National Sheriffs’ Association
National Association of
Triads, and the
Traffic Safety Committee
In Partnership with your
local sheriff
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Older Adult Safe
Driving:
Keeping Your keys!
Strategies for Older Adults
•2
Are Older Adults Safe Drivers?
•3
Crash Data per Licensed Driver
•4
Older Driver Fatality Rate
Source: NHTSA Data Report DOT HS 811 161, 2008
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What is Your Risk of Involvement?
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Older Adult Drivers Today
19.9 Million Older Adult Drivers
Older Adult Drivers are the fastest growing population group
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•8
Older Adult Drivers of Tomorrow
Millions of People
1900-2050
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
65+
85+
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040
Source: www.agingstats.gov/chatbook2004
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The Good and Bad News
Crash Rates are lowest for
older drivers
Fatality Rates are the
highest for older drivers
In 2008, older people accounted for 15 percent of all traffic
fatalities and 18 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. Most
traffic fatalities involving older drivers occurred during the
daytime (80%), occurred on weekdays (72%), and involved
other vehicles (69%).
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0
Age Does Not Indicate Poor Driving
Performance
Age is a poor predictor of
driving performance
Differences from one person to
another of the same age are
greater than the differences
between age groups
About one of every eight is over
65 years of age. And as many
as 90 percent of these older
adults are still licensed to
drive
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Older Adults Hailed as Safe
Drivers
According to AAA, Older Adults:
Cause the least motorist and pedestrian fatalities
Have the lowest crash involvement rates per licensed
driver
Have the lowest crash involvement rates involving
alcohol
Have the highest rates for seat belt use
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Despite lower risk taking, older
adults are more likely to be
hurt or die in a car crash
(NHTSA)
Older drivers frailty makes
them more likely to be hurt
in crashes (NHTSA)
Drivers over 65 are almost
twice as likely to die in a
crash – over 75 are 2.5 times
more likely and those over 85
almost 4 times (AAA)
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Precautions for Driving
Plan your trip
 Wear safety belt
 Consider road and
weather conditions
 Maintain distance of at
least 4 car lengths
 Use caution at
intersections
 Check blind spots
 Consider medications

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4

Situations that have proven risky for older drivers
often include complex visual searches, and
information from multiple sources that must be
processed rapidly under divided attention
conditions.

These are conditions where context-appropriate
driver behavior often depends less upon
conformity to formal or informal rules than to
judgment or “executive function.”
•1
5
Self Regulation
The avoidance of bad weather (and nighttime) driving may be
attributed to self regulation, i.e., older people choosing not to
drive in situations where they do not feel comfortable.
For non-discretionary travel, selecting routes that minimize or
eliminate requirements for certain high-demand maneuvers
may be an effective behavioral countermeasure for older
drivers.
•1
6
Older Adults and Common Traffic
Violations
For speeding
For careless driving
from ages 65-74 to ages 90-100
decrease sharply
from ages 40-54 to ages 90-100
increase gradually
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Left turns and Inattentive Driving
Common Crashes for Older Drivers
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Maintain Your Health
 Visit
your doctor regularly
 Get an annual vision screening
and exam
 Eat a healthy diet
Generally, around age 50, individuals
begin to seek treatment for conditions
typically associated with aging, such as
hypertension, Type II diabetes mellitus,
hyperlipidemia, sleep disturbances, etc.
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Is Vision a Problem with Your Driving?
A Cataract is a clouding of the lens of
your eye and causes your vision to
become blurred or hazy.
Cataracts may make your eyes more
sensitive to light and glare, making it
more difficult to drive at night.
Macular degeneration is a disease
that results in the loss of the central
portion of your field of vision.
Without central vision it becomes harder
to see other cars or pedestrians coming
towards you.
GLAUCOMA refers to a group of conditions
characterized by abnormally high pressure
inside your eyeball.
Glaucoma causes diminished peripheral
vision, which makes it more difficult to see a
pedestrian or vehicle approaching from the
side.
Some Visual
Impairments
May Be
Correctable!
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The results of NHTSA analysis suggest that
both the kinds and number of medication
exposures, and the characteristics of
diseases/disorders present may predict an
increase in risk for Motor Vehicle Crashes
among older adults.
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36% of the survey group over age 50
mentioned use of two or more drugs.
58+ percent of the over age 50 group
mentioned use of one or more potentially
driver impairing (PDI) medications.
14% of the drug mentions involved drugdrug interactions.
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2
disorientation,
tremors,
lethargy,
depression,
forgetfulness,
loss of appetite, and
constipation.
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3
Drug Class
Possible Effects
Anti-Diabetic Drugs
Anticholinergics
Narcotic Analgesics
Anti-hypertensive Drugs
Sedatives/Hypnotics
Antidepressants
Allergy Drugs
Anti-Arrhythmic
Anti-Convulsants
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
Hypoglycemia
Blurred Vision
Sedation
Hypotension
Sedation
Sedation, Dizziness
Sedation, Dizziness
Fainting (Syncope)
Ataxia, Dizziness, Sedation
Dizziness, Sedation
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Warning Signs

Feeling uncomfortable and nervous or fearful while driving
Dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage
doors, curbs etc.


Difficulty staying in the lane of travel
Trouble paying attention to signals, road signs and pavement
markings

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5
Warning Signs, Part II
 Slower
response to unexpected situations
 Medical conditions or medications that may be
affecting the ability to handle the car safely
 Frequent "close calls" (i.e. almost crashing)
 Trouble judging gaps in traffics at intersections and
on highway entrance/exit ramps
 Other drivers honking at you and instances when
you are angry at other drivers
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Warning Signs, Part III
 Friends
or relatives not wanting to ride with you
 Difficulty
seeing the sides of the road when looking
straight ahead
 Easily
distracted or having a hard time concentrating
while driving
 Having
a hard time turning around to check over your
shoulder while backing up or changing lanes
 Frequent
traffic tickets or "warnings" by law
enforcement officers in the last year or two
•2
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Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia signs
include, but are not limited to, when the driver:
 drifts out of the lane;
 becomes confused when exiting or entering a
highway;
 has trouble making turns, especially left turns;
 gets lost in familiar places; or
 stops inappropriately – such as at green lights or in
the middle of an intersection when not turning.
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Seeking Solutions
If you notice one
or more of these
warning signs
you may want to
have your driving
assessed by a
professional or
attend a driver
refresher class.
You may also want to
consult with your doctor if
you are having unusual
concentration or memory
problems, or other physical
symptoms that may be
affecting your ability to
drive.
•2
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Limiting Risk to Ourselves and Others
with Responsible Driving
We all want to continue driving as long as we can
do so safely. However, for many of us the time
may come when we must limit or stop driving,
either temporarily or permanently.
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Seeking Alternate
Transportation
Friends, family, neighbors
 Administration on Aging
 Religious Entities
 Triads
 Taxi – bus – Senior Shuttle
 Have a transportation plan

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A Review of Older Driver Precautions
Adjust
your schedule and select
less traveled roads
Use
your mirrors
Get
your eyes checked annually
Use
caution in reverse
Be
mindful of medications
Discuss
physical changes with
your doctor
Seek
alternate transportation
when necessary
•3
2
Maintain Your Vehicle


Maintain fuel level at one-quarter full to full tank
Tune-up engine for smooth acceleration and good gas mileage
 Clean windshields and mirrors for visibility
 Check tire pressure and tread depth
 Maintain headlights and tail lights
•3
3
Car and Driver – The Perfect Fit





Buy the right car
Stay active and fit
Limit distractions
Make the “Right” turn
Use the 4 second following rule
•3
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Making Your Vehicle “Fit”

One thing older drivers can do to adapt to factors
that affect their driving is to make changes to their
vehicle to make it “fit” better. These adjustments
will help drivers feel more comfortable and in
better control of their vehicles.

CarFit was developed by the American Society on
Aging in collaboration with AARP, American
occupational Therapy Association and AAA.
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Vehicle Comfort and Safety
When selecting a vehicle, choose features to improve comfort
and safety of drivers experiencing physical or visual challenges
associated with aging.
Visit www.safercar.gov or call the Vehicle Safety
Hotline at 888-327-4236 to obtain government crash test
results and rollover ratings for specific makes and models.
•3
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Finding the “Right” Vehicle
 High or extra-wide doors;
 Adjustable foot pedals;
 Large interior door handles;
 Oversized knobs with clearly visible labels…
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Finding the “Right” Vehicle cont…
 Support handles to assist with entry and exit;
 Large or adjustable-size print for dashboard
gauges;
 Seat adjusters that can move the seat in all
directions — particularly raising it so the driver’s
line of sight is 3” above the adjusted steering
wheel; and
 Dashboard-mounted ignition rather than
steering column-mounted ignition
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AARP conducts a Drivers Safety Program
www.AARP.org
AAA recommends safe drivers programs
www.AAA.com
NSC National Safety Council has an on-line
Defensive Driving Program
www.NSC.org
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AARP Driver Safety Program
Tune up driving skills
Update knowledge of road rules
Education on age-related physical changes, and
adjusting driving to compensate
Reduce traffic violations, crashes, chances for injury
Call 1-888-227-7669
•4
0
Roadwise Review
Contact your regional
or state AAA office to
get Roadwise
Review: A Tool to
Help Seniors Drive
Safely Longer.
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1
 Cite
offenders
 Know
your state’s referral
process
 Build
coalitions
 Undertake
or strengthen
Triads.
 Act
as a referral
•4
2
Following are a Series of Resources for
Older Adult Drivers and their Caregivers
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3
American Association of Retired
Persons
(AARP)
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
(888) 687-2277 (OUR AARP)
www.aarp.org



www.aarp.org/findacourse
Or call, toll-free, 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888227-7669).
To register for the online course, visit
www.aarpdriversafety.org
•4
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American Occupational Therapists
Association
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy
assistants help people of all ages engage in life’s
daily activities, including driving, with
independence and dignity.
www.aota.org/olderdriver
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5
Administration on Aging (AoA)
Public Inquiries Unit
330 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
(202) 619-0724
TDD: (800) 877-8339
Eldercare Locator: (800) 677-1116
Fax: (202) 357-3555
www.aoa.dhhs.gov
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Alzheimer’s Disease Resources
To find your local Alzheimer’s support group:
contact your local Area Agency on Aging
Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET),
or go on-line to www.eldercare.gov.
Go on-line or call the Alzheimer’s Disease Education
and Referral Center:
http://www.alzheimers.org/index.html.
800-438-4380
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Carfit – AAA

AAA is a not-for-profit organization serving more
than 51 million members in the United States and
Canada. AAA has been a leading safety advocate
for more than a century.

www.AAA.com or www.AAA.com/seniors
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National Association of State Units on
Aging (NASUA)
Information/Resource/Referral Support
Center
1201 15th Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 898-2578
Fax: (202) 898-2583
info@nasua.org
www.nasua.org
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National Association of Triads, Inc.
(NATI)
1450 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3490
(800) 424-7827
Fax: (703) 683-6541
www.nationaltriad.org
In Partnership with your
Local Sheriff
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National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.
Washington, DC 20590
888-327-4236
TDD: 800-424-9153
www.nhtsa.gov
www.safercar.gov
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National Mobility Equipment
Dealers
Association (NMEDA)
3327 West Bearss Avenue
Tampa, FL 33618
800-833-0427
www.nmeda.org
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