I love living in a small city in Southern California. We have almost perfect weather, a wonderful and safe community for seniors, lovely parks for everyone to enjoy, and all the shopping opportunities you could ever want. I was raised in a city with good bus transportation and lived in New York City where public transportation moved the city; you could actually get around without a car. We do have public buses and other means of transportation for seniors where I live now, but losing your ability to drive poses a life-changing challenge as we grow older.
I have always enjoyed driving and feel confident and safe about my driving now. Several friends have lost their licenses, and I have seen the changes it has made in their lives. I, like most people my age, want to be able to drive as long as I can do it safely, so I did some research on the facts and statistics about seniors’ driving.
Financial information provider Bankrate’s insurance editorial team has compiled some key facts about senior drivers to help us understand this big issue. They note that senior drivers can find that age-related changes, like medication side effects, reduced reaction time, and impaired vision,can impact their driving abilities. Although senior drivers likely have decades of driving experience, cognitive and physical declines that contribute to an increase in accidents can cause safety concerns. This raises the question of when is it no longer safe for us to continue driving as we age. Making the right decision about our driving abilities can help keep everyone safer, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers.
KEY SENIOR DRIVER STATISTICS FROM BANKRATE
– 29 percent of drivers are considered senior drivers (Federal Highway Administration)
– Senior drivers, considered those 65 and older, were involved in 13 percent of fatal accidents in 2020, up 26 percent from 2011. (NHTSA)
– 233,235 people 65 and older were injured in traffic accidents in 2020 (NHTSA)
-Between 2000-2020, licensed drivers 65 and older increased by 68 percent to nearly 48,000,000 (CDC)
-Drivers older than 70 have higher crash death rates per 1000 crashes than drivers aged 35-54, primarily due to increased vulnerability to injury in a crash. (CDC)
The most common causes of senior driver accidents are failing to yield the right-of-way, failure to adequately surveil their surrounds and misjudging another driver’s speed or the space between their vehicle and another car. The older the senior driving, the more likely they are to cause or be involved in an accident.
AARP, National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, CDC, and Bankrate all acknowledge that driving can become more difficult as we age but that does not mean that all seniors must give up their license and independence. They all provide tips that may help us remain safe behind the wheel.
Seniors should plan out their trip before getting into the driver’s seat. Review your route so you are familiar with the roads you will be using. Try to plan as many trips as possible in the daytime and in dry weather. Poor weather and night driving can increase the risk of an accident. When possible, choose intersections with left turn signals when green, rather than having to judge speed and vehicle distance when making a left turn on green. Some older drivers will make several right turns to avoid the dangers associated with left turns.
Many seniors take medications, including prescriptions, over the counter and supplements. Some of these or a combination can have a negative effect on your driving skills and increase your risk of being involved in an accident. Older drivers should check their medications and supplements for side effects and check with their doctor or pharmacist about side effects that could affect you behind the wheel. The CDC offers a Personal Action Plan that can be used in this process.
Distractions like listening to the radio, changing a station, eating, or using a cell phone affect all drivers. These distractions, however, can further reduce reaction time that seniors with limited mobility or reflexes might already struggle with.
Seniors may be able to improve reflexes while driving by committing to a regular activity plan to improve strength and mobility. Senior driving statistics show the most common cause of accidents for this age group is frailty, which may also be improved by a regular fitness schedule.
It is critical for older drivers to have their eyes checked once per year to identify any changes that could affect their driving. Vision impairment can prevent you from seeing a pedestrian or a bicyclist in the road or cause you to take longer to read street and traffic signs slowing your reaction time. We should always wear prescription glasses or contacts needed for driving.
Many seniors like me have been driving for more than 50 years. Cars have changed, traffic laws have changed, driving conditions have changed, and even the roads have changed since we got our first driver’s license. Maybe it is the perfect time to consider taking a driver refresher course, such as the AARP Smart Driver course either online or in person if it is offered in your area. Driving safely for as long as I can is especially important to me so I took the AARP online 8-hour course.
The AARP course reviews the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. It teaches how to manage and accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. It reviews research-based safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of having a crash — proper use of seat belts, air bags, antilock brakes, and new technology in cars today. It stresses the importance of knowing the effects of your medications on driving and of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking and using a cellphone.
I did learn some new things but most importantly I learned to take my everyday driving more seriously and to plan carefully before I get behind the wheel. I initially learned to have my hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2, but I realized that I now frequently drive with one hand on the wheel and one in my lap. I have kept both hands on the steering wheel since I completed the course. This also seems to increase my focus and concentration, which is critical at my age.
AARP says 9 of 10 course participants reported changing at least one key driving behavior for the better, and 8 out of 10 felt that the information they learned in the course prevented them from being in a crash. Some insurers offer an insurance discount upon completion of the course.
Although driving may be more challenging for me and other seniors as we age, we can take steps to prevent being in or causing car accidents or losing our licenses. We should be very conscious of how our vision, hearing, and health can affect our driving. Making sure we have regular checkups, knowing the side effects of our medications, and developing a regular physical fitness routine will go a long way to helping us stay safe on the road.
I received my Mature Driver Improvement Course Certificate and presented it to my insurance agent for a possible reduction in my auto premium. In California the cost of the online program is $27.95 for non-AARP members and $21.95 for members. If taking this course makes a 1 percent positive difference in my driving, it will be well worth the cost and my 8 hours, and I will be getting a $36 discount on my auto policy from Allstate.
Thank you Nancy. This is very informative and you continue to do great work for us seniors. I usually keep my hands on the steering wheel all the time, but with the new timing on the traffic signals in thousand oaks, I put my hands in my lap to wait out the extremely long red lights. When I do need to look more closely at my cell phone for something like GPS, I now pull over to the side as I know cell phone use during driving can be catastrophic.
Thanks, Susan. I actually have an Allstate refund check for $43.75 that they sent when I sent them my certificate from the class. I really do think I have become a more careful driver since taking the course.