Experts say aging “baby boomers” will create profound implications on the road as the years go on, reported the Associated Press. Within 15 years, more than one in five licensed drivers will be 65 or older, the National Transportation Safety Board said. Their number will nearly double, from 30 million today to about 57 million in 2030. Many older drivers are likely to have age-related medical conditions that can affect their driving. A 40 year-old needs 20 times more light to see at night to see than a 20 year-old, said Joseph Coughlin, head of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab. Older drivers generally are less able to judge speed and distances, their reflexes are slower, may be more easily confused and are less flexible. Fatal crash rates for older drivers compared with other age groups begin to increase starting at about age 75, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Older drivers are also less likely to survive an accident or recover from injuries, according to the institute.
