It's Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (December 1-5) – a good time to take stock of your abilities as an older driver, or have a conversation with an older driver in your family.
Aging affects everyone differently and it is important to understand the impact age-related changes may have on one’s safe driving ability. Consider the fact that there were 59.2 million people — 18 percent of the total U.S. population — who were 65 and older in 2023. Older drivers made up 22 percent of all licensed drivers in 2023, compared to 18 percent in 2014. In 2023 there were 7,891 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 19% of all traffic fatalities. In the last 10 years, the number of older drivers involved in fatal crashes increased 41 percent, while the number of older licensed driver increased 38 percent.
Decisions about someone’s ability to drive should never be based on age alone. However, changes in vision, physical fitness, and reflexes may cause safety concerns. By accurately assessing age-related changes, drivers can adjust their driving habits to remain safe on the road or choose other kinds of transportation.
It's always best ot start talking about safe driving in general before you notice difficulties. Ultimately, it is a person’s driving performance, not age, that should determine fitness to drive. Families of older drivers should work with their loved ones to plan for safe mobility even beyond the driver’s seat. If you have decided to initiate a conversation with an older loved one about driving safely, take these three steps:
- Collect information;
- Develop a plan of action; and,
- Follow through on the plan.
Even before a conversation like this is start, older drivers might consider making adjustments to driving habits. here are some helpful tips to put themselves in the safest positions:
- Plan trips at times of day when traffic is light, and plan routes to reduce conflict with other traffic.
- Driving at night may become challenging as one ages.
- Older drivers can plan their schedule early to be home before the sun goes down.
- During the winter months the sun goes down early, so plan accordingly.
- When out in the dark, be sure headlights are on, slow down and keep an eye out for all road users.
Find more helpful information at NHTSA.gov/OlderDrivers.