Fatal Crashes Involving Older Drivers Has Gone Down

Contrary to popular belief, older drivers are involved in less fatal car accidents than in the past. Most experts had predicted that older drivers in fatal crashes would increase as drivers over the age of 70 have been keeping their licenses longer and driving more than previous generations. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that there has been a decline in fatal crashes among aging drivers.

According to Anne T. McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Institute, “it’s not what people had expected to see. There were some studies, including our own research, that had predicted older driver crashes would become a bigger and bigger problem.”

Researchers have discovered that fatalities per capita among older people have decreased 35 percent since 1975 and are currently at their lowest level. It was also found that older drivers are less likely to cause drunk driving accidents. Only 6 percent of drivers 70 and older who died in car accidents had blood-alcohol levels above the legal limit, which is a major contrast to the figure for fatally injured drivers ages 16 to 59 that was 41 percent.

However, it is important to note that crash rates for older people are slightly higher than young people and there is a greater risk of older drivers being involved in fatal car accidents. The Institute explains this phenomenon by the fact that older people are frailer and have a higher risk of sustaining a severe injury, particularly to the chest or other medical complications. Death rates jump even higher for drivers over the age of 80.

Further research is being conducted as to why the number of fatal crashes involving older drivers has dropped. One theory is that older drivers are in better physical and mental condition and they are not as likely to make a driving mistake. Another theory is that driving patterns among older drivers have changed, with more highway driving that is safer than local roads. Also, older drivers are now more inclined to wear seat belts and are limiting their driving.

The Institute has already started a study into the reasons why older drivers limit their driving activities. Drivers 65 and older in three states were recruited for the study.

If you have been injured in a Florida car accident caused by an older driver or if you are an older driver who has been hurt in a car crash, contact an experienced car accident attorney at the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (866) 836-4947 or (727) 345-4566 for expert legal advice. We will help you recover damages for your car accident case.