Down the road Nation's elderly drivers may face tougher licensi

Allan Stubbs, 81, shuffles with stiff, small steps into the driver-licensing office in Greenwood, Wash.

He has come to renew his license so he still can get out to grocery shop, see the doctor and have breakfast with his nephew.

But, so far, he has failed a re-examination of his skills three times.

"I think this is my last chance," said the frail man with a sheepish, worried smile.

At stake is one of the most important symbols of his independence. He has worn a sports coat for the occasion.

Stubbs is among 27.5 million drivers in the U.S. -- and nearly 550,000 out of 4.3 million drivers in Washington -- who are age 65 and older. Their numbers nationally are expected to double in about 25 years, growing from 78 to 85 percent of the total 65-plus population.

Older drivers' growing presence and desire for mobility are fueling national concern about the effects of aging on driving ability and a search for remedies.

In Washington, a special team at the Department of Licensing is studying what other states are doing and, by year's end, will recommend changes to toughen driving laws. Public hearings on the proposals could take place next year. Ultimately, final approval will be up to lawmakers.

"We don't have it in for senior drivers at all," said Mark Varadian, spokesman for the department.

"We just want to make sure people with certain medical conditions are being tested adequately to make sure we have safe drivers on the road."

Here are a few ideas under serious consideration:

A new law that would require doctors to report patients with medical conditions that potentially impair driving.

An exam that measures reaction time, cognitive ability and peripheral vision. The exam could be administered when a driver is first licensed and at each renewal.

A required comprehensive re-examination triggered by a certain age, as yet to be determined.

Retesting tens of thousands of additional drivers a year would create a huge drain on staff time. To compensate, drivers under a certain age might be allowed to renew their license on the Internet or by mail.

Older drivers are less likely to speed, drive drunk or cause a severe crash. But they are more likely to develop medical conditions that could affect safety on the road, such as deteriorating vision, slowing reaction time and declining cognitive ability.

Older drivers are less likely to be involved in a crash because they drive less and drive under safer conditions, but they have more crashes per mile driven. Starting around age 65, their fatalities per mile begin to increase.