The number of drivers aged 70 and older will grow significantly by 2030. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), older adults are driving later in life and are a growing segment of the driving population.
The 70+ demographic in the U.S. is expected to increase to 53 million by 2030. Despite higher fatality rates for this age group, age alone doesn’t make someone a hazard to others. Many older drivers adjust their driving habits to compensate for any impairments.
Key takeaways from the IIHS study
The IIHS provides important insights into older motorists’ driving patterns and safety. These include:
- Mature motorists are involved in fewer deadly crashes compared to decades ago.
- Many older persons avoid driving after dark or in other potentially hazardous situations.
- Fatality rates among older drivers have fallen by 45% since 1975.
- Statistics from 2022 show over seven out of 10 fatalities involving older drivers were either the drivers themselves or their passengers.
These points highlight that while older drivers are more numerous, many also adapt their driving habits to improve safety.
What common factors affect older drivers?
Several issues can affect an older driver’s abilities, leading to increased risks for all motorists. These issues include:
- Declining vision, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts.
- Reduced cognitive abilities can affect decision-making and reaction times.
- Decreased physical mobility, making it harder to perform certain driving maneuvers.
- Increased use of medications, which can impair driving ability.
- Higher likelihood of being involved in angle crashes, overtaking or merging crashes and intersection crashes.
- More frequent errors like failing to yield the right-of-way and inadequate surveillance.
- Increased fragility, making older drivers more susceptible to injuries.
New vehicle safety technologies, such as front crash prevention systems and blind spot detection, can help mitigate these risks.
Steps to reduce the likelihood of accidents
Governments, families and older drivers can take several steps to reduce accident risks, such as:
- Many states, including California, require drivers aged 70 and older to renew their licenses in person. This helps identify those needing a restricted license or should no longer drive.
- Roadway improvements like better signage, dedicated left-turn lanes and roundabouts.
- Encouraging older drivers to use vehicles with advanced safety features, like rearview cameras and lane departure warnings.
- Families and caregivers should monitor the driving abilities of older loved ones and encourage self-regulation, such as avoiding driving at night or in bad weather.
Age is one of many factors that can make someone a poor driver. However, if you notice a decline in an older loved one’s driving abilities, taking steps to keep everyone safe on the road is essential.