Auto Club: Despite the Tragedy of the Farmers' Market Crash a Year Ago, Seniors Are Safe Drivers.

LOS ANGELES -- While crashes involving senior drivers make headlines, seniors are among the safest drivers on the road, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

"The Auto Club believes that people should be able to keep driving as long as they want to -- if they can do so safely," said Alice Bisno, vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for the Auto Club. "We need to move past the myth that an older driver is automatically an unsafe driver; it's not true. The Farmers' Market Crash in Santa Monica where an 87-year-old driver killed 10 people and injured 63 is a tragic and unfortunate exception."

Crash data for California indicates that drivers aged 55 to 70 are involved in fewer crashes per licensed driver than other age groups. After age 70 there is a slight increase in crashes, but seniors still are far below crash figures for teen drivers. After the age of 85, crash rates calculated on a per mile traveled basis, show that seniors have higher death and injury rates than teens, due in large part to the seniors' physical frailty, not their driving habits.

California has no upper driving age limit and state law prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from using age alone to require a behind-the-wheel test at license renewal time. However, motorists 70 or older must renew their licenses in person rather than through the mail.

The Auto Club launched its Senior Driver initiative last year. Among the efforts that the Auto Club is promoting to help senior drivers are:

--Creating educational materials, programs, and services for older drivers and their adult children.

--Helping older drivers become aware of their options.

--Finding more effective ways to identify driving problems so they can be addressed before they create difficulties on the road.

--Advising auto makers of vehicle design options that are helpful for older drivers.

--Supporting funding for traffic safety improvements such as larger letters on road signs and more visible pavement markings.

--Continuing to work with a statewide coalition to improve traffic safety for older adults.

"Improving mobility for seniors is a two-pronged effort," Bisno said. "While helping to keep senior drivers on the road, we also have to provide options for those who choose not to drive. That's why it is important to develop mobility alternatives that include safe and convenient public transportation."

The number of seniors in California is growing rapidly. In 1990, people over 65 years old represented 10 percent of California's population. The California Department of Finance estimates that by 2025, seniors will total 8.7 million, nearly 17 percent of the state's population.

"In 1995, 68 percent of seniors were licensed drivers. It is reasonable to expect that as 'baby boomers' age, this percentage will increase," Bisno said. "If just 75 percent of seniors are licensed in 2025, that will equal 6.5 million licensed senior drivers. Their driving and transportation needs must be addressed to keep them as mobile as possible."

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services and automotive pricing, buying and financing programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.