Canada working to restructure its driving restrictions for older motorists

The baby boomer generation is getting older, and more of them are on the roads than ever before, with numbers expected to double within the next ten years. This increase may impact truck drivers who navigate the highways for a living and senior motorists who are driving alongside the big rigs.

In Canada, there more than 3 million drivers is older than age 65, which totals 14 percent of the licensed population. Officials have no form of mass screening or testing for senior citizens, who are still driving due to the high costs of implementing the regulations, which may be endangering truck drivers or car owners.

Anita Myers, from the University of Waterloo, says as more drivers reach senior citizen age, laws about driving are going to become more important. Some older truckers may face restrictions in the near future.
"This has huge implications for transportation planners, licensing authorities, health professionals and taxpayers," she said.

Experts say they understand that driving is essential for some truck driver's freedom and careers, but as health and vision begin to deteriorate in time, drivers may need to have certain limitations put upon drive times and licensing.

Canada working to restructure its driving restrictions for older motorists

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011