In Costa Rica, there are 185.231 people over the age of 65 with a active driver’s licenses, according to the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes. Furthermore, Costa Rica does not have an age limit for driving.
The country’s aging population multiplies the number of vehicles driven by seniors. And the risk of accidents.
Last year, the Policia de Tránsito (traffic police) fined 38.591 drivers over the age of 65 and report that seniors were involved in 373 traffic accidents.
According to Silvia Bolaños, director of Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI), the lack of respect and courtesy on the country’s roads can make it difficult for seniors to drive.
The abnormally low speed, sudden lane changes and driving in the wrong direction are some of the risk factors associated with old age, according to international publications.
While many seniors are safe drivers, statistics show that a driver older than age 75 is just as likely as a teenager to be involved in an automobile accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – a U.S. non-profit organization – a senior citizen is more likely than a younger driver to be at fault in an accident in which they are involved.The most common violations include failure to obey traffic signals, unsafe turns and passing, and failure to yield the right of way.
The Institute says that seniors are seen by some as among the safest drivers on the road, as they generally do not speed or take risks, and they are more likely to wear seat belts.
Signs of impairment
The following are considered sign that an elderly person’s driving may be impaired:
- Confusion while driving somewhere
- Having two or more minor accidents in a short period of time
- Thinking the speed limit is too high
- Others not feeling comfortable riding in a vehicle with the driver
Aging individuals should consider the following questions:
- When you are driving, do objects such as parked cars or pedestrians catch you by surprise?
- Do you have difficulty seeing other cars before the driver honks? Do other drivers honk at you for reasons you don’t understand?
- Do you have limited neck rotation?
- Are your reflexes slower and reaction time longer than they used to be?
- Do you ever feel momentarily confused, nervous, or uncomfortable while driving?
- Has a family member ever suggested that you stop driving?
- Do you have low-contrast sensitivity? For example, do you have trouble seeing a gray car at dusk, a black car at night, or a white car on a snowy roadway?
- Is your visual acuity on a 20/20 scale below the minimum level required by your state?
