ROAD AGE: ELDERLY DRIVERS LEARN WHEN TO SAY WEHN

Mary O. Damitz wanted to make her own decisions about how and when she would give up her driver's license. So, after driving for more than 70 years, the 88-year-old Cape Girardeau resident decided in January to sell her car.

"It's not been as bad as I thought it would be," she said. "Nobody was saying they would take my keys away, and I wasn't feeling like a menace on the road, but I was a little uncomfortable."

There are some drivers in Missouri who probably should be relinquishing their licenses but are not. National reports continue to show that older drivers, specifically those over age 70, are being killed on the road more often than their younger counterparts.

A report by The Road Information Program (TRIP) shows a 39 percent increase in older-adult traffic fatalities between 1989 and 1999. And the number of older drivers in the nation continues to rise -- there were 47 percent more older drivers on the road in 1995 than in 1985.

In Missouri, 14 percent of the driving population is over the age of 65. In Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties, about 16 percent of the licensed drivers are older than 65.

55 Alive course

Damitz, who has lived in Chateau Girardeau for nearly 16 years, said both her daughters were relieved when she made the decision to surrender her license. Not driving hasn't really hampered her activities.

"The fact that I did it in winter probably helped because it was when I wouldn't be running around as much," Damitz said. "Sometimes I still catch myself saying I'll just run down to ...'"

But she can't.

Some older drivers do not believe that giving up a license is an option because they wouldn't have any other available transportation.

For those, the American Association of Retired Persons offers a 55 Alive safety driving course. The next course will be April 17 and again April 25 at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The course is a remedial session that offers reminders on how older drivers compensate for their age, vision and hearing and other physical conditions.

"We teach some new things like what to look for when they drive and how to be a better driver or more courteous driver," said Robert Harper of Jackson, Mo., who teaches the class.

"Every time I teach it there's something that I've forgotten," he said.

Harper said the AARP course offers alternative driving suggestions, like public transportation, for people who are less comfortable on the road.

"We try to instill that they should be thankful that they're able to drive since there are so many that cannot," he said.

There aren't any statistics readily available to show how many people in Southeast Missouri are giving up their driver's licenses, but there have been 1,150 referrals to the state's unsafe driver program since July.

The program allows family members, social workers and doctors to report any problems that could affect driving, like:

* Problems moving arms and legs.

* Problems with dementia or mental confusion.

* Vision problems.

* Any problems related to prescription drug use or alcohol and drug use.

For information about the program, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue Web site at www.dor.state.mo.us or write the Drivers License Bureau at P.O. Box 200; Jefferson City, Mo. 65105-0200.

Older drivers

The number of older drivers in the nation continues to rise as the population ages. In Missouri, about 14 percent of the driving population is over age 65. These figures from the Missouri Department of Revenue include totals through March 2001.

County Total No. drivers No. drivers over 65 Percent Bollinger 8,482 1,444 17

Cape Girardeau 47,957 7,314 15

Perry 13,330 2,277 17

Scott 29,190 4,389 15

Source: Missouri Department of Revenue

SAFER DRIVING

WHAT: 55 Alive safety driving course.

WHEN: April 17 and 25 from 1-5 p.m.

WHERE: Southeast Missouri Hospital.

INFORMATION: As a refresher course for older drivers.