14 DAY TRIAL // According to new official statistics, elderly drivers are far less likely than young ones to be involved in fatal collisions and other serious car accidents. The find comes as a surprise, as the children who were once part of the “boomer” generation are now becoming mature. And while there still are the occasional few that keep racing on the streets, most of them adopt a very suitable attitude towards traffic and other drivers, keeping their speed to low levels and driving carefully.
Also, the fact that cars are becoming increasingly safer means that the number of fatalities decreased over the past few years. Airbags and better seatbelts, coupled with an increased number of electronic assistant controls, such as those for breaks and steering, generally make driving a safer experience for all those involved. But technology can only do so much, and those who step on the gas pedal too hard may end up in a crash, despite all modern features.
The new study analyzed driving trends for a period of time between 1997 and 2006, and found that the number of accidents involving seniors past the age of 70 has declined significantly, by more than 21 percent. "The findings are a welcome surprise," says study co-author Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
"No matter how we looked at the fatal crash data for this age group – whether by miles driven, licensed drivers, or population – the fatal crash involvement rates for drivers 70 and older declined, and did so at a faster pace than the rates for drivers 35-54 years old," she added.
In truth, the researchers behind the new study have no idea as to what may have caused this steep decline in senior car crash fatalities, but, among the most plausible explanations, one can count self-limitation, safer cars, better roads, and an increased level of health of drivers older than 70 years of age.
Diabetes, arthritis, and memory loss are often cited by the elderly as a reason for limiting their number of traveled miles. This type of awareness is to be commended, the researchers say, because not many people take to the road nowadays filled with concerns for others. Some 74 percent of drivers over 80 years of age reported limiting their own driving amount, and said they'd rather rely on public transportation, so as not to pose a risk to others.