Utah's Roads Not Ready for Older Drivers

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Utah will see an influx of older drivers in the coming years, and according to a new report by the U.S. General Accountability Office, our roads aren't ready. Laura Polacheck of the AARP says Utah should start by making road signs more legible and lanes more clearly marked.

The GAO analysis of national data from 2001 found people over 75 are involved in more fatal crashes than other age groups, including accident-prone 16 to 24 year olds. Polacheck says that's partly because older people are more fragile and less likely to recover from injuries.

The report found more than half of states have implemented stricter licensing requirements for older drivers. Utah requires a vision test for drivers over 65, but does not require older drivers to renew their licenses in person, or more frequently than younger drivers.

Polacheck says the AARP supports in-person renewal for all ages, as well as the ability for people to anonymously report an older driver who is dangerous on the road. Utah lawmakers defeated a measure that would have allowed anonymous reports this year.

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