Most older drivers believe that they will know when they should stop driving. But giving up the car keys, along with one’s independence and the many benefits of owning a car, is often one of the most difficult decisions an older person must make.
While driving skills vary from one elderly person to another, there are physical and mental changes that accompany aging which can diminish the abilities of elderly drivers. These can include a slowdown in reflexes, muscle strength and agility; vision and hearing impairments; drowsiness due to medications; and a reduction in alertness.
“Many elderly drivers adjust their driving habits as their abilities diminish,” says Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute. “They drive fewer miles, avoid complex intersections and stay off interstate highways. But some older drivers are unwilling to make the necessary changes, endangering the lives of themselves – and others,” she said. “We know that based on per-miles driven, crash rates for seniors are far worse than any other age group except for the youngest teens.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2002 there were 19.9 million licensed drivers age 70 and older in the U.S., yet they accounted for 12% of traffic fatalities, 12% of all vehicle occupant fatalities and 16 % of pedestrian fatalities. Collision rates per mile driven increase after age 70 and increase more rapidly after age 80.
