75+ Senior Driving Statistics
Today there are nearly 50 million licensed drivers 65 and older. Senior drivers are a risk to themselves and to others due to aging related impairments and medication related impairments. In fact, 10% of annual car accidents involving a senior driver in 2022 had the highest reported rate of senior driver related fatalities since 1997.
IfYou are considered a senior driver or have one in your family it’s important to understand the licensing renewal requirements based on your state and what tips you can follow to overcome impairments like decreased vision and motor function.
Key Takeaways
More senior drivers are on the road than ever before, at almost 50 million drivers 65 or older.
Over 10% of annual car accidents involve a senior driver.
In 2022 most traffic fatalities in crashes involving senior drivers occurred during the daytime (72%) and on weekdays (70%).
Key Senior Driving Statistics
As the average American lifespan is increasing and mobility increasing along with it, those who are considered seniors or soon-to-be seniors are driving more miles and maintaining a driver’s license much longer than expected leading to questions about senior driver fatalities, car accident types, and how to stay safe on the road.
- 8 million: There are 57.8 million people 65 and older in the United States as of 2022.
- 30%: There’s been a 30% increase in people aged 65 and older between 2013 and 2022.
- 11%: The number of drivers 65 and older who held onto their driver’s licenses increased 11% from 2001 to 2021.
- 9%: The number of drivers 85 and older who maintained their driver’s licenses increased 9% from 2001 to 2021.
Senior Driving Motor Fatalities
The number of fatalities involving older drivers have decreased in the last few years but the number of senior drivers have grown during the same time frame leading to an increase overall in car accidents and fatalities involving drivers 65 and older.
- 8,572: 8,572 traffic deaths in 2022 involved a driver at least 65 years or older, representing the highest figure since 1975.
- 20%: 20% of all fatal car accidents involve a driver 65 or older.
- 31%: 31% of all passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2022 over the age of 65 were not wearing a seatbelt.
- 94%: 94% of those over 65 who used a seatbelt survived when involved in a traffic accident.
- 36%: 36% of those over the age of 65 who were killed in a car accident at night were not wearing a seatbelt compared to only 29% of those killed in a car accident during the day.
- 36%: 36% of males over the age of 65 who were killed in a car accident in 2022 were not wearing a seatbelt compared to only 23% of females.
Senior drivers are more likely to drive during the day and subsequently 72% of traffic fatalities in accidents involving older drivers happen during the day and 70% of them during the week. This is much higher compared to the national averages for all age groups where only 46% of fatalities happen during the day and only 58% during the week.
Senior Driving Statistics By State
States like Florida, Texas, and California consistently report the highest numbers of car accidents involving seniors while states like South Dakota, New Hampshire, and Delaware consistently report the lowest.
The state with the highest number of fatalities involving drivers 65 and older is Florida with an average of 775 fatalities each year compared to Alaska, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia each of which had the fewest at around 8 fatalities per year. This figure differs when looking at fatality percentages based on population.
This is due to many factors, not least of which is that Florida consistently ranks highest for having large senior populations while Texas and California have large senior populations and difficult traffic conditions. Consider this:
- 20%: 20% of all drivers killed in traffic accidents ages 65 and older are involved in rural car accidents compared to the nearly 80% for all other age groups.
- 17%: 17% of all drivers killed in traffic accidents ages 65 and older are involved in urban car accidents compared to the 83% for all other age groups.
This means seniors are almost equally as likely to be involved in a car accident and fatality in an urban versus rural area and states like Florida, Oklahoma, and Kentucky have both.
States With Most Senior Driving Accidents
Below are the states with the top 5 states with older driver involvement in traffic fatalities:
- Oklahoma: 29.16% of crashes involve senior drivers
- Kentucky: 28.17% of crashes involve senior drivers
- North Dakota: 26.65% of crashes involve senior drivers
- West Virginia: 24.59% of crashes involve senior drivers
- Tennessee: 24.61% of crashes involve senior drivers
States With Least Senior Driving Accidents
Below are the states with the 5 states with the lowest older driver involvement in traffic fatalities:
- Rhode Island: 1.69
- New York: 8.13
- Connecticut: 9.99
- Massachusetts: 10.11
- New Hampshire: 10.36
Senior Drivers On The Road
How many senior drivers are licensed to be on the road in the US? As of 2022 we had 51 million license drivers 65 and older, which accounts for 22% of all licensed drivers.
- 92%: The number of licensed drivers 70 and older has increased 92% since 1997.
- 10%: California has the highest number of senior drivers representing 10% of all senior drivers across the United States.
- 4%: West Virginia has the highest percentage of licensed drivers 65 and older representing 29.4% of all drivers in the state.
So how do senior drivers on the road compare to other age groups?
Driving Statistics By Age Group
Each age group brings with it unique risk factors.
Driving Under The Influence By Age
Compared to other age groups 21 and older senior drivers have very low percentages of driving under the influence. On average, 4% of all drivers ages 21 through 64 involved in car accident fatalities had blood alcohol limits under the legal threshold but 24% had impaired levels.
The table below shows the drivers of legal drinking age involved in fatal car accidents divided by age group and blood alcohol levels under the legal limit versus over the legal limit.
| Age Group | BAC 0.01-0.07 | BAC 0.08+ |
| 65-69 | 3% | 13% |
| 70-74 | 3% | 11% |
| 75-79 | 2% | 8% |
| 80-84 | 2% | 8% |
| 85+ | 2% | 6% |
As you can see in the table above, an average of 10% of all drivers 65 or older involved in fatal car accidents were driving under the influence above legal limits. While this is less than half that of the average for ages 21 through 64, it is still a notable percentage.
Speeding
Senior drivers are less likely to be involved in speed related car accidents and car accident fatalities compared to younger age groups. Seniors are involved in speed related fatal car accidents at one third the rate of new drivers between the ages of 15 and 20.
The table below indicates the percentages of speeding drivers involved in fatal car accidents based on age group:
| Age Group | Rates |
| 15-20 | 31% |
| 21-24 | 28% |
| 25-34 | 24% |
| 35-44 | 19% |
| 45-54 | 15% |
| 55-64 | 12% |
| 65+ | 8% |
Gender And Fatalities By Age
The majority of fatal car accidents involving older drivers take place during the day, and during the week. 72% of traffic fatalities take place during the daytime and 70% of them during the week; however, drivers 65 and older have the lowest involvement rate per 100,000 licensed drivers than any other age group.
The table below shows the percentages for male and female drivers based on age group of driver involvement rates per 100,000 licensed drivers in fatal car accidents:
| Age Group | Males Rates | Female Rates |
| 15-20 | 58.73 | 22.74 |
| 21-24 | 53.41 | 19.60 |
| 25-34 | 45.71 | 15.86 |
| 35-44 | 39.31 | 12.38 |
| 45-54 | 35.51 | 10.83 |
| 55-64 | 31.32 | 9.34 |
| 65+ | 24.89 | 8.78 |
The figures above indicate a decreasing rate of driver involvement in fatal car accidents from the age group 15 to 20 all the way down to seniors at a consistent level although rates for male driver traffic accidents involving fatalities are nearly twice if not more that of female rates.
State Requirements For Senior Drivers
What are US state requirements for senior drivers to be on the road? Each state has different checks and tests, some of which are required every few years, while others are done on a lottery system.
The table below presents state requirements for senior drivers:
| State | Senior Driving Laws |
| Alabama | Renew license every 4 years |
| Alaska | Renew license every 5 years
Age 69+ must complete vision test In-person renewal required after 69 |
| Arizona | Renew license every 5 years after 65
Vision test for every renewal In-person renewal only |
| Arkansas | Renew license every 4 or 8 years for 70+
Vision test required every other renewal In-person renewal only |
| California | Renew license every 5 years
Vision test 70 or older In-person renewal only 70 or older |
| Colorado | Renew license every 5 years
Vision test every renewal |
| Connecticut | Renew license every 2 years once 65 |
| Delaware | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal required |
| Florida | Renew license every 6 years for those 80 or older
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal every other renewal |
| Georgia | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal required every other renewal |
| Hawaii | Renew license every 4 years 72-79 or 2 years 80+
Vision test required every renewal Must do in-person at least every 16 years |
| Idaho | Renew license every 4 years once 63
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal required after 70 |
| Illinois | Renew license every 2 years for 81-86 and every year 87+
Vision test required every renewal once 75 In-person renewal required after 75 Starting age 75 drivers must pass a road test |
| Indiana | Renew license every 3 years 75-84 and 2 years for 85+
Vision test required every renewal once 75 In-person renewal required every other renewal |
| Iowa | Renew license every 2 years once 78
Vision test required every renewal after 70 In-person renewal required after 70 |
| Kansas | Renew license every 4 years once 65
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal after 65 |
| Kentucky | Renew license every 4 years
Vision test required every renewal |
| Louisiana | Renew license every 6 years
Vision test required after 70 In-person renewal required after 70 |
| Maine | Renew license every 4 years once 65
Vision test required after 62 In-person renewal required after 62 |
| Maryland | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required after 40 |
| Massachusetts | Renew license every 5 years
Vision test required after 75 In-person renewal required after 75 |
| Michigan | Renew license every 4 years
Vision test required if renewing in person In-person renewal every other renewal |
| Minnesota | Renew license every 4 years
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal required every renewal |
| Mississippi | Renew license every 4 years
In-person renewal required every other renewal |
| Missouri | Renew license every 3 years once 70
Vision test required every renewal |
| Montana | Renew license every 4 years once 75
Vision test required every renewal In-person required every other renewal |
| Nebraska | Renew license every 5 years
Vision test required once 72 In-person renewal only once 72 |
| Nevada | Renew license every 4 years once 65
Vision test required every renewal after 71 In-person required every other renewal after 65 |
| New Hampshire | Renew license every 5 years
After 75, drivers must pass a road test Vision test required every renewal |
| New Jersey | Renew license every 2 years once 70
Vision test required every 10 years |
| New Mexico | Renew license every 4 years for 71-78 and every year for 79+
Vision test required every renewal after 75 In-person renewal required after 75 |
| New York | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test for every renewal |
| North Carolina | Renew license every 5 years once 66
Vision test required every renewal |
| North Dakota | Renew license every 4 years once 78
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal required after 70 |
| Ohio | Renew license every 4 years after 65
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal required after 65 |
| Oklahoma | Renew license every 4 years |
| Oregon | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required after 50 In-person renewal required every other renewal |
| Pennsylvania | Renew license every 2 years after 65
Vision and physical required on a lottery system |
| Rhode Island | Renew license every 2 years once 75
Vision test required every renewal |
| South Carolina | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required every renewal |
| South Dakota | Renew license every 5 years
Vision test required every renewal after 65 |
| Tennessee | Renew license every 8 years |
| Texas | Renew license every 2 years once 85
Vision test required every renewal after 79 In-person renewal required after 79 |
| Utah | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required every renewal after 65 |
| Vermont | Renew license every 2 years |
| Virginia | Renew license every 5 years once 75
Vision test required every renewal after 75 In-person renewal required after 75 |
| Washington | Renew license every 6 years
Vision test required every renewal In-person renewal required after 70 |
| West Virginia | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required every renewal |
| Wisconsin | Renew license every 8 years
Vision test required every renewal |
| Wyoming | Renew license every 5 years
Vision test required every renewal |
Types Of Accidents Involving Senior Drivers
When compared to younger drivers, senior drivers are more likely to be involved in and killed as a result of traffic accidents where the initial point of impact is on the driver’s side or left side. The table below indicates the most common types of accidents based on impact point by age group for traffic fatalities from 2022:
| Impact Point (Type of Accident) | 15-64 | 65+ |
| Front | 62% | 59% |
| Left Side | 10% | 16% |
| Right Side | 7% | 9% |
| Rear End | 4% | 5% |
| Top | 0% | 0% |
| Undercarriage | 1% | 0% |
| Non-Collision | 10% | 7% |
As indicated in the table above, senior drivers are comparatively almost as likely to be involved in a front facing car accident and are more likely than other age groups to be involved in a rear-end accident, right side accident or left side accident.
Compared to younger drivers, senior drivers are more likely to be involved in car accidents involving overtaking or merging Lanes which results in left or right side collisions, intersection collisions, and angle crashes.
Why?
Senior driver’s struggle with yielding the right of way and this is the second most common error made among senior drivers compared to other age groups.
The most common is inadequate surveillance which means older drivers aged 70 and up are less likely to look at their surroundings and more likely to misjudge things like speed or gaps between vehicles.
Main Causes of Accidents for Senior Drivers
There are several main causes of senior driving accidents all of which are related to age.
Older drivers have higher levels of physical, cognitive, and visual impairment all three of which increase the risk of crash involvement and interfere with challenging driving solutions like changing lanes or turning left.
Senior drivers are more likely to take medication which can impair their abilities particularly reaction times.
Tips For Senior Drivers: How To Stay Safe On The Road
There are several things you can do to stay safe on the road. The most important thing to do as a senior driver is to self-regulate or adjust your driving. If, for example, you are taking medication for diabetes or arthritis it is up to you to self-limit your driving by avoiding driving with dangerous conditions, on interstates, long distances, or at night.
There are several other things you can do as a senior driver to stay safe on the road.
If you have decreased vision:
- Always make sure you wear your glasses with a current prescription. If you lose or break them, get them replaced right away so that you don’t experience difficulty seeing pavement markings or reading street signs.
- Avoid driving not just at night but at dawn and dusk especially if you are dealing with symptoms of declining vision.
- Invest in a car that has larger dials or easy symbols on the instrument panel and keep all lights and windshields clean so that it’s easier to see.
- Sit in such a way that you can see at least 10 ft in front of your vehicle at all times while driving. Invest in additional cushions to put on your driver’s side seat if this isn’t possible.
If you have decreased physical fitness:
- If you have decreased physical fitness like difficulty moving your foot from the gas to the brake or problems turning your steering wheel, check out senior centers, YMCAs, and health clubs that might have programs specifically for seniors and check with your doctor about what stretching programs you can use to help.
- Invest in a car that has power steering and power brakes.
- Limit the noise in your car especially if you have difficulty responding as quickly to things around you. If you have a hearing aid, however, be careful about opening your car windows as this can impede the effectiveness of your hearing aid.
If you have slowed reaction times:
- If your reaction time has slowed, take time to always plan your route and only drive with traffic patterns and road conditions that you are familiar with.
- Avoid driving during rush hours.
- Always keep enough space between yourself and the car ahead of you.
- Always scan as far down the road as you can to anticipate future issues and, if necessary, do things like go up one block and make three right hand turns instead of trying to make a left hand turn through traffic.
