2022 Senior driver facts and statistics

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Senior drivers can find age-related changes impact their driving abilities, like medication side effects, reduced reaction time and impaired vision. Over 233,000 seniors were injured in accidents in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Although senior drivers likely have decades of experience behind the wheel, cognitive and physical declines attributed to increases in car accidents and fatalities can cause safety concerns, raising the question when it is no longer safe for these age groups to continue driving. Identifying when the time has come can help keep everyone safer, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
Key Senior Driver Statistics
- 29% of drivers that are considered senior drivers (Federal Highway Administration)
- 233,235 of senior drivers injured in an accident (NHTSA)
- 6,549 of senior drivers fatally injured in an accident (NHTSA)
- 67% of all senior drivers are involved in an accident (NHTSA)
- 16% of licensed senior drivers are involved in fatal accidents (NHTSA)
- Almost 200,000 of injured seniors are treated in the emergency room (CDC)
- 3,802 driver deaths occur in August, the highest month of the year (National Safety Council)
Senior drivers by the numbers
Seniors are still choosing to get behind the wheel, even as they age. Since 2010, each senior age group has increased the number of licensed drivers year over year. There are 66,961,484 licensed senior drivers across the country as of 2020, according to data provided by the Federal Highway Administration. Of those almost 67 million drivers, 34,643,962 are female drivers and 32,317,522 are male drivers.
2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
60-64 | 9,914,627 | 12,264,068 | 15,857,585 | 17,647,170 | 19,293,778 |
65-69 | 8,385,883 | 9,221,601 | 11,468,003 | 14,788,404 | 16,574,842 |
70-74 | 7,467,560 | 7,372,471 | 8,230,912 | 10,232,234 | 13,297,010 |
75-79 | 5,911,149 | 6,055,762 | 6,157,899 | 6,833,757 | 8,634,599 |
80-84 | 3,511,067 | 4,121,678 | 4,463,610 | 4,521,433 | 5,168,970 |
85+ | 2,050,150 | 2,569,761 | 3,411,194 | 3,716,131 | 3,992,285 |
Accidents involving senior drivers
The most common causes of senior driver accidents are failing to yield the right-of-way, failure to adequately surveil their surroundings and misjudging another driver’s speed or the gap between their vehicle and another car.
For every 1,000 people involved in crashes, senior drivers are involved in 96.61 accidents. The older the senior driving, the more likely they are to cause, or be involved in, an accident.
Senior driver statistics show that over 70% of crash fatalities occur during the day, with 69% happening on weekdays and almost all involving at least one other vehicle, at 66 percent. The overall data for all drivers shows June through October see the most deaths from car accidents. August has the highest number of driver deaths at 3,802, followed by October, at 3,793, according to the most recent data available from 2020.
Age | Fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven | All crashes per million miles driven |
---|---|---|
60-64 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
65-69 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
70-74 | 1.7 | 3.2 |
75-79 | 2.1 | 3.6 |
80-84 | 4.3 | 5.2 |
85+ | 7.6 | 6.6 |
Source: IIHS
Month | Deaths |
---|---|
January | 2,666 |
February | 2,674 |
March | 2,553 |
April | 2,320 |
May | 3,096 |
June | 3,725 |
July | 3,789 |
August | 3,802 |
September | 3,724 |
October | 3,793 |
November | 3,445 |
December | 3,237 |
Source: NSC
Injuries and Fatalities
Senior citizens are more likely to receive fatal injuries in a car accident compared to younger age groups because of frailty, or weakness, a slower reaction time and medical complications. Across all age groups, including senior driving statistics, male drivers have a higher death rate than female drivers. Both male and female drivers have the highest fatality rate in the 85 and older age group.
There are more senior driver fatalities for those aged 65 and older in Wyoming than any other state.
Fatality Rates per 100,000 Population, by Age Group, 2011–2020
Year | Under 65 | Over 65 |
---|---|---|
2011 | 9.99 | 13.11 |
2012 | 10.39 | 13.00 |
2013 | 9.99 | 12.81 |
2014 | 9.90 | 12.40 |
2015 | 10.68 | 13.09 |
2016 | 11.26 | 13.91 |
2017 | 11.11 | 13.51 |
2018 | 10.85 | 13.32 |
2019 | 10.59 | 13.44 |
2020 | 11.72 | 11.77 |
Source: NHTSA
Number of passenger vehicle driver deaths per 1,000 drivers involved in police-reported crashes by driver age, 2015-20
Age | Number of deaths per 1,000 drivers |
---|---|
60-64 | 1.8597 |
65-69 | 2.1899 |
70-74 | 2.7398 |
75-79 | 3.8108 |
80+ | 6.5017 |
Source: IIHS
Overall Motor Vehicle Deaths and Rates per 100,000 in 2020 (All Races, Both Sexes, Ages 60 to 85+)
60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 71 | 61 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 18 |
Alaska | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arizona | 99 | 49 | 40 | 38 | 29 | 15 |
Arkansas | 50 | 36 | 24 | 24 | 16 | 13 |
California | 310 | 249 | 160 | 96 | 103 | 100 |
Colorado | 47 | 35 | 30 | 16 | 11 | 16 |
Connecticut | 14 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Delaware | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
District of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Florida | 278 | 184 | 154 | 145 | 103 | 121 |
Georgia | 135 | 99 | 64 | 76 | 51 | 39 |
Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Idaho | 20 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Illinois | 83 | 75 | 56 | 53 | 28 | 38 |
Indiana | 63 | 47 | 45 | 35 | 25 | 18 |
Iowa | 23 | 19 | 12 | 20 | 12 | 12 |
Kansas | 40 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 16 | 21 |
Kentucky | 54 | 37 | 43 | 40 | 26 | 23 |
Louisiana | 53 | 47 | 34 | 29 | 14 | 22 |
Maine | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Maryland | 42 | 20 | 33 | 23 | 17 | 25 |
Massachusetts | 21 | 28 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 17 |
Michigan | 90 | 64 | 59 | 63 | 40 | 48 |
Minnesota | 40 | 31 | 21 | 15 | 27 | 16 |
Mississippi | 62 | 55 | 24 | 16 | 10 | 13 |
Missouri | 67 | 51 | 44 | 41 | 29 | 30 |
Montana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nebraska | 17 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Nevada | 22 | 15 | 25 | 19 | 0 | 10 |
New Hampshire | 10 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New Jersey | 52 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 26 | 24 |
New Mexico | 31 | 21 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 14 |
New York | 77 | 71 | 54 | 56 | 36 | 44 |
North Carolina | 101 | 85 | 77 | 64 | 53 | 52 |
North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ohio | 98 | 72 | 74 | 47 | 38 | 44 |
Oklahoma | 58 | 38 | 42 | 22 | 17 | 14 |
Oregon | 41 | 36 | 23 | 23 | 16 | 22 |
Pennsylvania | 99 | 67 | 55 | 64 | 44 | 50 |
Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Carolina | 68 | 48 | 48 | 28 | 24 | 31 |
South Dakota | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tennessee | 83 | 60 | 51 | 47 | 38 | 30 |
Texas | 263 | 204 | 152 | 119 | 72 | 64 |
Utah | 20 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
Vermont | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Virginia | 71 | 47 | 43 | 28 | 30 | 31 |
Washington | 48 | 32 | 34 | 26 | 15 | 28 |
West Virginia | 17 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 11 | 10 |
Wisconsin | 46 | 48 | 31 | 25 | 22 | 22 |
Wyoming | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: CDC
Insurance claims by senior drivers
Seniors drivers file 48.96 property damage liability and collision claims per 100 insured vehicle years compared to drivers of younger age groups.
Typically, car insurance rates decrease as you age, but seniors may find their insurance premiums increasing. Although senior citizens’ driving experience is greater than younger age groups, insurers may increase premiums or deny coverage due to higher accident risk behind the wheel.
Senior drivers facing higher premiums may find that comparing insurance quotes among several carriers can help them lower their cost of car insurance. Consider some well-known cheap car insurance companies as a starting point when comparing carriers and premium costs.
Some of the best car insurance companies can also have affordable rates for some senior citizens. Factors like ZIP code, claims history, the make and model of your vehicle, coverage choices and miles you drive will help determine how much you will pay with each carrier.
Number of property damage liability claims and collisions by age, 2015-2020
Age | Property damage liability claims | Collision crashes |
---|---|---|
60-64 | 2.54 | 4.81 |
65-69 | 2.53 | 4.79 |
70-74 | 2.71 | 4.91 |
75-79 | 3.03 | 5.15 |
80-84 | 3.44 | 5.43 |
85+ | 3.96 | 5.66 |
Source: IIHS
Tips for senior drivers
While driving for seniors can be more difficult as they age, that does not mean they have to give up their license and independence. These tips can help seniors remain safe behind the wheel and as a passenger.
Plan before you drive
Before getting settled into the driver’s seat, senior drivers should take the time to plan their trip, according to the CDC. Review your route so you are familiar with the roads you will have to drive. Driving during the day and in dry conditions is safest. Poor weather and night driving can increase the risk of an accident. If possible, choose intersections with left-turn signals when green, rather than having to judge speed and vehicle distance when making a left turn on green.
Check your medications
It is not uncommon for seniors to take medications, whether prescription over-the-counter, or supplements. Although they may be medically necessary, the medications you take could also have a negative effect on your driving skills and increase your risk of being involved in an accident.
Check each medication or supplement for side effects and speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any side effects could affect you behind the wheel. The CDC offers a Personal Action Plan you can use to assist with the conversation.
Avoid distractions and mind your distance
Distractions can affect drivers of any age, like listening to the radio, changing a station, eating, or talking or texting on the phone. These distractions can further reduce reaction time that seniors with limited mobility or reflexes can already struggle with.
Improve strength and mobility
Committing to a regular activity plan can help improve strength and mobility, which will also improve your reflexes when driving. Senior driving statistics show the most common cause of accidents for this age group is frailty, which can also be improved by a regular fitness schedule.
Get your eyes checked annually
Getting your eyes checked once per year can help identify any changes that could affect your driving. You should also get an eye exam if you notice any sudden changes in your vision. Vision impairment can prevent you from seeing a pedestrian or bicyclist in the road or cause you to take longer to read traffic signs, slowing down your reaction time. Always wear your eyeglasses or contacts if they are prescribed for driving.
The bottom line
Senior drivers are the most common age groups to be involved in an accident and fatally injured, especially those 80 and older. Fatalities for senior citizens occur most often during the day and on weekdays. Although driving for senior citizens can be more difficult as they age, getting their eyes and health checked regularly, sticking with a regular exercise routine and checking medications for side effects that could impair driving abilities can help seniors stay safer on the road.
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