Dear readers,
I have a lot of sympathy for Hy and Sally Edelstein, two elders interviewed for this week’s cover story about giving up driving due to age. Driving offers us independence, and being compelled to give that up is difficult to contemplate. When asked his opinion on the matter, Hy Edelstein, 92, replied with a snarl and a roar — “Rrrraaafff! I hate it,” he told writer Marietta Pritchard.
And yet, his family, doctor, and a driving assessment program at Mercy Hospital all pointed to the same thing: now was the time to give up the keys.
Giving up driving in old age must be difficult, but there are good reasons to do so, too. According to research assembled by AAA, seniors are safe drivers in comparison with other age groups, as they are more likely to observe speed limits and less likely to drink and drive. But they are also more likely to be killed in an accident than most drivers, due to health conditions associated with age, more fragile bones, and more difficulty recovering from injury. Apart from teens, seniors have the highest death rate per mile driven of all age groups, AAA reports.
In the Valley, there are some services that make the transition easier. The PVTA runs buses with senior discounts, as well as senior vans. And Northampton Neighbors offers rides with trained volunteers that not only provide lifts, but a bit of companionship along the way.
Building out robust transportation services has a benefit beyond environmental concerns. They also allow those who can’t drive, like the Edelsteins, much-needed connection to the places they need to get to. That’s why it is important to maintain numerous bus lines and other services, which due to financial considerations are frequently in danger of being cut.
— Dave Eisenstadter