Elderly Drivers

Elderly drivers are at a great risk of injury in car crashes. Did you know that the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident increases as you age? Last count was 2007 and in the United States alone  31 million licensed drivers ages 65 and older were manuring the roads.  An average of 500 older drivers are injured every day in car crashes and these are occupant statistics only. (source-Center for Disease Control)

Defensive driving school for elderly drivers is as important as it is for young drivers. Everybody needs help with this complex problem.

The problem is huge and it’s growing every year as Americans age and freeways become more crowded. In 2008, more than 183,000 adults riding as occupants were injured.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety motor vehicle deaths among both male and females begin to increase markedly starting at ages 70-74. Chest injuries may be the major cause of this, but still, older drivers need help with defensive driving instruction. Here’s what we know about older drivers.

Most of them wear their seat belts. 77% of both drivers and occupants involved in fatal crashes were wearing seat belts as opposed to 63% in the 18-64 ages group.

Drinking and driving.

Older drivers may not drink less than their counterparts, but they are less prone to be impaired when getting behind the wheel. Only 5% of older drivers involved in fatal car accidents had a blood alcohol higher than .08 compared to a whopping 25% of drivers between  the age of 21-64. Next time you want a designated driver, look at granny for a good choice.

These types of people spend less time on the road. Elderly drivers tend to drive less miles than younger drivers and they don’t drive as much at night.

Tips For Older Drivers

• Exercise regularly. This will reduce fatigue and increase flexibility.
• Keep your annual eye exam.
• No tailgating. Leave that rookie mistake to the kids who will soon learn how dangerous driving too close is.
• Stay off the road. Really, it may be an exercise in independence, but have you considered letting someone else drive? Public transportation is also a choice.
• Drive during the day and stay in at night. besides the opportunity to enjoy an evening glass of wine, driving at night is difficult as you get older. Try to stay in and plan your excursions during the day.

TIP:

Did you know that emergency room data shows that the simple task of getting in and out of motor vehicles accounts for a whopping 41% of injuries among older drivers? (journal of American Geriatrics, 2008-56)