Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (Dec. 1-5)

Older drivers face unique safety concerns including vision, reflexes, and physical fitness. In 2023 there were 7,891 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 19% of all traffic fatalities.

How Aging Affects Driving Ability
As we. age, we experience a steady decline in certain skills that are important for safe driving. Beginning at around age 55, there is a gradual decrease in our ability to process information, to remember, and to make judgments in traffic situations such as determining the necessary distance and approach of oncoming traffic.
While drivers aged 65 and older are involved in fewer total crashes than other age groups, there are more crashes compared to the number of miles driven. This also applies to injuries, where the number of injuries is less, but the severity is dramatically higher.

Vision
Vision is the primary sense used in driving. Visual declines represent the most significant losses for aging drivers who need more light to distinguish features along the roadway and must be closer to read traffic signs and follow other traffic cues. Older eyes also need more time to recover from the glare of bright headlights at night.  In Florida, all drivers 80 years of age or older who are in the process of renewing their driver license are required to pass a vision test. This test may be administered at a driver license or tax collector office at no cost to you.

Cognition
Cognition involves perception, attention, learning, memory, thought, visual processing, reading and problem solving. Driving is a very complex activity that requires a number of these skills, whether driving a short or long distance. Drivers must remember how to operate the vehicle, what the traffic signs and signals mean, and know their destination and how to get there safely. Drivers must be able to do all these things in addition to processing any other additional information that may encounter when they are behind the wheel.

For more information or resources, visit Safe Mobility for Life Coalition at Safe Mobility For Life