The introductory text reads, Older people often reduce or change their driving habits in order to compensate for
their slowing reaction time, avoiding nighttime, bad weather, and long distances. Many states have initiated
restrictions, including requiring older drivers to renew their licenses in person, to make sure they stay safe.
Consequently, their crash rate is low overall, but not when measured by the rate per miles driven.
A graph
titled accident rate per driver plots age against crashes per 1000 drivers. The accident rate per driver is as
follows: 16 to 19 years: 61; 20 to 24, 69; 25 to 34 years, 50; 35 to 44 years, 40; 45 to 54 years, 35; 55 to 64
years, 25; 65 to 74 years, 20; and 75 plus, 15.
A graph titled accident rate by miles driven plots age
against crashes per 100 million miles driven. The accident rate by miles driven is as follows: 16 to 19 years: 16.9
percent; 20 to 24 years, 8.9 percent; 25 to 29 years, 6.3 percent; 30 to 39 years, 4.4 percent; 40 to 49 years, 3.7
percent; 50 to 59 years, 3.5 percent; 60 to 69 years, 2.9 percent; 70 to 74 years, 3.4 percent; 75 to 79 years, 3.6
percent; 80 to 84 years, 5.7 percent; and 85 plus, 6.0 percent.
Note: Although their crash rate per miles
driven is higher than that of younger adults, older people tend to drive in city conditions, which have higher crash
rates than freeway or highway driving. Thus, the elevated crash rates for older drivers per mile traveled may be
inflated due to where they drive.
A self-check box reads,
Humans of all ages tend to overestimate their
abilities. Especially after age 65, adults who want to drive need to answer six questions:
1 Is your vision
fading? [Ask your optometrist if any visual losses affect driving.]
2 Do your medications affect reaction time
or alertness? [Ask both doctor and pharmacist.]
3 Do your physical limitations affect neck-turning,
foot-pushing, wheel-turning?
4 Do you get lost more easily now than in earlier years?
5 Do other drivers
honk at you? [Don’t just get angry; consider the reason.]
6 Have you had any minor accidents? [Even a
scrape or a fender bender signify something.]
If your answers are all ‘no,’ review them with
someone who will be honest with you. Some of the elderly are very safe drivers, whereas others can be a risk to
themselves and to those around them. Before you step on the accelerator, make sure you are one of the safe
ones.