Study Finds Older Drivers Getting Into More Crashes
February 21, 2014
LEAWOOD, Kan. – A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds older drivers are less likely to be involved in serious crashes and less likely to be hurt if they do crash.
While researchers claim that aging baby boomers are less of a threat on the roads because they’re healthier and driver safer cars, Susan Cohen with the Leawood-based Americans for Older Driver Safety said there is a certain amount of “spin” on the study.
The study found from 1997 to 2012, fatal crash rates per licensed driver fell 42 percent for older drivers and 30 percent for middle-aged ones, the study found. Looking at vehicle miles traveled, fatal crash rates fell 39 percent for older drivers and 26 percent for middle-age ones from 1995 to 2008.The greatest rate of decline was among drivers age 80 and over, nearly twice that of middle-age drivers and drivers ages 70 to 74.
“I do believe that all age-groups are benefiting from things are happening. I think that even in the report they issued, the oldest drivers are vulernable to crashes and injuries,” said Cohen.Cohen said there still needs to be a lot more education and awareness for older adults to address the changes that come with age.
Source: www.kmbz.com