While alcohol is still the biggest contributing factor in fatal car accidents, Iowa’s youngest and oldest drivers have more fatalities than other drivers.

Of the 24 fatal crashes so far this year involving out-of-control vehicles, 11 cars were driven by drivers younger than 21. Drivers over 60 accounted for seven of the remaining fatal crashes, according to information released by Scott Falb of the Iowa Department of Transportation.

“The highest percentage of accidents can be contributed to alcohol,” said Dennis Ballantine, Ames Police chief.

Lt. Lowell Huggins of the Iowa State Department of Public Safety said alcohol and speed are big factors in Ames accidents.

However,”the heavy foot of the young and the slow reactions of the older” are also major contributors to accidents, Ballantine said.

“Since the majority of drivers are younger in Ames, we have a larger number of young people in serious accidents,” he said. Ames High School Principal, Charles Achter, said some accidents involving teen-agers are caused by a “lack of experience and poor judgment.” But, Achter said, many accidents are wrongly blamed on teen-agers.

“It’s not always your fault, just because you’re a teen-ager,” he said. “It’s often kids are just at the wrong place at the right time.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Hope Brown, director of the Senior Center in Ames, said she is “really afraid” about some senior citizens who drive to the Senior Center.

“They drive very slowly; they get lost; they are a hazard to other drivers who have to watch out for them,” Brown said. “Some of these people are 85 or 90 and still driving. I honestly don’t know how they’re getting their licenses again.”

But Brown also said letting seniors drive themselves gives them freedom. “I just wish they were screened a little more carefully,” she said.