About one in four drivers will be 65 or older within the next decade and sobering statistics show that older Americans have a higher death rate per mile than any other group, according to AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Fortunately, some emerging technologies are already making a difference in keeping older drivers safer.

In 2009, there were approximately 33 million legal drivers age 65 or above taking to U.S. roadways, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now as post World War II baby boomers retire, those numbers are increasing rapidly.

AAA reports that although seniors have a crash rate comparable to 20- and 30-year-old drivers, they have a higher death rate per mile because they are among the most physically fragile. In 2008, about 5,500 seniors were killed in car crashes and more than 183,000 injured. The CDC estimates that 15 seniors are killed and 500 injured each day in the U.S.

The injury and death rate among seniors increases rapidly at age 75 and then jumps even more noticeably at age 80, the CDC reports.

Health factors and medical conditions are a major cause of senior accidents. The AAA study cites that 95 percent of seniors use medication that may impair driving.

Many states have mandatory testing for older drivers, but the regulations vary widely.  About 30 states, plus the District of Columbia, have requirements for older- age drivers that range from vision testing to more frequent license renewals, or both. There is no nationwide standard on when vision testing should begin. In Maryland, eye exams begin at age 40 while shorter license renewals kick in at age 59 in Georgia and age 85 in Texas.

New York seniors must periodically report current vision status and maintain a minimum of 20/70 vision for licensure. The state recommends that elder drivers make an appointment with a vision specialist before visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a full vision examination and an Eye Test Report. Drivers must also keep the DMV informed of their medical conditions and may need to obtain a Physician Statement to prove they are safe to drive. In New York, licenses must be renewed every eight years. The NY DMV can evaluate a driver of any age if there is a specific reason, such as a driving incident or concerns reported by a doctor, police officer or observer.

Pennsylvania’s senior drivers need 20/40 vision for non-restricted licenses and need a minimum of 20/70 to 20/100 vision. Licenses in PA are renewed every four years and the state Department of Transportation randomly chooses 1,900 drivers (all over the age of 45) a month to get a physical from their own doctor and an eye exam. The New York Daily news reports that the Department of Transportation also handles about 22,000 reports a year of possible unsafe drivers from health providers, family members, and others.

 

Fortunately, new driving technologies are helping seniors and other drivers avoid accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration says that driving and safety technologies available in some cars help, as long as “their design and operation” are compatible with the needs and capabilities of older drivers. These technologies include:

The FHA reports that improved front and side airbag systems and further enhancements to vehicle structures can help reduce injuries to seniors when involved in an accident.

The technology and its benefits are showing results. In 2014, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS) showed that older drivers are “now less likely to be involved in a crash and less likely to be injured or killed.” The institute attributes the declining numbers to improvements in vehicle safety and better senior health. The report tracked data from 1995 to 2012 and found drivers age 70 and above had a decline in fatal crash rates per licensed driver and per vehicle miles traveled than middle-aged counterparts between 35-54.

Seniors should also periodically check with their auto insurance agent to evaluate coverage levels and pricing.

So how else can seniors drive more safely? The CDC recommends a common sense approach to avoid death and injury by using seatbelts (77 percent of seniors already do), driving on roadways when conditions are safest, and not driving impaired after drinking or on heavy medication.

Additional CDC tips include:

  • Exercise regularly to increase strength and flexibility.
  • Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review medications (over and under the counter) to reduce side effects and interactions.
  • Have an eye exam done annually.
  • Plan your route before you drive.
  • Leave a larger distance behind the car in front of you.
  • Have a friend, family member or ride service drive when conditions aren’t optimal.