Older drivers today are less likely to be involved in carcrashes than prior generations, accordingto a study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Thefindings support a continuing trend that began in the mid-1990s andhelp to quell fears of aging baby boomers becoming a safety andinsurance threat on the road.

According to the study, from 1997 to 2012, fatal crash rates perlicensed driver fell 42% for older drivers and 30% for middle-ageddrivers. Breaking it down by age group, study results found thatfatal crash involvement fell 36% for drivers aged 70-74; 46% fordrivers 75-79; and 49% for drivers 80 and older from 1997 to2012.

Click the chart on the right to seestatistics on the national fatal passenger vehicle driver crashinvolvements per 100,000 licensed drivers by age for the years 1997to 2012.

“Even crashes among the oldest drivers have been on adownswing,” says Anne McCartt, senior vice president for researchat IIHS and co-author of the study. “This should help ease fearsthat aging baby boomers are a safety threat.”

The study also found that older drivers are less likely to bekilled or seriously injured if they are involved in a crash. Thistrend is most likely because vehicles are safer and seniors aregenerally healthier.

Readmore about the study HERE.