How long a driver should be allowed to remain on the road has long been a topic of discussion, especially since a number of studies show that the risks for drivers increase with their age.
Over the age of 65, the AAA Foundation says that the rate of accidents per mile begin to increase, and for drivers over the age of 80, the risk of dying in a crash is also higher since they may be more physically frail than other drivers. The 2015 senior driving study by Caring.com estimated that approximately 14 million Americans were involved in a crash caused by an older driver in 2014.
However, experts agree that age alone is not a reason to make someone give up the car keys. Older drivers are usually much safer motorists than their younger counterparts. They are more likely to use seat belts, less likely to drink and drive, usually drive fewer miles at slower speeds, and they do more daytime driving than at night.
Giving up the keys
There are a number of factors that could indicate it is time for someone to consider relinquishing their keys:
Vision impairment: A driver needs to be able to see the speedometer, read street signs, turn his or her head around to look at blind spots, see other drivers and pedestrians. Over the age of 75, vision tends to deteriorate significantly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Issues such as cataracts and glaucoma can further impair an individual's vision.
Hearing impairment: Hearing also changes as one ages, so being able to hear traffic, sirens, horns and other sounds is important to the driving process. Seniors with a severe hearing impairment may need to consider whether or not they can continue driving regardless of their age.
Health conditions: Reaction time is critical when driving, so drivers who have issues with Parkinson's, dementia, severe arthritis or other health issues may not be able to respond quickly enough to a sudden traffic situation. Medications can also impact a driver's ability to respond since some can cause drowsiness, tremors, blurred vision or other side effects.
Caring.com offers several pointers for determining whether or not it is time for a parent or older driver to turn in their keys and consider alternative types of transportation.
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- Drive with the individual to observe his or her driving.
- Pay attention to when the parent is reluctant to drive.
- Notice his or her reaction time to traffic lights and other circumstances.
- See how he acts while driving such as tailgating, lane-shifting or forgetting the route or destination when driving.
- Look for signs of damage on the outside of the vehicle that could indicate minor driving mishaps.
- Try to find out (without sounding accusatory) if the person has gotten any tickets or had an increase in insurance premiums.
- Talk to trusted friends or neighbors about what they may have seen about the person's driving and if they have any concerns.
A new study by Caring.com found that some states are more dangerous than others for senior drivers because of several factors: lax driving laws for older drivers, population density, outdated infrastructure, weather and a lack of effective mass transportation options. It also identified the 10 safest states for senior drivers based on the number of accidents they have as compared to the overall population.
Here are the states that provide the greatest risk for drivers over the age of 65:
Senior drivers in Delaware are most likely to die in weekday crashes during the day when a second vehicle, usually driven by a younger driver hits the older driver. (Photo: Shutterstock)
10. Delaware
Approximately 16 percent of residents are age 65 or older and in 2014, Caring.com found that 22 percent of drivers killed in car crashes fell into that age group. Icy winters and the population density also contributed to the state's ranking.
Washington state has no renewal restrictions based on a driver's age. (Photo: Shutterstock)
9. Washington state
The Evergreen State, with its frequent rainy weather, is the ninth most dangerous state for older drivers, with 20 percent of those killed in auto accidents in 2014 being 65 or older. Residents that age only comprise 14 percent of the total state population.
Officers in New Jersey ticket aggressively to ensure drivers abide by traffic rules. (Photo: Shutterstock)
8. New Jersey
Seniors over the age of 65 make up only 15 percent of New Jersey's total population, but they comprised 21 percent of the people killed in auto accidents in 2014. New Jersey has 6.7 million licensed drivers and 2.4 million tickets were issued there in 2015 for things as simple as having an air freshener hanging from a rearview mirror (a $54 fine plus $30 in court costs) to speeding tickets, which can have a serious impact on insurance rates.
Drivers over the age of 72 are required to renew their licenses in person every two years. (Photo: iStock)
7. Hawaii
Known for its beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets, Hawaii is also one of the more dangerous states for older drivers, who only account for 16 percent of the entire state population. In 2014, 23 percent of the drivers killed were 65 or older. The state does require more frequent license renewals for drivers age 72 or older.
Driver safety courses are offered to individuals beginning at age 55 and explain some of the issues they may have with driving. (Photo: iStock)
6. Pennsylvania
Heavy traffic, snow and other elements can make driving in Pennsylvania dangerous for older drivers. Only 17 percent of residents are 65 or older, but that age group comprised nearly a quarter of the state's car-related fatalities.
The state has taken some proactive steps and approved three organizations that offer mature driver improvement classes for those age 55 or older. The courses focus on addressing the safety needs of older drivers, explain how aging affects driving ability and provide some insight on the dangers of driving on the state's roadways. Individuals who complete the course can receive a 5 percent discount on their vehicle insurance.
Idaho has a graduated license renewal policy for drivers that begins at age 63. (Photo: iStock)
5. Idaho
In Idaho, drivers 63 and older are required to renew their licenses every four years. After age 70, they must renew their license in person and take a vision test. Despite these efforts, even though people age 65 and older only account for 14 percent of the total population, 22 percent of drivers killed in accidents were seniors.
Fridays are a the most dangerous day for all drivers in the state of New York. (Photo: Shutterstock)
4. New York state
Driving in New York can be a challenge for drivers of any age, but it can be especially dangerous for those over the age of 65. Twenty-three percent of auto fatalities involve seniors, but they only account for 15 percent of the state's population.
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 299,452 crashes in 2014 (the last year for which data is available) and 966 of them involved fatalities. The majority of crashes took place on Fridays, with the most fatalities occurring between noon and 3 p.m. The main cause of accidents in the state? Distracted driving.
Family members worried about older drivers can send a letter to Minnesota's Driver and Vehicle Services requesting an in-person interview for the driver. (Photo: iStock)
3. Minnesota
According to the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, drivers age 65 and older comprise 18.3 percent of all licensed drivers, but are involved in 25 percent of all traffic fatalities in the state. However, they are only involved in 9 percent of all vehicle crashes.
The state is extremely proactive in tracking and testing older drivers, but they still represent 27 percent of those killed. (Photo: iStock)
2. Maine
Drivers in Maine can renew their licenses every 6 or 8 years until their 65 birthday, then they must be renewed every four years. Vision testing starts at age 40 — every other time the license is renewed until a driver turns 62. Then they must have a vision test every time their license is renewed. Residents over the age of 65 only comprise 18 percent of the total population.
Despite these steps, drivers 65 and older represented 27 percent of the 131 people killed in auto accidents in 2014.
Rhode Island requires more frequent testing of older drivers, but still has a large number of accidents involving drivers over 65. (Photo: Shutterstock)
1. Rhode Island
The Ocean State boasts a population of just over 1 million residents and 16 percent are age 65 or older. The smallest state in the country also takes first place as the most dangerous place for senior drivers because they accounted for 35 percent of fatal accidents in 2014.
Drivers age 68 and older must renew their license in person every two years, have to undergo a vision test and may be required to take a written knowledge test as well.
Many drivers think they will lose their independence once they turn over the keys, but new services like Uber and Lyft can help keep them more mobile. It just might be time to show grandma how to download and use the transportation app on her phone.
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