How old is too old to drive? Mississippi has some strict guidelines for elder drivers
While there are many laws outlining how young is too young to participate in things, the law gets murkier as you get older. In Mississippi, there is not a specific cutoff age for driving or having a license, however, older drivers aren’t left completely to their own divides.
According to Southern General Insurance Company “any operator over the age of 79” is considered an unacceptable risk for underwriting new insurance policies, unless “we receive a statement of physical condition signed by a physician.”
The state does impose some additional requirements.
Older drivers over 75 must renew their licenses in person, according to the legal encyclopedia, Nolo Department of Public Safety (DPS) office.
Other requirements may include:
Vision screenings that must also be performed in person
Additional written and road tests may be administered if their appears to be impairment
Mississippi Driver Service Bureau also has the right to enact some common restrictions, based on the results of the additional tests:
Requiring the use of glasses or corrective contact lenses while driving
Limiting driving to certain times of day
Restricting the types of roads or areas where the person can drive
Requiring additional vehicle equipment or adaptations
It is important to note that DPS will accept requests from family, law enforcement officers or physicians to evaluate a driver’s ability to drive if the individual seems unfit medically or mentally.
What are key statistics about drivers over the age of 65?
State requirements and insurance guidelines involving the elderly are most likely a result of the accidents associated with drivers 65 or older. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released some startling statistics about the 47.8 million people (roughly 15% of the United States population) who are 65 and older:
This sect of the population accounts for 18% of traffic accidents
3,859 older drivers were killed in a year
In that same year, 828 passengers died in the vehicle of an elderly driver
1,158 pedestrians were killed in by vehicles driven by older drivers
The Insurance Information Institute suggests that the fatalities and injuries in the population of drivers are a direct result of their increased susceptibility to injuries, diminished reflexes and vision. Even though this segment of drivers is significantly lower than younger drivers, “older drivers are keeping their licenses longer and driving more miles than in the past.”
What are the leading causes of accidents in older drivers in Mississippi?
The majority of accidents involving the elderly are a result of a few circumstances:
Improper turns
Failure to yield
Driving the wrong way
Distracted driving
Pressing the gas pedal instead of the brake
Speeding
Failure to signal
Erratic driving
Impaired driving
For every mile a person over 75 drives they are more likely than any other driving population (except teenagers) to be injured or killed in a car wreck.
How can you help your senior loved one?
However, “the challenge facing the transportation community is how to provide the elderly with easy mobility, while at the same time protecting them from the risks they face from driving,” says Issues in Science and Technology Magazine.
Although it can be very awkward, and even heartbreaking to confront your loved one about their driving, it could be a matter of life or death. The solution involves a combination of evaluation, education and providing alternatives.
Encourage your older driver to get evaluated by doctors, take a certified driver safety course designed especially for their age group or introduce them to ride share apps or public transportation.
This can be a fairly sticky subject to approach. Do you have any recommendations or suggestions? Sound off in the comments, or you can email me or find me on Instagram.
