Officials are saying that a January 29, 2010 San Diego car accident that killed 15-year-old skateboarder Lucas Giaconelli was caused by a 92-year-old man who drove away because he hadn't even realized that he had struck a human being. According to a CBS news report, Lucas was skateboarding on Thibodo Road in Vista when he was struck and killed. The elderly driver said he thought he had struck an animal or a bird. But when he saw a vigil at the accident scene the next day he told an officer he realized that he may have hit a person.

Statistics Relating to Elderly Drivers

Even as authorities are investigating, a lot of people are asking the question: How old is too old to drive? California now has almost 3 million drivers who are 65 years or older, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65. In 2005, about 11 percent of fatal car accidents in the United States involved drivers 65 or older.

Too Old to Drive?

In this particular case, a number of questions come up? Did this elderly driver have a valid license that was legally renewed? Did he have any medical conditions that affected his physical or mental ability to drive? The California DMV requires drivers 70 years and older to come into the DMV office and pass a vision and written test. They cannot simply renew their license by mail. In my opinion, senior drivers should also be required to pass a road test. That is the only way to determine whether it is safe for them to be driving. This is not only a matter of the elderly driver's own safety, but also the safety of others.

In California, the only way a senior driver can lose his or her license is if he or she gets into an accident, is cited or if a family member or police officer petitions to have the driver re-tested. Just over the last year, there have been several accidents in Southern California involving elderly drivers. There were a few fatalities, but several close calls. Many have sustained serious personal injuries as a result of those accidents. I hope this elderly driver in San Diego is investigated and at least stopped from driving immediately. Had he been stopped and evaluated earlier, young Lucas' parents would still be looking at him.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

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