As they age, all drivers eventually lose the physical or financial ability to drive or maintain a car, at first occasionally, and then totally. When they decide to stop driving, most older Americans will lose the unprecedented lifestyle made possible by the flexibility and convenience of the private vehicle.
Most elderly people live in suburban or rural areas, making access even more difficult.
In these areas, desired destinations are generally too far away to walk to, public transit is poor to non-existent, taxis are expensive and special services are both limited and fragmented. There are few viable options for most elderly people facing the loss of their car or license. Neither vehicles nor roads were designed for those over the age of 65. Roadway design and sign standards must be changed to respond to the visual and other limitations of the elderly driver. Cars must be redesigned to offer greater protection to the elderly who are more likely to be seriously hurt in accidents.