Do Older Drivers And Younger Drivers Cause More Car Accidents?
Michael Babboni
Car Accidents
Traffic accidents are sometimes blamed on one end of the age spectrum or the other. Both older drivers and younger drivers have a reputation for being at fault when an auto accident occurs. But just how accurate are the statistics?Younger Drivers
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2016, 2,433 teens between the ages of 16-19 were killed in motor vehicle accidents. 292,742 were treated for injuries related to car accidents. Teenagers are at the highest risk for being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Those who are most at risk include newly licensed drivers and males aged 16 to 19.
There are several factors that put teen drivers, their passengers, and other people on the roadway at risk, including:
• Failure to recognize dangerous situations coupled with an increased ability to make critical errors that lead to serious accidents.
• Drinking alcohol and operating a motor vehicle.
• Driving with one or more passengers in the vehicle, leading to diminished concentration and attention to the roadway.
• Driving without wearing a seatbelt.
• Speeding and tailgating.
• Drowsy driving.
• Distracted driving by texting, drinking, eating, or listening to loud music.
• Driving recklessly at night; 49 percent of teen deaths from motor vehicle accidents occurred between 3 pm and midnight in 2016.
There are several proven methods that can help teens become safer drivers and save lives in Florida, such as:
• Primary seat belt enforcement laws that allow police to issue a ticket to a driver or passenger not wearing a seatbelt, even if this is the only violation that has occurred.
• Sobriety checkpoints that allow officers to briefly stop vehicles to check for impairment.
• Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) systems that provide longer practice periods, put limits on new drivers from driving in high-risk conditions, and require parents to participate more in driving sessions.
Older Drivers
Senior citizens behind the wheel are responsible for almost as many accidents as teen drivers. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, drivers aged 65 and older were involved in 10 percent of all car accidents in Florida in 2015. There were 14 collisions in which a fatality occurred.
Currently, older adults make up about 23 percent of the total population in Florida. Those numbers are expected to increase to 28 percent by 2020, and are on track to reach 37 percent by 2030. This increases the chances that the rate of accidents will continue to grow.
With age comes an increased risk of death to a driver aged 85 and older, but rates begin to increase even at age 70. Some of the key factors that make senior drivers more vulnerable include:
• Arthritis and other joint inflammation that makes turning, flexing, and twisting more difficult.
• Slower reflexes and cognition that can make quick actions and snap judgments more difficult to enforce.
• Weaker muscle strength that affects the ability to grip the steering wheel and press the gas and brake pedals.
• Prescribed medications that can have an impact on driving performance. Over 75 percent of drivers aged 65 and over take at least one or more
• The fragility of an older driver increases fatality rates by 17 times higher than adults aged 24 – 64.
• People are living longer, staying healthier, and outliving their abilities to drive safely.
Currently in Florida, drivers aged 80 and older are required to pass an eye test every six years upon license renewal. The program “FloridaGranDriver” helps connect older drivers with refresher courses and self-assessment tools. These are currently the only safety plans in place to help reduce the risk of accidents caused by older drivers.
Getting Help No Matter Who Was Driving
No matter who causes a car accident, they can be scary and lead to life-changing injuries for anyone who is involved. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, give us a call or fill out our contact form. We’ll do our best to make things as easy on you as possible while helping you get the compensation you need and deserve.