Poll: Older drivers want stricter rules for themselves

A strong majority of older drivers want more stringent rules for people in their age range who operate cars, according to a study released Monday by the AAA auto club. 

The study found that 80 percent of drivers who are older than 75 said they were in favor of requiring additional medical screenings for licenses for people who are their age or above. 

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety President Peter Kissinger said the finding showed that elderly drivers were as concerned about road safety as other age groups that have expressed concern about older drivers remaining on the road as they age.   

{mosads}“Even though public perception tends to unfairly characterize seniors as a menace on the road, these findings indicate that older Americans tend to support policies to keep themselves safer behind the wheel, making them key allies in their mission to keep driving,” Kissinger said in a statement. 

AAA said their polling found that 95 percent of drivers who are 65 or older said they had not been in a car accident in the past two years. 

The auto association also said that 65 percent of drivers who are 75 or older said they had never used a cellphone while they were driving, compared to only 48 percent of drivers who were between 65 and 69. 

The full AAA study on senior driving can be read here.