Adult drivers face many dangers on America’s roads. One of the biggest inevitable obstacles to safe driving is physical deterioration caused by natural aging processes and diseases over time. Yet, adults don’t often consider age-related risks until they experience serious symptoms while driving or have an accident. Read on to learn more about the most common adverse physical changes and proven ways that senior drivers can protect themselves and others better while behind the wheel.
Senior Driver Statistics That Cause Concern
As noted by the American Automobile Association, drivers 65 years of age and older regularly attempt to reduce risk while in a motor vehicle. They’re less likely than other adults to abuse substances or ignore speed limits. They possess decades of hands-on driving experience that makes them far more capable than new and younger drivers as well.
Yet, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, senior drivers were involved in 19% (i.e., 7,810) of all fatal crash-related traffic accidents in 2023. For example, in Oxnard, California, of the 983 car accidents in 2022, 115 were attributed to older drivers. Teen drivers in the 16-to-17-year-old range were the only other group that exceeded this high crash and fatality rate per miles driven.
The National Safety Council, which takes into account general non-traffic and vulnerable road user traffic and non-traffic deaths, places the total number of senior-involved deaths at 9,587 for that year. This data shows that the risk of injury and death is higher for older Americans both behind the wheel and when they ride a bicycle or motorcycle or walk or run as a pedestrian.
What Health Issues Impact Traffic Outcomes the Most?
Medical experts, researchers and others who reviewed senior driving data found common health-related patterns. Senior drivers are more likely than their younger counterparts to have joint-, muscle- and nerve-related mobility problems that cause slower reflexes and reaction times. They often have one or more hearing or visual impairments, a serious sleep disorder, and other conditions that negatively impact their cognition and sensory abilities.
Senior drivers often forget to maintain proper daily hydration, which can cause disorientation, fatigue or hearing and visual changes. Many seniors take medications to improve and maintain their health that have side effects. These over the counter and prescription drugs often feature driving-related warnings because of ingredients that increase the chance of confusion, fatigue and other symptoms that make driving more difficult.
Additionally, the risk of a person having one or more chronic conditions that adversely impact driving, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dementia, increases with age. Seniors have a higher risk than other age groups of experiencing acute illnesses, such as a severe bout of acid indigestion and heartburn, a heart attack or a stroke, while handling several thousand pounds of machinery.
How Can Older Drivers Reduce Road Risks?
A senior driver or their loved one should schedule an appointment with a primary care physician about common and suspected driving limitations. Their doctor can provide recommendations based on their health history.
National driving and traffic agencies and experts recommend that senior drivers should eat healthier foods, exercise regularly, and stay physically and mentally active. They should receive regular checkups and follow doctor’s orders for updating hearing, visual and medication prescriptions.
In terms of their driving habits, an older driver should take a driving assessment or exam at least once every one to five years, as dictated by their age and health, and regularly commit to taking driver refresher and safety courses. They should also invest in a motor vehicle that has modern innovative technologies designed to help all drivers perform better, such as an automatic rather than manual transmission, backup cameras, large side mirrors and parking sensors and alerts.
Lastly, senior drivers should consider driving outside of peak and high-risk periods, such as at sunrise, sunset and nighttime, when lighting and inclement weather conditions make it more difficult for drivers to see. If they don’t feel well, they shouldn’t drive at all. They also need to do everything possible to avoid distractions inside their vehicle and in public spaces, especially crowded highways and parking lots.