Elderly drivers are more at risk on the road and die twice as often in crashes, according to data from the Colorado State Patrol.
“Driving often equates to independence for many seniors, so it is understandable that our older, often most experienced drivers, want to continue driving as long as possible,” a Colorado State Patrol news release stated. “However, as we age, safety concerns often arise for both the driver and their loved ones.”
Between 2021 and 2024, drivers age 70 or older died in crashes at least twice as often as all other age groups, according to the agency.
When elderly drivers are at fault in fatal crashes, the most common causes are lane violations, distracted driving and failing to yield the right of way, state patrol officials said in the release.
The majority of people killed in traffic crashes across the country are age 65 or older, according to the National Safety Council, a nonprofit that focuses on workplace and roadway safety.
Roughly 65% of roadway deaths in 2023 were either an older driver or a similarly aged passenger, also 65 years or older, data from the National Safety Council shows.
And, even in nonfatal crashes, older drivers remain more vulnerable to stressors and injuries, Colorado State Patrol officials said.
“Getting older doesn’t mean you have to hang up your keys automatically; every person is different, and you need to be aware and honest about your individual capabilities,” Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, stated in the release. “Some of the key areas people need to pay attention to are their vision, hearing, reflexes, memory and physical abilities.”
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