New Study Shows Older Drivers Not the Biggest Risk on the Road
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that drivers in their Seventies had fewer vehicle crashes than did middle-aged drivers. Furthermore, the rate of fatal crashes for older drivers from 1997 to 2018 decreased by 43%. Older drivers generally drive fewer miles than younger drivers, but they are overall safer on the road despite the challenges of aging, for several reasons.
Why Older Drivers Have Safer Driving Records
Older drivers statistically have safer driving records than do younger drivers. Multiple factors are generally thought to contribute to this phenomenon, including:
- Safer vehicles than younger drivers
- Better overall health
- Improved road and highway design, with more prominent signage
- More driving experience, leading to better reactions to roadway challenges
Furthermore, mature drivers are not as likely to drive while intoxicated. They do not disregard road signs or traffic signals and speed as frequently as do younger drivers, and they may be less likely to drive in bad weather conditions.
Challenges for Safe Driving When Mature
There are certain physical factors that may affect driving as people age, and your older volunteers may experience one or several of these issues:
- Medications – Generally, older drivers take more medications than do younger drivers. Some drugs can affect driving ability.
- Changes in cognition – Older drivers may struggle to focus on more than one thing at a time.
- Physical alterations – Older drivers may experience stiff muscles and slower physical movements. Vision may also change for multiple reasons, including cataracts and macular degeneration. Headlight glare may be more distracting, and general reaction time may be slower.
Resource for Driving Safety
VIS members have free access to You – The “Professional” Volunteer Driver, an online, self-paced vehicle safety course developed by VIS and the National Volunteer Transportation Center. Volunteer drivers can complete the course in about an hour. After each segment, the driver must answer questions based on the content, before moving on. Many organizations have made the course a requirement for their volunteer drivers, and let their clients and supporters know that their drivers have completed this training.
If you have enjoyed this content and find it useful, we invite you to become a VIS member. For $25 a year, members have 24/7 access to over 70 resources on insurance, injury prevention, vehicle safety, event safety, human resources, volunteer management and other topics to help the volunteer-based organization manage its foreseeable risks. New content is added each month. Join now. Questions? Email us at volunteers@visvolunteers.com or call us at 800.222.8920.
About VIS
Volunteers Insurance Service Association, Inc. (VIS) was established in 1972 for the purpose of providing insurance and risk management services for volunteer-based organizations. In addition to still providing these insurance services today on a nationwide scale, we have expanded to provide noninsurance resources for members to manage their risks and improve their operations. By transferring the volunteer risk exposure to our program, we can help you protect your organization. Contact us today at (800) 222-8920 for more information on our programs and services. Join now!
