Older drivers come under greater scrutiny

The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation says the state’s aging population is causing the D-O-T to review its testing and training of elderly drivers. Mark Wandro says drivers 65 years and older are involved in more accidents than other drivers. He says they want to be ready for the increasing number of “baby boomers” heading into that age category.Wandro says there aren’t any set plans for dealing with the older drivers.Wandro’s comments came following a discussion by the Transportation Commission Tuesday on how to deal with older drivers who may no longer be capable of driving on Iowa roadways, but are still able to get a driver’s license. On another issue, the D-O-T is also looking into ways to make work zones safer after a record 18 fatalities in the work zones this year.