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The impact of a vision screening law on older driver fatality rates

In a study executed by researchers at the University of Alabama, it was determined that by requiring a vision screening test for drivers 80 years of age and older it reduced fatal motor vehicle accidents involving the elderly. In Florida, in 2004, a law was put into place requiring that drivers 80 years of age and older had to pass a simple vision test for their drivers license to remain valid.

Researchers used data from the U.S. Census Bureau as well as the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see how effective the law was. They used data from before the law was passed to compare the results from after the passing of the law and found that from 2004 to 2006 motor vehicle accident fatalities involving drivers 80 years of age and older decreased by 17 percent. Although they determined that it is unclear the reason for this correlation, they have ascertained that the law has reduced motor vehicle accident caused deaths for drivers 80 years of age and older. These findings have been published in Archives of Ophthalmology, Vol. 126 No. 11, November 2008.

About the <span>Author</span>

About the Author

Tom D'Amore is the founder of D'Amore Law Group and a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families across the West Coast, securing more than $325 million in recoveries. He handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, construction injuries, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Tom is the only NBTA board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon. He is a national Board of Governors member, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice, as well as past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice.
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