Many misconceptions exist about the safe driving practices of elderly drivers.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) December 13, 2014
Commenting on a recent CBS News story detailing the results of a AAA study about senior driver safety, attorney Kyle A. Israel of Israel & Gerity, PLLC said today it’s possible for younger drivers in Phoenix and across Arizona to learn a lot about safe driving habits from those aged 65 and older.
Israel, an attorney in Phoenix with two decades of experience, based his comments on a December 1 CBS News article, “AAA: Elderly drivers get a bum rap.” The article details the results of a recent AAA study finding that drivers age 65 and older not only engage in safer driving habits, but also are involved in fewer car accidents than other age groups.
“Many misconceptions exist about the safe driving practices of elderly drivers,” Israel said. “But while many people may label elderly drivers as collision-prone or lacking the reaction times of younger drivers, recent studies suggest that those aged 65 and older may be among the safest drivers on the road. As experienced car accident attorneys, we are not that surprised by the findings, because we often handle cases in which the at-fault driver is typically middle-age or younger and has engaged in risky behavior behind the wheel.”
According to CBS News, accident rates among the elderly have fallen 31 percent between 1997 and 2012. Among the AAA study’s findings, the article reports that only 34 percent of drivers aged 75 and older say they have talked on their cell phones while driving, compared to 82 percent of drivers between ages 25 and 39.
Officials from AAA told CBS News that elderly drivers tend to wear seatbelts more often than younger drivers and drive while under the influence of alcohol less than younger drivers. Ninety percent of senior drivers surveyed by AAA say they haven’t had an accident or citation within the past two years, according to the report.
Israel noted that the study is welcome news in a state like Arizona, which has a high number of retirees.
“Driver safety is a critical priority shared by every generation of drivers in Arizona,” Israel said. “This study suggests that younger drivers can learn many lessons from the decreased crash rates elderly drivers experience, such as avoiding such dangerous behaviors as driving under the influence of alcohol, while distracted by a cell phone, speeding or failing to wear a seatbelt. While many people come to Arizona to retire, we still see our fair share of accidents. Unfortunately, dangerous behavior leads to far too many accidents and injuries every day in Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson and throughout all of Arizona.”
About Israel & Gerity, PLLC
Attorney Kyle A. Israel obtained his degree from the Arizona State University College of Law and has practiced law in Arizona since 1994. Israel & Gerity’s legal practice focuses on helping victims of car crashes, construction accidents, construction defects, lithium toxicity, dog bites, nursing home negligence and more. Attorney Israel was anonymously selected by his peers into the first class of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers, an honor reserved for 2 percent of lawyers across the state, and has received nearly 100 percent favorable verdicts in the cases he has tried to verdict.
For more information about what to do if you or a loved one was injured in an accident, call (888) 900-3667 for a free case consultation.
Israel & Gerity, PLLC
3300 N Central Ave #2000
Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 274-4400
http://www.ig-law.com