We must better evaluate the risks posed by older drivers

Does it take a missed turn, a minor driving mishap, or perhaps a fatal collision before we take the keys from those suffering from dementia?

There are no easy solutions, especially in a place as car-dependent as Long Island, with one of the largest populations of seniors in the nation. This is an increasingly difficult problem for both families and government that cannot be ignored.

The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease, now at 6 million, is expected to double by 2050. Baby boomers who once celebrated their easy-rider freedom with souped-up cars and motorcycles are now reluctant to give up their car keys and the independence that comes with that. Yet, we must be aware of the danger posed by a driver who shows early or mild stages of dementia or other age-related frailties. Identifying such people can be difficult. A 2017 Brown University study of post-mortem brains reported that many older drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s, though many hadn’t been diagnosed with the disease.

Many family members urge drivers with increasing dementia to drive less. Some drivers take themselves off the road for other age-related reasons like diminishing eyesight, motor function, reaction time and side effects of medication. Nevertheless, plenty of people with dementia still drive. The Brown study found that older drivers with cognitive impairment still in the normal range drove an average of 147 miles per week, while those with dementia drove 58 miles weekly.

What should society do? For starters, Long Island needs to make sure its public transportation system gives older citizens a viable alternative to using a car. While there are some bus and railroad options in more populated areas, many seniors live in isolated communities, particularly in Suffolk County, where a car is the only realistic way to carry out the daily functions of life.

Long Island’s transportation system needs to adapt to the health challenges of its aging population. Volunteers and nonprofits already help seniors by finding simple ways to cope with daily chores and attending religious and social events. They need more resources.

The more vexing question is whether New York needs a law requiring doctors and health professionals to get involved with the emotionally charged decision to take away car keys. Certainly, some worried family members of older drivers may find this a relief, rather than face the issue themselves. Some states demand that motor vehicle or health departments be notified of a dementia diagnosis — a rule New York does not have and that may not be the best approach. The state Office for the Aging offers an advice handbook for families with an older member who may no longer drive safely.

The state departments of health and motor vehicles need to conduct a comprehensive review of what can be done, relying on the most up-to-date medical insights, to balance the rights of older drivers with the public’s need for safety.