The tail end of the baby boomer generation is now entering their senior years. And in a few years, the older members of Gen X will transition to this age group. As a result, we must find ways to lessen elderly drivers' frequency and severity of automobile accidents. Insurers, too, must deal with an aging population of drivers because categorically denying coverage to those over 75 is no longer a viable option.
A 2024 US Department of Transportation report states that there are 56 million Americans age 65 and older, approximately 17 percent of the population. By 2030, this figure will increase to 73 million persons, projected to be 21 percent of the population. Likewise, the proportion of elder drivers holding a driver's license also increased from 78 percent to 89 percent. This trend is a major concern because drivers age 65 and older experience higher crash death rates per mile driven than all age categories, other than teenagers. In addition, many studies show that these drivers, particularly those age 80 and over, also pose higher risks to other persons on the road and pedestrians.
This issue is a multifaceted one, in which the goal is to provide a safe driving environment for all persons but also to recognize seniors' important need for independence, greatly enhanced by their automobiles. Fortunately, there are many measures society can take to strike the right balance. For example, proper treatment of functional impairments, including visual problems is a key ingredient. A reexamination of licensing laws for seniors is important in determining methodologies for them to retain their driver's licenses as long as safely possible. Improvements in roadway design and safety advances in vehicle design may also reduce senior deaths on the highways.
Older Drivers and Automobile Accidents
Numerous studies have focused on senior driver involvements in automobile accidents. The conclusions are not always consistent, but the statistical datum generally shows a positive link between older drivers and higher fatality rates, primarily due to greater fragility in this age group. Other research has focused on the types of accidents seniors tend to be involved in and the kinds of functional impairments they often face. It is important to recognize, however, that many elderly drivers become aware of their limitations on their own and reduce their driving exposures accordingly. Automobile insurers should keep abreast of the latest analytical data on senior drivers and not categorically deem them unsafe.
To further understand the correlation between the age of drivers and traffic crashes, the demographic of 65 years and older was broken down into the age groups of 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, and 85 and older. The rate of fatal traffic crashes per 100,000 drivers is 16 for drivers aged 65–69 but it is 20 for drivers aged 85 and older.1
Functional Impairments and Accidents
Various studies indicate that senior drivers tend to become involved in certain types of automobile accidents. For example, because older people lose some of their functional capabilities, intersection-related crashes are relatively more frequent for this age group. In particular, left turns appear problematic for seniors. Research also indicates more difficulties for senior drivers when entering and exiting freeways. Also, as people age, their bodies become increasingly fragile and more subject to serous injury or death in automobile accidents. Senior drivers tend to experience more functional impairments—visual, cognitive, and physical—as compared to other age groups.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has noted that senior drivers with cognitive impairments, such as poor visual attention, memory, and reasoning, are at least twice as likely to be involved in a crash as compared to drivers without these types of impairments. Various tests have been used to study accident proneness in drivers suffering from the early and middle stages of Alzheimer's disease. Virtually all experts concur that driving is dangerous and unwarranted in persons with moderate to severe cases of Alzheimer's. There is a lack of consensus, however, concerning whether persons in the early stages of this disease should drive.
Poor physical abilities are another functional impairment some senior drivers experience. Several facets of motor skills for driving include strength; gross and fine coordination; range of motion of the head, neck, arms, and legs; and balance. One study found that range of motion is particularly important in avoiding auto accidents.
Senior Driver Awareness and Adaptation
Most studies indicate that seniors tend to drive less as they age. A Canadian study emphasized that not only is exposure reduced overall, but high-risk exposure is reduced even more. Some senior drivers, particularly those with acute visual problems, make the strategic decision to stop driving. Others will successfully self-regulate their driving, by driving only during the day, only during non-rush hour times, and only on familiar streets while avoiding freeways.
Some surveys, however, indicate that older drivers are not always cognizant of a reduction in their visual, cognitive, and physical abilities. For instance, many do not link their visual problems with an increased chance of accidents. There are numerous treatments available to reduce visual, cognitive, and physical impairments of elderly drivers. However, elderly drivers often fail to recognize their declining vision, since symptoms can develop slowly. For example, senior drivers with cataracts, a slowly evolving disease common to this age group, experience a restriction in their driving mobility and an increased chance for accidents, especially at night. However, chronic eye conditions such as cataracts and refractive error can normally be remedied through surgery and corrective glasses or contacts.
Elderly Driver Licensing Laws
Although state Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) have increased graduated driving privileges for younger drivers, less action has occurred concerning older drivers. Typically, measuring visual acuity is the most common test state DMVs use to monitor senior driver abilities. However, tougher renewal restrictions for older drivers, often called delicensing laws, are gaining momentum in some states. Some of the areas the states are focusing on for elderly drivers include the following.
In-person renewal only
Shortened renewal length periods (e.g., Texas DMV states that drivers ages 79–84 must renew their license every 6 years and drivers ages 85+ must renew every 2 years).
Mandatory vision testing
Field driver testing
Simulating driving tests
Increased physician and medical advisory board involvement
Recommendations for Insuring Elderly Drivers
Personal automobile insurers need to regularly review the latest research on elderly drivers and automobile accidents. This relationship is complex and insurers would be remiss by assuming that elderly drivers, as a whole, are inherently dangerous and should pay much higher automobile insurance rates. This situation was often the case in the 1970s and 1980s when many insurers even refused to insure new automobile insurance applicants over age 75 or 80.
With elderly drivers often reducing their driving exposures voluntarily, the pure number of accidents, as the evidence suggests, are fewer than many other age groups. Insurers should look at rating plans that would decrease premiums for seniors who drive a very small number of miles (e.g., 2,000) per year. In addition, since seniors are less likely to speed, their chances of seriously injuring other parties is less, as compared to young operators. Individualized underwriting approaches to senior drivers, such as looking closely at prior accidents and violations and annual driving distances is the wise and fair approach for insurers to take.
Conclusion
Seniors need to maintain their independence, especially regarding their driving, as long as they can safely do so. When the elderly lose their driving privileges and their mobility, they often experience increased isolation, resulting in higher incidents of depression and other health problems. Thus, with the older members of Generation X now approaching their senior years, this issue becomes even more critical and it becomes essential to find ways to lessen elderly drivers' frequency and severity of automobile accidents.
This effort should be pursued now, attacking this complex issue from a variety of angles. Proactively addressing this challenge in the near future and not in 30 years will result in great strides toward resolving one of the most important transportation and safety issues the United States will face in the coming decades.
Opinions expressed in Expert Commentary articles are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the author's employer or IRMI. Expert Commentary articles and other IRMI Online content do not purport to provide legal, accounting, or other professional advice or opinion. If such advice is needed, consult with your attorney, accountant, or other qualified adviser.
The tail end of the baby boomer generation is now entering their senior years. And in a few years, the older members of Gen X will transition to this age group. As a result, we must find ways to lessen elderly drivers' frequency and severity of automobile accidents. Insurers, too, must deal with an aging population of drivers because categorically denying coverage to those over 75 is no longer a viable option.
A 2024 US Department of Transportation report states that there are 56 million Americans age 65 and older, approximately 17 percent of the population. By 2030, this figure will increase to 73 million persons, projected to be 21 percent of the population. Likewise, the proportion of elder drivers holding a driver's license also increased from 78 percent to 89 percent. This trend is a major concern because drivers age 65 and older experience higher crash death rates per mile driven than all age categories, other than teenagers. In addition, many studies show that these drivers, particularly those age 80 and over, also pose higher risks to other persons on the road and pedestrians.
This issue is a multifaceted one, in which the goal is to provide a safe driving environment for all persons but also to recognize seniors' important need for independence, greatly enhanced by their automobiles. Fortunately, there are many measures society can take to strike the right balance. For example, proper treatment of functional impairments, including visual problems is a key ingredient. A reexamination of licensing laws for seniors is important in determining methodologies for them to retain their driver's licenses as long as safely possible. Improvements in roadway design and safety advances in vehicle design may also reduce senior deaths on the highways.
Older Drivers and Automobile Accidents
Numerous studies have focused on senior driver involvements in automobile accidents. The conclusions are not always consistent, but the statistical datum generally shows a positive link between older drivers and higher fatality rates, primarily due to greater fragility in this age group. Other research has focused on the types of accidents seniors tend to be involved in and the kinds of functional impairments they often face. It is important to recognize, however, that many elderly drivers become aware of their limitations on their own and reduce their driving exposures accordingly. Automobile insurers should keep abreast of the latest analytical data on senior drivers and not categorically deem them unsafe.
To further understand the correlation between the age of drivers and traffic crashes, the demographic of 65 years and older was broken down into the age groups of 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, and 85 and older. The rate of fatal traffic crashes per 100,000 drivers is 16 for drivers aged 65–69 but it is 20 for drivers aged 85 and older. 1
Functional Impairments and Accidents
Various studies indicate that senior drivers tend to become involved in certain types of automobile accidents. For example, because older people lose some of their functional capabilities, intersection-related crashes are relatively more frequent for this age group. In particular, left turns appear problematic for seniors. Research also indicates more difficulties for senior drivers when entering and exiting freeways. Also, as people age, their bodies become increasingly fragile and more subject to serous injury or death in automobile accidents. Senior drivers tend to experience more functional impairments—visual, cognitive, and physical—as compared to other age groups.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has noted that senior drivers with cognitive impairments, such as poor visual attention, memory, and reasoning, are at least twice as likely to be involved in a crash as compared to drivers without these types of impairments. Various tests have been used to study accident proneness in drivers suffering from the early and middle stages of Alzheimer's disease. Virtually all experts concur that driving is dangerous and unwarranted in persons with moderate to severe cases of Alzheimer's. There is a lack of consensus, however, concerning whether persons in the early stages of this disease should drive.
Poor physical abilities are another functional impairment some senior drivers experience. Several facets of motor skills for driving include strength; gross and fine coordination; range of motion of the head, neck, arms, and legs; and balance. One study found that range of motion is particularly important in avoiding auto accidents.
Senior Driver Awareness and Adaptation
Most studies indicate that seniors tend to drive less as they age. A Canadian study emphasized that not only is exposure reduced overall, but high-risk exposure is reduced even more. Some senior drivers, particularly those with acute visual problems, make the strategic decision to stop driving. Others will successfully self-regulate their driving, by driving only during the day, only during non-rush hour times, and only on familiar streets while avoiding freeways.
Some surveys, however, indicate that older drivers are not always cognizant of a reduction in their visual, cognitive, and physical abilities. For instance, many do not link their visual problems with an increased chance of accidents. There are numerous treatments available to reduce visual, cognitive, and physical impairments of elderly drivers. However, elderly drivers often fail to recognize their declining vision, since symptoms can develop slowly. For example, senior drivers with cataracts, a slowly evolving disease common to this age group, experience a restriction in their driving mobility and an increased chance for accidents, especially at night. However, chronic eye conditions such as cataracts and refractive error can normally be remedied through surgery and corrective glasses or contacts.
Elderly Driver Licensing Laws
Although state Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) have increased graduated driving privileges for younger drivers, less action has occurred concerning older drivers. Typically, measuring visual acuity is the most common test state DMVs use to monitor senior driver abilities. However, tougher renewal restrictions for older drivers, often called delicensing laws, are gaining momentum in some states. Some of the areas the states are focusing on for elderly drivers include the following.
Recommendations for Insuring Elderly Drivers
Personal automobile insurers need to regularly review the latest research on elderly drivers and automobile accidents. This relationship is complex and insurers would be remiss by assuming that elderly drivers, as a whole, are inherently dangerous and should pay much higher automobile insurance rates. This situation was often the case in the 1970s and 1980s when many insurers even refused to insure new automobile insurance applicants over age 75 or 80.
With elderly drivers often reducing their driving exposures voluntarily, the pure number of accidents, as the evidence suggests, are fewer than many other age groups. Insurers should look at rating plans that would decrease premiums for seniors who drive a very small number of miles (e.g., 2,000) per year. In addition, since seniors are less likely to speed, their chances of seriously injuring other parties is less, as compared to young operators. Individualized underwriting approaches to senior drivers, such as looking closely at prior accidents and violations and annual driving distances is the wise and fair approach for insurers to take.
Conclusion
Seniors need to maintain their independence, especially regarding their driving, as long as they can safely do so. When the elderly lose their driving privileges and their mobility, they often experience increased isolation, resulting in higher incidents of depression and other health problems. Thus, with the older members of Generation X now approaching their senior years, this issue becomes even more critical and it becomes essential to find ways to lessen elderly drivers' frequency and severity of automobile accidents.
This effort should be pursued now, attacking this complex issue from a variety of angles. Proactively addressing this challenge in the near future and not in 30 years will result in great strides toward resolving one of the most important transportation and safety issues the United States will face in the coming decades.
Opinions expressed in Expert Commentary articles are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the author's employer or IRMI. Expert Commentary articles and other IRMI Online content do not purport to provide legal, accounting, or other professional advice or opinion. If such advice is needed, consult with your attorney, accountant, or other qualified adviser.