subject: The Facts about older drivers [print this page] The Facts about older drivers The Facts about older drivers
The number of drivers on the roads has been increasing steadily over time. But it is not just new drivers that are adding to this number, older people are now staying on the roads for longer too. Only twenty years ago, just twenty-five percent of men in their seventies were driving on the roads. Nowadays that figure is closer to seventy-five percent, which is an increase of three times the original number. It is predicted that this number is set to rise further with the numbers increasing to ninety percent of men over seventy holding a driving licence. Women are also staying on the roads for longer, with figures predicting that by 2026 nearly eighty percent of women aged over seventy will still be driving. This is good news for the automotive industry as they will be keeping their customers for longer and it is positive that older people are staying in control of their own mobility.
It is not really surprising that the numbers of older people on the roads is increasing given that today's society is more affluent than previous generations, and people like to be in charge of their own mobility. Older drivers are also considered to have better safety track records than younger drivers which is reflected in the cost of their motor insurance premiums. This safety record does decline with age, but statistics show that drivers aged in their seventies are as good as drivers in their mid-twenties. Even drivers aged in their eighties are considered to have better safety records than drivers in their teens.
Older drivers are also required to re-apply for their driving licence once they reach the age of seventy, in order to ensure that their driving skills are up to par, and to make sure that they are aware of any new driving laws which may have come into effect since they received their original licence. Many older drivers have different driving patterns compared to younger drivers. They are more likely to carry out shorter journeys of less than five miles rather than long distance trips. They are also less likely to be involved in driving incidents or single vehicle accidents than younger drivers. When surveyed about their driving styles older people said they tended to drive more cautiously, leaving more space between themselves and other road users.
They also tend to drive on roads that they are familiar with and avoid peak hours and heavy traffic. Older drivers therefore do tend to be better drivers than those who have just begun their driving career. Years of experience and patience means older drivers and are more likely to have a good understanding of the different road and traffic conditions. The main concern regarding older drivers is that they are more likely to suffer serious injuries if involved in a car accident, compared to other road users. Other drivers should be aware of this especially if they come across an accident involving older drivers.
