SSS『I am an elderly driver』
Introduction
Three Lessons to Learn from This Story:
Comparing elderly individuals (age 65 and above) and young adults (ages 16-29), it's the young adults who have a higher number of traffic accidents.
For elderly individuals residing in suburban areas, a car is one of the essential necessities of life.
The primary factor behind elderly drivers causing accidents is impaired consciousness due to a decrease in metabolic function.
Keep these points in mind as you enjoy the story.
『I am an elderly driver』
The radio in the car began to play, broadcasting news of a traffic accident caused by an elderly driver.
The incident involved a personal injury. A car driven by an octogenarian driver had mistaken the gas pedal for the brake, plowing into the sidewalk and tragically hitting two pedestrians who happened to be there.
These pedestrians, a parent and child, were struck by the car. While the parent suffered a broken bone and minor injuries, the child tragically lost their life, pinned under the car that had crashed into them. The elderly driver who was behind the wheel reportedly claimed not to remember the incident.
"Such a tragedy..."
Yoshio, who would turn eighty-five years old this year, murmured with a heavy heart upon hearing the heartbreaking details of the accident that had claimed the life of a promising young child.
However, amidst his compassion, he harbored another complex sentiment.
This incident will likely intensify the scrutiny on elderly drivers...
Yoshio himself possessed significant confidence in his driving skills, and indeed, he had never violated any traffic regulations over the years, holding a pristine driving record. His driver's license was a Gold License, indicating his clean history.
Nevertheless, the increasing scrutiny and criticism targeted at elderly drivers had started to wear on him.
Whenever incidents like the tragic accident from the radio occurred, television and newspapers were quick to emphasize the keyword "elderly driver," almost as if for dramatic effect.
In response to such events, a prevailing sentiment in society was urging elderly individuals to refrain from driving.
Particularly among the younger generation who actively used social media, this sentiment was even more pronounced. Just the other day, while watching television, Yoshio caught a glimpse of a young person on the screen saying something like:
"Quick decision-making is crucial for driving. As people age, their ability to make such decisions diminishes. Everyone on social media talks about how scary elderly drivers are. It would be better if they surrendered their licenses while their judgment is still intact."
This was an unfounded, baseless argument. Many might not know, but when comparing the number of traffic accidents caused by individuals aged sixty-five and older to those caused by young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-nine, it was clear that the latter group had a higher count (source: "Traffic Accident Statistics for the Year Heisei 30" from the National Police Agency).
In other words, the much-discussed incidents involving elderly drivers' "wrong-way" or "reckless" driving were actually relatively rare cases. Accidents involving young drivers were far more common. It was a clear indication that many people were lacking proper information.
Furthermore, those who made such claims were usually urban dwellers, likely unfamiliar with the environment surrounding elderly individuals in rural areas.
Even here in Tokyo, where I reside, having a car was an essential necessity, especially in the suburbs. This held even more true in areas outside the city.
Cars were used without fail for shopping groceries and essential goods. Even neighbors were not necessarily living right next door; they were often five to ten minutes away by car.
Requiring elderly individuals – a term I'm not particularly fond of to begin with – to surrender their licenses would effectively be telling them to stay home and not venture out. It was truly frustrating.
On another note, recently my regular doctor mentioned that my blood sugar and blood pressure were high, and I found myself reluctantly taking various medications as prescribed. But, I can't say my health has notably improved. If anything, I've been feeling somewhat absent-minded compared to before. Occasionally, I experience bouts of dizziness.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Yoshio's car approached a gentle right curve in the road.
A pedestrian crossing ahead...
Gazing at the diamond-shaped road marking on the pavement almost absentmindedly, Yoshio murmured to himself. Suddenly, a bout of dizziness struck.
With a thud, his vision momentarily faded. When he regained his senses, he noticed a woman crossing the road towards him from the right side.
We're going to collide.
Though he braced himself, Yoshio's reflexes were impressively sharp for someone eighty-five years old. He effortlessly pressed the brakes, causing the car to come to an abrupt halt.
That was close.
While exhaling a sigh of relief, Yoshio turned his attention to the woman who had been crossing. She stood frozen, wearing a startled expression, unable to move from the shock.
Yoshio offered a slight nod to convey his apology, but the tense atmosphere radiating from the woman left him feeling uneasy. He pressed down on the accelerator again and drove away.
As he glanced at the rearview mirror while leaving, he noticed the woman, apparently still shaken by the sudden event, was crouching on the ground. He could only see her small figure from behind.
I'd be just as shocked in her place.
Despite harboring a fair amount of irritation, Yoshio gradually regained his composure as he continued driving. He firmly grasped the steering wheel, shaking off the uneasiness he had felt earlier.
There's no need to give up my license. I reacted perfectly fine. There's no problem at all.
Reassuring himself with these thoughts, elderly driver Yoshio confidently navigated the streets today.
As for the crack in his right front headlight, he remained oblivious to it.
Epilogue
Hello, I'm Kazuki. Thank you very much for staying with me till the end. In this edition, I'd like to share a novel I've written with the theme of "Elderly Drivers," which was inspired by the book "The Health Practices of Smart and Not-So-Smart People," authored by Dr. Hideki Wada, a specialist in geriatric psychiatry, published by PHP Research Institute on July 28, 2023.
Within the reference material, Dr. Wada offers various strategies primarily addressing the medical framework and societal trends surrounding the elderly, drawing from his extensive clinical experience. It's a highly informative book from the perspective of geriatric healthcare.
What particularly caught my attention among its contents was the subject of "Elderly Drivers," which became the core theme of my novel. When we hear "Elderly Drivers," we might instinctively think of terms like "wrong-way" or "reckless driving." However, according to Dr. Wada's insights in the reference material, these perceptions are largely unfounded. In fact, he suggests that it's often the younger generation engaging in reckless driving. He backs this up with solid data.
Yet, it's undeniable that accidents involving elderly drivers, including wrong-way incidents and reckless driving, do occur in reality. So, why do such accidents happen? In this novel, I've aimed to present this matter in a story that readers can easily comprehend. I hope this work serves as an opportunity to encourage a reevaluation of the current medical system and societal perspectives concerning the elderly.