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Community Corner

POLL: At What Age Should Your Driver's License Be Revoked?

Within the past week there have been two car crashes involving seniors over the age of 85 in Laguna Niguel. One was fatal, the other caused damage to City Hall, and the stats don't stop there.

Two car crashes involving drivers over the age of 85 in one week in Laguna Niguel and a

On Tuesday morning, an 87-year-old woman smashed into the back of the building after the woman's Chrysler was in a two-car crash with a 20-year-old man in a Saturn at the intersection of Alicia and Town Center Drive, according to Lt. Jim England of the O.C. Sheriff's Department.

"We don't know if she panicked or not, but somehow she ended up a slope and hit the wall behind s," he said. "She clipped the corner of the building, and caused some structural damage."

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The woman was later taken to an area hospital for minor injuries. The other driver was unhurt, England said.

Public Works Director Dave Rogers said the damage "won't be cheap or easy to fix."

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He estimated the cost of repairs would run $5,000 to $10,000.

On July 18, Clarice Jordan, 88 died at a local hospital after she was in a collision in Laguna Niguel an Orange County sheriff's lieutenant said. 

Jordan was involved in a four-vehicle collision at Crown Valley Parkway and Greenfield Drive, suffering a broken arm, about 12:20 p.m. and taken to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, where she was declared dead about 5:20 p.m., according to Orange County Sheriff's.

"I was one of the people caught in this traffic jam immediately after the accident happened and was trapped there for 35 minutes before any traffic could move," said Laguna Niguel resident Shirley Dickter. "Traffic was a nightmare. I didn't get upset until all the people started using the emergency lane to barge in front of whoever they possibly could."

According to California Highway Patrol these types of accidents are not isolated. It also offers a class for seniors called Age Well Drive Smart program for senior drivers. Here are some statistics for the cities of Laguna Niguel and Dana Point:

Collisions and Victims Where at Least One Driver at 75 years or older 

Cities: Dana Point and Laguna Niguel  2009 through 2010  19-JUL-12

Total Collisions Fatal Injury Property Damage Only Victims Killed Victims Injured Collision Year City Name 2009 126 0 22 104 0 37 Dana Point 75 0 8 67 0 14 Laguna Niguel 51 0 14 37 0 23 2010 94 0 21 73 0 32 Dana Point 54 0 8 46 0 10 Laguna Niguel 40 0 13 27 0 22 TOTALS 220 0 43 177 0 69 Total Collisions Fatal Injury PDO Victims Killed Victims Injured Collision Year City Name 2009 59 0 12 47 0 19 Dana Point 33 0 4 29 0 7 Laguna Niguel 26 0 8 18 0 12 2010 46 0 12 34 0 18 Dana Point 20 0 4 16 0 6 Laguna Niguel 26 0 8 18 0 12 TOTALS 105 0 24 81 0 37

The California Department of Motor Vehicles reports that there are more than 5.5 million drivers over the age of 55 in California. More than 2.5 million are 70 or older. 

The Department of Motor Vehicles does not take away your driver license when you reach a certain age. Your mental and/or physical condition or your inability to follow traffic laws and rules regardless of age determines whether your license is renewed, restricted, suspended, or revoked. All customers age 70 or older must renew their driver license in person at a DMV office.

At what age do you think a person's license should be revoked? Take our poll.

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