The correlation between old age and driving has been a notable topic for many years. In 2018, there were over 45 million licensed drivers in the United States over the age of 65—a 60% increase from 2000. Driving is said to help older adults stay mobile and independent, but as their age increases the risk of potentially injuring themselves or others significantly increases as well. In 2019, drivers 65 years and older accounted for 8,760 motor vehicle traffic deaths, and 205,691 non-fatal accidents. Due to their physical frailty, older drivers are more likely to be injured in an accident and more likely to die of that injury. When frailty is accounted for and older drivers are compared to younger persons driving the same amount the over-representation disappears. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a senior citizen is more likely than a younger driver to be at fault in an accident in which they are involved. The most common violations include: failure to obey traffic signals, unsafe turns and passing, and failure to yield. Physical strength, mental acuity, and motor function begin to deteriorate as a person ages, but the degree of decline varies from person to person. There is currently no age cutoff preventing an older adult from driving in the United States. Although, there are some voluntary measures a person can utilize to check their driving abilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, precautionary measures include driving in daylight and good weather, planning the route before departing and receiving an eye exam once a year. Despite these measures, often, family members of an elderly person are faced with the responsibility of trying to get them to give up driving. This can be challenging because few senior citizens are voluntarily willing to give up their own car keys. Most state laws allow senior citizens to continue driving provided they meet the same requirements as younger adults. Some states require persons above a specified age to take certain tests when renewing their licenses, up to and including a road test, or to receive a physician's certificate stating they are medically fit to operate a motor vehicle. Some older adults may be permitted to drive, but with added limitations such as the amount of driving they can do, the hours in which they can drive, or the distance from home they can travel. These restrictions may be placed either by the law or their insurance provider which vary by state. As the process of aging varies from one person to the next, the age at which an elderly person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle declines varies between persons. This creates controversy in regulating driving in the elderly. Senior citizens are seen by some as among the safest drivers on the road, as they generally do not speed or take risks, and they are more likely to wear seatbelts. Others believe there should be increased testing to ensure older drivers are capable of safe driving. The AARP staunchly opposes testing elderly drivers on the basis of age as age discrimination, and argued the decision to retire from driving should be left to the individual.

Senses, physical abilities, and cognition

There are a multitude of conditions that correlate with old age and have negative effects on senses, physical abilities, and driving capabilities. The following are two senses that are important for safe driving: Physical abilities such as motor skills are important for driving ability: Cognition is reduced with age and affects driving ability.

Signs of impairment

An aging person may have some issues admitting they are no longer fit to take the wheel. It may be difficult to talk with a loved one who has a driving impairment, but it is essential to communicate the importance of safety when operating a motor vehicle. The following are considered signs that an elderly person's driving may be impaired: Aging individuals should be asked the following questions:

Growing concern

The number of older drivers on the road is growing and bound to increase at a more rapid rate, as more baby boomers become seniors. According to an AARP spokeswoman, by 2030 over 78 million boomers will be 65+, and research shows that men will outlive their driving abilities by six years and women by 10. A 2003 Gallup showed that 89% of Americans were in favor of increased testing requirements of individuals over the age of 65. However, support for a driving age restriction under 70 years old was met with less than 10% support among those surveyed, whereas 64% of respondents believed there should to be no age limits at all. Approximately 9,000 senior aged drivers died from driving accidents in 2019, and more than 200,000 were treated in the emergency department for driving related injuries. Gallup reported that more Americans believed teenagers pose a greater driving risk than adults over the age of 75. Studies have shown that the highest driving accidents rates are among drivers aged less than 20 and those greater than 65. However, drivers above the age of 85 are 3 times more likely to be in a fatal crash compared to those aged less than 20, and 20 times more likely than drivers aged less than 60.

Becoming a Safer Driver

There are some changes that older drivers can adopt to help some conditions that come with old aging.

Driving rules for older drivers in the United States

The 50 states differ in their laws governing drivers' licenses for older adults:

Effects of giving up driving

The operation of a private vehicle is essential to life in many places, especially to one's independence. After losing their ability to drive, an elderly person may be forced to make major lifestyle changes, often becoming unable to perform activities they once were able to. The following effects have been noted in former drivers. Health effects Social fffects The inability to drive results in increased dependence on caregivers for social and medical transportation. According to the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, family caregivers spend approximately 5 hours a day arranging or providing transportation for senior family members. This increased caregiver responsibility can conflict with work or other life demands, often resulting in an inability to help seniors. Where available, some senior citizens may turn to public transportation or paratransit for medical appointments and personal needs. Though individuals can find alternative means of transportation, these alternatives may be more limiting than one's own car.

Senior-friendly transportation

Because giving up driving is viewed by the elderly as a loss of their independence, many may be reluctant to seek out alternative forms of transportation when they are no longer able to drive. The best way for transit providers to meet the transportation needs of most older Americans is to meet the transportation needs of the general adult population. Their needs are similar to other age groups: shopping, getting to work, medical appointments, going to restaurants and visiting friends. Seniors are looking for travel services that provide control, autonomy, and choice. The National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) states that 83% of older Americans agree that public transit provides easy access to the things that they need in everyday life. Self-driving cars have also been proposed as an alternative for senior citizens who are unable to drive. However, studies have shown that autonomous vehicles have not gained acceptance among some older adults.

Five A's of Senior-Friendly Transportation

The Beverly Foundation developed these five aspects to greater encompass the necessary requirements to create a senior-friendly transportation alternative: