Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Elderly U.S. drivers not tested for blind spots

Excerpt from: The Oakland Press (click for full article)

 

Elderly people with a certain type of blind spot were less likely to see pedestrians in time to avoid hitting them in a driving simulator, according to a new study.

“In the UK and parts of Europe, in order to have a license, you need to be tested for central blind spots, but in the U.S. you don’t have to,” lead author Matthew Bronstad told Reuters Health.

In his simulator test, people with blind spots often could not respond in time to a hazardous situation, said Bronstad, an instructor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Blind spots at the center of the field of vision, or “central field loss,” are usually caused by macular degeneration, damage to the retina that occurs with age. About 1.75 million people in the U.S., most over 65 years old, have this kind of vision loss, according to a 2004 study.

Drivers with disabilities get help finding parking spots at Oregon State University

Excerpt from: Oregon Live (click for full article)

 

Parking at Oregon State University just got easier for drivers with disabilities and smartphones.  

The Corvallis Gazette-Times says people who have permits to park in spaces reserved for those with disabilities can use their smartphones  to locate open spots.  

Sensors were recently imbedded in the pavement of 75 spaces around 30 buildings at the center of campus.