People age 75 and older have a higher rate of motor vehicle deaths than any other age group, with the exception of people under 25. Although driving skills may decline with age for a number of reasons, vision loss is one of the main ones. Cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy can affect vision gradually, so that people with low vision may not be fully aware of the changes in their eyesight. Because many older people experience no decline in driving skills, there is no specific age at which a person should give up a driver's license.
Some people actually become more attentive and less aggressive drivers as they get older.
However, the likelihood of being in a fatal crash increases dramatically in drivers age 70 and up. Thus, older drivers should look for signs of vision problems that could affect their driving and make any necessary changes in their driving behaviors. While poor peripheral vision is more likely than visual acuity to predict which older drivers are more likely to experience a crash, most states do not require a test of peripheral vision as a license requirement. States usually rely on a test of visual acuity because it is easier to examine. Unless you have had a recent eye exam, you probably do not know how good your peripheral vision and visual acuity are.