R032-9900

10			A RESOLUTION CONCERNING

20			   ELDERLY DRIVERS



30	WHEREAS:		7,078 people 65 years and older died in motor vehicle

40	          	crashes in1996, 1 percent more than in 1995 and 32 percent more than in 1975; 

50			and,



60	WHEREAS:		Eighty percent of elderly deaths in 1996 motor vehicle crashes

70			were passenger vehicle occupants, and 17 percent were pedestrians; and,



80	WHEREAS:		People 65 years and older represented 13 percent of the population

90			in 1996 and 17 percent of motor vehicle deaths. By  2030, elderly 

100			people are expected to represent 20 percent of the population; and,



110	WHEREAS:		People age 70 and older have more motor vehicle deaths per 

120			100,000 people than other groups except people younger

130			than 25; and,



140	WHEREAS:		Per mile driven, drivers 75 years and older have higher rates of 

150			fatal motor vehicle crashes than drivers in other age groups

160			except teenagers; and,



170	WHEREAS:		Per licensed driver, fatal crash rates rise sharply at age 70 and

180			older; and,



190	WHEREAS:		About half of fatal crashes involving drivers 80 years and older 

200			occur at intersections and involve more than one vehicle.

210			This compares with 23 percent among drivers up to age 50; and,



220	WHEREAS:		At age 80 and older, the pedestrian death rate per 100,000 among

230			men is more than 3 times as high as at age 79 and younger; and,



240	WHEREAS:		It has been shown that the elderly slowly lose their sight and hearing

250			as they age; and,



260	THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:	That the Maryland Student Legislature calls 

270			for stricter regulation of elderly drivers; and,



280	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  That these regulations would call for mandatory

290			eye and hearing exams every 5 years after the age 65, 

300			which if failed the elderly driver would lose their license; and,



310	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:	That elderly drivers must also pass a driving 

320			test every 5 years after the age 65, which if failed the 

330			the elderly driver would lose their license.



340	MANDATES:	President Bill Clinton

350			Vice President Al Gore

360			House Speaker Dennis Hastert

370			Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott

380			Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle

390			House Majority Leader Dick Armey

400			House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt





Sponsor:

Seth D. Schraier

2118 Bel Air Hall

University of Maryland

College Park, MD 20742

(301) 226-5448

Sethd@wam.umd.edu