Serious accidents can occur across all age groups and in fact, teenagers have one of the highest rates of serious accidents and injuries. However, more people are having to grapple with whether or not grandparents and the elderly should be allowed behind the wheel.

It’s often difficult for family members to agree and to get a consensus with the driver about whether or not he or she is safe behind the wheel. A new study is looking for better data about elderly drivers in cars to get a mathematical backing for these decisions.

AAA is funding the long road study to get data on aging drivers. Participants in the study will be involved with perception and mental tests, take actual driving tests and be involved in data collections surveys. Many elderly people are accused of having slower reaction times and driving more slowly, and certainly it is true that with age comes more challenges with driving.

However, the purpose of the study is not to block senior citizens from driving, rather the goal of the study is to analyze the data to figure out how elderly people can drive more effectively. The study has already identified that many seniors have not been taught how to operate newer car safety technologies like back up cameras or blind spot detection.

The study is currently nearing the end of its 5th year, but it may even be extended to learn more about the challenges and long-term driving habits linked to the elderly. If you have been involved in a traffic accident because someone was not providing you the appropriate duty of care, you may be eligible to pursue a lawsuit against the responsible party. Schedule a consultation directly with a San Diego personal injury attorney to learn more.