Keeping Old Folks Behind the Wheel.

• Position: Brief Article

Losing driving privileges can be devastating for older people. It means a loss of independence and mobility and makes them more dependent on relatives and friends. It's especially hard for the suburban elderly where public transit is geared to commuter needs, and not to shopping and doctor's appointments.

But statistics show that drivers 75 and older have higher rates of fatal car crashes per mile driven than any other age group except teenagers, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

The ages of those driving motor vehicles are rising, and so are the numbers of elderly involved in fatal crashes. Between 1989 and 1999, the number of elderly killed in crashes increased 33 percent nationwide. During the same period, overall fatalities dropped 9 percent.

With an eye to the numbers of graying Boomers, however, states can also make roads safer for elderly drivers. By 2020, older folks are expected to account for about 20 percent of all licensed drivers.

Missouri and Kansas are making signs and roadways more visible and testing ways to spot dangerous drivers. Missouri is replacing old road signs with ones that reflect light better, creating brighter markers. The state is also using...