“Debate on older drivers: Do laws keep roads safe? - Des Moines Register” plus 4 more

Debate on older drivers: Do laws keep roads safe? - Des Moines Register
Boxwood plant: Going green, back to the future or international? - Delaware Online
UAE's Aabar buys $328 million stake in Banco Santander Brasil - Marketwatch
Soul tows sales, brand image in U.S. - Korea Herald
Local new car dealers got big boost from Cash for Clunkers - Great Falls Tribune

Debate on older drivers: Do laws keep roads safe? - Des Moines Register

Posted: 11 Oct 2009 07:42 AM PDT

Marguerite Shiber of Des Moines needs a walker to maintain her balance as she makes her way to the 1979 Cadillac she relies on for transportation.

But the 91-year-old retired laundry worker still has good overall health and regularly drives to the Southside Senior Center for group meals, to the grocery store for medicine, and to a few other places for errands.

As with many Iowa seniors, the longtime widow values the independence that having a car and driving offer her.

Shiber's friends vouch that she is a good driver, and court files show that she has no record of traffic violations. In April, she renewed her Iowa driver's license for two more years.

But a debate swirls nationally around older drivers, many much younger than Shiber: Do they pose an exceptional risk to others and therefore should face additional restrictions, or would that constitute improper age-based discrimination?

State Sen. Tom Rielly, D-Oskaloosa, who is chairman of the Iowa Senate Transportation Committee, said last week that he wants to review the state's policies for licensing older drivers.

"I have no problem if a senior citizen wants to keep their driver's license, but obviously for public safety, I want to make sure they can pass physical and driving tests," Rielly said. "We don't want something falling through the cracks."

The debate flares whenever an older driver is involved in a high-profile accident, such as Paul "Jud" McKinney, 79, of Winterset, who is accused of driving the pickup truck that struck and killed bicyclist Mark Grgurich of Des Moines in August.

McKinney, who suffers from macular degeneration, a deterioration of his eyesight, was due to renew his driver's license later this month.

The issue of older-driver safety takes on added emphasis in Iowa because the state ranks fifth nationally in its population of people age 65 and over. The percentage of these older Iowans is projected to increase from almost 15 percent now to 22 percent of Iowa's population by 2030, state officials said.

In 54 of Iowa's 99 counties, at least 20 percent of the licensed drivers are already in the 65-plus age group, DOT officials said. Drivers ages 85, 75 and 65, respectively, represent Iowa's fastest, second-fastest and third-fastest-growing groups of drivers.

Advocates: Focus on competence, not age

There's no dispute that vision problems and reaction time increase with age, starting at about age 50.

Advocates for older people, however, maintain that age isn't the issue; it's driver competence. They also contend there's no fail-proof screening method to determine when cognitive or physical impairment reaches the point that it makes a driver unsafe.

"We have some people who are in great shape in their 80s and 90s and are perfectly fit to keep driving," said Elizabeth Dugan, a gerontologist at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, who has written a book, "The Driving Dilemma," about older driver issues. "Then we have some who are in terrible shape in their 50s. Without age as a clear marker for monitoring vigilance, then you move to ability, which is a little more difficult."

Steven Gursten, a Michigan auto accident lawyer who has written extensively about driver safety, counters: "That right to drive ends when they become a threat of injuring or killing innocent drivers."

He recommends requiring vision screening for older drivers, more frequent license renewals and some basic medical tests, such as a mini-mental state exam (a screening tool for dementia), and a basic test for physical dexterity and coordination.

"What you will find is that by taking a couple of very common-sense steps, almost all of these accidents involving elderly drivers are completely preventable," Gursten said. "We as a society have to recognize that because of the process of aging, there will be some deterioration of peoples' basic coordination and perception."

These changes can dramatically affect an older driver's reaction time, making his or her vehicle a dangerous weapon on the road, Gursten said.

Rules for older drivers vary widely by state

The conflict in perspectives over the rights of older drivers vs. the risks they present has resulted in a patchwork quilt of laws and rules nationally, according to a survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of Arlington, Va.

Massachusetts prohibits discrimination by age with regard to licensing. In Minnesota and Nevada, age alone cannot be used as justification to require re-examination. In Tennessee, drivers age 60 and older have reduced fees, and licenses issued to people 65 and older do not expire. In North Carolina, people 60 and older are not required to parallel park as part of the road test.

Other states, however, impose additional requirements for older drivers. Many begin requiring vision tests and increase the frequency for license renewals. In Illinois and New Hampshire, renewal applicants 75 and older must take a road test. In the District of Columbia, at age 70, a reaction test may be required. A doctor's statement is required that the applicant is physically and mentally competent to drive.

Iowa takes a middle-ground approach. Starting at age 70, Iowans must renew their licenses every two years, instead of every five years. As is true for all ages in Iowa, all renewals are done in person, and a vision screening is required. Iowa doesn't require a road test for older drivers or require them to be checked by doctors to determine their medical fitness, but such exams can be requested if there is reason to believe they're warranted, said Kim Snook, director of the Iowa DOT's Office of Driver Services.

Simply requiring older people to appear in person for license renewals - as opposed to renewing by mail or electronic methods - is linked to significantly lower fatality rates among the oldest drivers, according to study results reported in 2004 by the Journal of the American Medical Association. But more stringent state licensing policies, such as vision tests, road tests and more frequent license-renewal cycles, were not independently associated with additional benefits, researchers said.

An academic study of Missouri drivers published last year said that voluntary procedures are highly effective, such as allowing professionals and family members to report medical or fitness concerns about drivers to state agencies. Of 4,100 individuals reported to Missouri officials between 2001 and 2005, 96.5 percent were removed from the road, the study said.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has a voluntary reporting policy in which people can outline in writing their concerns about a driver's fitness. Most of the letters are from law enforcement officers. DOT employees investigate, and if the concerns are valid, a motorist can be asked to undergo a vision screening, a knowledge exam about driving and a behind-the-wheel test, Snook said.

Older drivers a threat mostly to the elderly

Just how dangerous are older drivers? They have a higher fatality rate per miles driven than any other driver age group except those under age 25, a review of statistics by The Des Moines Register shows. By age 80, female and male drivers, respectively, are three and four times more likely than 20-year-olds to die because of a traffic crash, state statistics show.

But statistics also show that older drivers in Iowa are primarily a danger to themselves and other seniors. For Iowans ages 65 to 74, motor-vehicle injuries are the leading cause of injury-related deaths, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. One key factor is that many older drivers are frail, making them more vulnerable to being hurt in a crash and dying from injuries.

Eighty-seven people were killed in Iowa traffic crashes in 2008 involving drivers age 65 and older. Sixty-seven of the 87 crash victims were either the older drivers themselves or other people age 65 and older.

Other crash statistics involving Iowa's older drivers are more mixed. Drivers age 65 and over comprised 17 percent of all licensed Iowa motorists last year. They were involved in only 14 percent of the state's 61,195 overall traffic crashes, yet the 87 deaths where older drivers were involved represented 21 percent of the 412 fatalities on Iowa's roads in 2008.

Older drivers' pluses include being careful

Experts say older drivers tend to be more careful behind the wheel than drivers in other age groups. They are less likely to drive at night or venture out in bad weather, and they typically avoid heavy traffic. They are also less likely to be arrested for drunken driving and for speeding, studies show.

Shiber, the retired laundry worker, fits a common pattern of gradually self-limiting her driving. She primarily drives in the daylight, on familiar, low-traffic routes, to nearby sites.

Like Shiber, Jesse Taylor, 84, of Des Moines stays off the street at night, when it's harder for him to see and when he's more fearful of crime.

But the World War II Navy veteran and retired mailer who worked at Meredith Corp. wouldn't dream of being without his car to get around town.

"I am old, but I am not senile," Taylor said, chuckling, while taking a break from playing cards at the Polk County Central Senior Center, 2008 Forest Ave.

Taylor is proud of his older-model Cadillac, and he likes listening to music by the late Oscar Peterson, a jazz pianist, on his car's sound system.

Taylor's adult daughter, Pamela Stewart, said she's comfortable with her dad's driving. He hasn't been cited for a traffic violation in a decade. His ability to drive allows him to remain active in politics and to be an advocate for senior citizens, she said.

Restricted licenses try to limit drivers' risks

The Iowa Department of Transportation has tried to make accommodations for older drivers by granting more than 9,000 restricted licenses that limit driving to daylight hours, specific geographic areas such as small towns or urban neighborhoods, and low-speed roads.

Restricted licensing, sometimes referred to as "graduated de-licensing," seeks to preserve the driver's mobility while protecting the health of the driver, passengers and others on the road by limiting driving to low-risk situations.

The DOT also plans engineering changes to make it easier for older motorists to navigate the state's roads.

This includes better pavement markings, signs with brighter colors, and more rumble strips on road shoulders and center lines to alert drivers when they stray off travel lanes, said Tom Welch, a DOT safety engineer in Ames.

One new approach in Iowa calls for the construction of so-called "J-turn" intersections, which help avoid collisions on major highways for people with trouble judging speed and distance. Crashes involving older drivers occur disproportionately at intersections and when making left turns.

Drivers approaching a J-turn intersection from a side road won't be able to cross through the intersection or turn left. They must first turn right, proceed about a quarter mile, make a U-turn through the median and then head up the road.

The first J-turn intersection is planned near Springville in Linn County on U.S. Highway 151. In addition, two J-turn intersections are proposed on U.S. Highway 65/Iowa Highway 330 between Des Moines and Marshalltown.

"We have to look for innovative ways to improve safety," Welch said. "These changes will benefit all motorists, but they are motivated by the fact that we have an aging population."

For now, decision rests with drivers, families

Barring legislative changes, the "When do I stop driving?" decision primarily rests with individuals and families. Many older Iowans battle increasing frailty with a fierce determination to keep driving.

Velva Rogers, 88, of Des Moines broke her hip and both arms in falls a few years ago, so she uses a cane when she walks. But she said she's in good shape again, and she uses her car for errands during daylight hours. She's been a diabetic for about 30 years, but said it doesn't affect her driving because she watches what she eats.

"I like driving in traffic," added Rogers, who worked at hotel banquets until just a few years ago. "I will tell you something I have learned. When you are old, you have to make a decision fast. If you are turning in front of a car, or if you are crossing a street, you can't stop and hesitate."

Rogers' daughter, Valinda Coker of Norwalk, said her mother is still a capable driver. She and her husband sometimes tease her mother about going a little too fast as she coasts down hills on Fleur Drive in Des Moines.

"To me, age is a very individualized thing," Coker said.

Challenges faced by older drivers

Around age 50, drivers may begin to feel limited by vision changes, slower reaction times, chronic health problems or side effects from medications.

VISION: Aging drivers need more light to read road signs and require more time to see signs and hazards clearly. They also experience a reduction in their depth perception and peripheral vision, which affects the ability to judge distance and speed.
Tips: Schedule regular eye checkups. Avoid driving at night or in adverse conditions.

REACTION TIME: Older drivers can take twice as long as younger drivers to react, because of changes in the brain that occur with aging.
Tips: Concentrate on driving rather than multitasking. Avoid complex driving situations. Reduce distractions.

MOBILITY: Men and women lose muscle mass (strength) beginning about age 30. Stiffness in joints, ligaments and tendons may increase the difficulty of turning to look for traffic and using brakes in response to an unexpected situation.
Tips: Engage in activities and exercise to maintain strength and flexibility. Seek a doctor's advice on nutrition and exercise that will work best.

MEMORY: Even mild forgetfulness can result in failing to respond to a stop sign, forgetting to switch on a turn signal or neglecting to watch for changes in another driver's actions.
Tips: Concentrate on driving. Limit distractions.

MEDICAL PROBLEMS: An accumulation of injuries and disease can cause additional changes in strength, response and flexibility. Medication can also cause lethargy, drowsiness and confusion.
Tips: Watch for changes in strength or response. Assistive devices can sometimes compensate for diminished physical abilities. Seek a doctor's advice on adjusting timing or combinations of medications to reduce side effects that impair driving.

GENERAL TIP: Consider trading for a smaller car. Many seniors drive older, low-mileage cars, which can be hard to steer and maneuver. It's difficult to know where the corners of the bumpers are. Seniors also may find themselves sitting lower in the seat, so the dashboard and steering wheel might be limiting sight.
Source: "Choices Not Chances" pamphlets, Iowa Department of Transportation

Where to get help

Defensive driving courses are available for Iowa's older motorists from AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, the AAA Minnesota-Iowa motor club, and other groups.

In addition, "car-fitting" events are held to help older drivers make adjustments to car seats, mirrors, seat belts and other equipment, to allow them to safely operate their vehicles.

For many drivers, the state stipulates outside rearview-mirror usage. The state required Paul "Jud" McKinney, a driver accused of hitting a bicyclist, to have a left outside rearview mirror on any vehicle he drove because of the vision problems in his left eye, according to the DOT.

Larry Neppl of Marion, state coordinator of the Iowa AARP driver safety program, said his group works with about 850 to 950 drivers annually."Unfortunately, we are a well-kept secret," he said.

The Iowa Legislature considered a bill earlier this year that would have required insurers to provide a 10 percent auto insurance discount for any motorist 55 and older who completed a driver safety program. Some insurers already provide such a discount, but the measure failed to win legislative approval.

Crashes linked to aging changes

The crash rate for older drivers is related to physical and mental changes associated with aging.

With younger drivers, vehicle crashes are often due to inexperience or risky behaviors. With older drivers, crashes tend to be related to inattention or slowed perception and response.

Older-driver crashes are often multiple-vehicle crashes occurring at intersections and involving left-hand turns. The crash is usually caused by the older driver's failure to heed signs and yield the right of way.

Source: "Choices Not Chances" pamphlets, Iowa Department of Transportation

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Boxwood plant: Going green, back to the future or international? - Delaware Online

Posted: 11 Oct 2009 06:37 AM PDT

Fisker Automotive

The Irvine, Calif.-based startup is developing plug-in hybrid cars.

In September, Fisker was awarded a $528 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, part of a $25-billion program to fund the development of alternative vehicle technologies. Fisker's technology uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to power an electric motor, complemented by a gasoline engine that turns a generator and charges the battery.

Fisker says its first vehicle, the luxury sedan called the Karma, has a starting price of $87,900. Fisker says the car can achieve an average fuel economy of 100 miles per gallon and is made in Finland by contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive.

The company is now working on "Project Nina," a family plug-in hybrid sedan that would sell for $39,900 after federal tax credits. The company says it wants to build 75,000 to 100,000 of the cars each year at a retooled U.S. assembly plant, beginning in 2012.

DeLorean Motor Company

The original DeLorean Motor Co. was launched in 1975 by former GM executive John DeLorean, who made his name breathing life and muscle into Pontiacs of the 1960s.

DeLorean's short-lived company was best known for its DMC-12 sports car, which was featured in "Back to the Future."

In 1997, entrepreneur Stephen Wynne bought the company's inventory.

The Houston-area company has about 20 employees, mostly servicing existing cars and rebuilding a small number of new ones. The company has been looking for another product to keep the DeLorean brand alive. Because of enthusiasts' love and loyalty for the Solstice, it fits in with the company's history and heritage, Wynne said.

Tata Motors

The Mumbai, India-based company is India's biggest automaker, manufacturing dozens of models from subcompact cars to buses and massive trucks for heavy industry.

In 2008, Tata acquired the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford in 2008.

In January, it unveiled "the world's cheapest car," the Nano, a two-cylinder car with a sticker price starting at $2,000.

The company had revenues of $8.8 billion in 2007-08 and has subsidiaries in the UK, South Korea, Thailand and Spain.

It is also the world's fourth largest truck manufacturer and the second largest bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are sold in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America.

UAE's Aabar buys $328 million stake in Banco Santander Brasil - Marketwatch

Posted: 11 Oct 2009 06:23 AM PDT

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By Stefania Bianchi

(Adds detail, background.)

DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones) -- Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments PJSC Sunday said it has taken a $328 million stake in the Brazilian unit of Spain's Banco Santander SA (STD, SAN.MC), as the biggest shareholder in luxury carmaker Daimler AG (DAI.XE) continues its ambitious diversification drive.

Aabar, which is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi state fund International Petroleum Investment Co., or IPIC, "has made an investment of approximately $328 million in American depositary shares issued by Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A." following its initial public offering, the company said in a statement on the Abu Dhabi Exchange Web site.

"We are delighted to have had the opportunity to invest in such a strong and successful entity," Aabar chairman Khadem Al Qubaisi said in the statement. "We hope to continue to strengthen and develop the existing relationship we have with Banco Santander and look forward to working with them in the future."

Earlier this month, Spanish financial giant Banco Santander SA raised $8.1 billion with an initial public offering of shares in its Brazilian unit, the largest IPO in the world so far this year. The bank sold its shares in Brazil and to foreign investors in the U.S. in the form of American depositary shares.

Flush with cash from years of soaring oil prices, Aabar, IPIC and other Abu Dhabi sovereign-linked investors are targeting foreign assets to extend their influence outside the Middle East. Aabar invests in non-energy assets on behalf of its owner as part of the government's strategy to diversify its economy away from oil and broaden its industrial base and has been particularly active in recent months, buying stakes in a wide range of assets in the real-estate, infrastructure and automotive sectors. Aabar bought a 9.1% stake in Daimler in March and said it would pursue joint projects with the Stuttgart-based company. In July, it bought a 40% share in Tesla Motors Inc. from Daimler, giving it a near 10% stake in the San Carlos, California-based electric car start-up.

It also recently completed the purchase of the Swiss-based private banking division of American International Group Inc., now known as Falcon Private Bank, and bought a 32% stake in Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Ltd. commercial space venture for $280 million.

In a separate deal involving Daimler, Aabar in August agreed with the Algerian government and five German companies including MAN Ferrostaal AG to make all-terrain vehicles and trucks in Algeria.

Initially created to invest in oil and gas, Aabar has become a diversified investment vehicle for the Abu Dhabi government. It is majority-owned by IPIC, which owns 70% of MAN Ferrostaal. Aabar shares closed down 0.7% at AED2.72 on the Abu Dhabi Exchange Thursday. They have risen about 60% since mid-July.

Soul tows sales, brand image in U.S. - Korea Herald

Posted: 11 Oct 2009 08:03 AM PDT

Kia Motors Corp.'s crossover utility vehicle Soul appears to have hit the right chord in the United States.

According to the U.S. automotive industry publication Ward's Auto, 2,459 units of the vehicle were sold in the United States during September, keeping the Soul at the top spot among box cars for the sixth consecutive month.

With 2,230 units sold last month, Nissan's Cube took second place with the Toyota xB bring up the rear with 1,539 units.

The Soul is also at the top of the list for the year so far with 24,237 units sold during the first nine months of the year, followed by the xB and Cube. During the period, 20,531 units of the Toyota xB were sold in the United States while 14,752 units of the Nissan Cube were sold.

"Soul's unique design is appealing to younger drivers in overseas markets, and the vehicle being named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that has boosted both the vehicle's popularity and Kia's brand image in overseas markets," a Kia official said.

With 16,861 units sold on the local market so far this year, the Soul is also the third bestselling model among the company's multipurpose vehicle and sport utility vehicle lineup in Korea.

In order to meet rising demand for the compact CUV, the company is looking to increase the Gwangju plant's Soul output.

According to reports, the company is said to be negotiating with the labor union to modify the Gwangju plant's Sportage assembly line to produce both Sportage and the Soul in order to raise output.

Along with popularity among U.S. and local motorists, the Soul has caught the eye of the foreign media.

According to Kia, the North American Car and Truck of the Year panel, which consists of Canadian and U.S. auto journalists, included the Soul among the 15 semi finalists vying for the 2010 North American Car of the Year award.

The panel will further narrow down the list to three models by the end of the year, with the winner being announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to be held in January.

This is the first time a Kia vehicle has been selected as a candidate for the award, which has been dominated by U.S. brands.

First awarded in 1994, U.S. brands have won the award eight times European makers have won four times while Japanese carmakers have taken the award three times.

Hyundai Motor Co.'s sports sedan Genesis became the first Korean vehicle to win the award last year.

(cheesuk@heraldm.com)

By Choi He-suk

2009.10.12

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Local new car dealers got big boost from Cash for Clunkers - Great Falls Tribune

Posted: 11 Oct 2009 03:53 AM PDT

Great Falls new car dealers say they thrived during a giddy August of crowded show rooms as potential buyers sought Cash for Clunkers program incentives.

And, for the most part, they say they avoided the debilitating hangover that many dealers experienced nationally when the federal program ran out of cash.

"We did very well in late July and August, with business spiking not only for new cars, but also for used vehicles once customers got on the lot," said David Krebs, general sales manager of Bennett Motors. "Our business had been down for about 12 months, causing pent-up demand, and the Cash for Clunkers program helped break the dam."

Bennett sold 25 new vehicles under the federal program, which provided buyers cash incentives to trade used vehicles for more fuel-efficient new models, he said, and plenty of other new and used cars, too. Sales were good for both Subaru and General Motors models, he said.

But new car sales were down about half in September, because the inventory was trimmed so much, Krebs said. Used car sales were higher.

"Thank God for October, when we'll be getting more new cars," Krebs said.

General Motors hired back 30,000 workers to make vehicles at reopened plants in the middle of Cash for Clunkers, he said. Krebs said Bennett normally has 50 new Subarus on the lot, but was down to just six last week before receiving new car shipments.

The Cash for Clunkers program spurred boom sales in the auto industry nationally from the last week of July through August, with nearly 700,000 consumers swapping eligible older vehicles for new cars and getting up to $4,500 lopped off the cost.

But, after money for the program ran out, most car makers reported big drops in September sales, in what's being called the Cash for Clunkers hangover.

General Motors sales slumped 45 percent in September, Chrysler 42 percent, Honda 20 percent, Toyota 13 percent and Ford 6 percent.

The push to buy in August reduced the inventory of new cars available on lots to choose from in September, national observers said, and possibly drew customers in early who might have purchased cars later in the year anyway.