Causes of Higher Accident Rates Among Elderly Drivers
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In 2016, about 7,400 older adults (aged 65+) were killed and more than 290,000 were treated in emergency departments for motor vehicle crash injuries…Involvement in fatal crashes, per mile traveled, begins increasing among drivers ages 70‒74 and are highest among drivers ages 85 and older.”
Although Americans are healthier and living longer than ever before, seniors are outliving their ability to drive safely by an average of 7 to 10 years.
The National Institute on Aging listed a few factors that could provoke a car accident for elderly drivers:
- Stiff joints and muscles
- Trouble seeing
- Trouble Hearing
- Memory loss
- Slower Reaction Time and Reflexes
- Medications that affect driving
It is important to keep an eye on these changes your body can go through over time to stay safe on the roads. Keep up with routine appointments and license renewal steps to insure you are healthy enough to continue driving.