Everyone worries about teen drivers, but according to the numbers elderly drivers cause more deadly car accidents than teens. In fact, drivers over 85-years-old are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash than teenagers.
Some elderly crashes are shockingly scary, such as the case involving an 86-year-old California man that accidentally drove into a farmer’s market and killed 10 people.
Meanwhile, in Florida, the state with the highest percentage of elderly people, drivers over 80 have recently smashed into a post office, state official’s office and a Chinese restaurant. In every single scenario, the elderly driver explained to police that they were confused about which pedal was which—the gas or the brake. None were under the influence of prescription drugs or alcohol. They had passed written and visual tests and were licensed to drive. Many of them had no speeding tickets in the last 10+ years.
Some elderly drivers only drive in local neighborhoods, avoiding busy main roads and highways as much as possible. But major accidents can still happen close to home. Simply forgetting which pedal is the brake can result in an accident even if no one else is out on the road.
As of 2014, there were 40 million licensed drivers 65-years and older in the US. These numbers are only expected to go up. From 1999 to 2014, the number of licensed older drivers increased by 50%.
In 2014, over 5,700 elderly adults were killed and over 236,000 were treated for crash injuries in hospitals. To put these numbers into perspective, that’s 648 automobile-related injuries resulting in the death of 16 older adults every single day in America.
The Greatest Risk
The risk of being involved in a fatal accident, per mile traveled, starts to increase as soon as drivers reach the ages of 70 to 74. The numbers are even higher for drivers 85 and older. Interestingly, crash risks don’t necessary go up much with the 85 plus crowd, but susceptibility to medical complications from injuries increases.
Taking all age groups into consideration, there are higher fatality rates for male drivers.
Some of the most important factors that resulted in higher crash risks include declining vision and cognitive functioning.
Elderly & Seat Belts
60% of drivers and passengers (between 65 and 74-years-old) involved in a fatal car accident were wearing their seat belts at the time the crash occurred.
69% of drivers and passengers (75-years and older) were wearing their seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Seat belt usage for younger groups is much lower. Only 38% of people between 21 and 24-years-old were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, as opposed to 55% of people between 55 and 64.
Taking The Safe Route
Elderly drivers are amongst the most safety conscious drivers out there. In fact, the majority of older drivers try to limit their time on the road to ideal weather and road conditions. They also spend far less time driving at night or on high-speed roads than younger drivers.
The elderly are far less likely to drink and drive. In 2015, just 6% of drivers 75 and older that were involved in a fatal car crash had a blood alcohol level of 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher. On the flip side, 28% of drivers involved in a fatal crash between the ages of 21 and 24-years-old had a BAC greater than 0.08 g/dL, the legal limit.
Safety Tips For Older Drivers
-Know when it’s time to hang up the car keys and give up driving. (Of course, easier said than done.)
-Check with your doctor to ensure none of your medications have adverse side effects related to driving.
-Have regular eye appointments to ensure your vision, glasses or contacts are in tip-top shape.
-Avoid driving in bad weather, or when it is dark outside.
-Always leave plenty of space between you and the next car.
-Don’t allow any distractions in your car, such as eating, loudly listening to the radio or talking on your cell phone.
-Find alternative sources of transportation whenever possible, such as catching a ride with a friend or family member, taking public transportation, or non-emergency medical transportation.
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