parking space. Diana Dibble of the Automobile Club of America says senior drivers should be able to keep driving, though they may need a little help.
"The reality is as we age we do encounter certain physical and visual cognitive adjustments, and there are ways around that," she says.
To help seniors stay safe on the road, AAA offers seniors and their families safe driving seminars and classes. Dibble says behind the wheel evaluations for seniors are fast becoming one of their most popular programs.
"We will pick the senior up in his or her home and take them on a driving evaluation take them on roads in areas that they are most comfortable with, and really get a good idea as to what there driving skills are and where they might need to improve."
New technologies may help seniors stay behind the wheel longer as well. With nearly 60 million aging baby boomers expected to be on the roads by the year 2030, Dibble says it is important to have a plan to help seniors drive safely.
"With the help of family members in many cases seniors can continue to maintain there mobility. It's not about taking the keys away its about helping them to continue to drive safely," she says.
