What are the Safety Challenges that Accompany Delaware’s Increasing Population of Older Drivers?
Regardless of the age of the driver, the legal team at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, fights for compensation for victims of car accidents in and around Seaford, Wilmington, and Newark. If you were hurt in a car crash anywhere in Delaware, we may be able to help.
With our low-key atmosphere, central location on the east coast, easy access to beautiful beaches, lower property taxes and excellent selection of retirement communities, Delaware has become a popular retirement location. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that there were 154,019 licensed drivers over age 65 in Delaware in 2015, which is a 31,000 driver increase over 2010. More than 20% of Delaware’s licensed drivers are over age 65.
Some people might be alarmed at so many older drivers. Ken Grant, spokesman for the AAA Mid-Atlantic said, “People may be under the false impression that older drivers are less safe, but senior drivers tend to be much less likely to be engaged in risky behavior,” in a story in Delaware Online. A Delaware State Police report quoted in the Delaware Online story said that while senior drivers made up 1 in 5 licensed Delaware Drivers in 2015, they were involved in less than 10% of traffic crashes in Delaware.
Older drivers, by the numbers
The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles reports that there are more than 250,000 drivers currently in the state over the age of 60. On their website, the Delaware DMV has a self-assessment test for seniors and links to a New York Times article, “An Alternative to Giving Up the Keys,” which offers several suggestions for older drivers such as working with a driving rehabilitation specialist, when an older driver’s adult children are concerned about their acumen on the road.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in its five-year plan for safety for older drivers, that helping drivers to remain behind the wheel as long as possible will require both behavioral and technological changes. Sharon Gilmartin said in the NY Times article, “Teenagers are more likely to kill someone else in a crash; older drivers are far more likely to kill themselves.”
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that drivers aged 60-64 have the lowest rates of property damage and collision claims per insured vehicle per year, and fatal crash rates for seniors begin to increase at age 70.
The American Occupational Therapy Association offers a database of driving programs and specialists that can help older drivers find driving specialists that can help them to assess their driving skills, identify their strengths and identify their visual and cognitive challenges. This will help the therapist evaluate an individual’s ability to drive safely. If limits need to be set (such as limiting night driving) those recommendations can be made.
Electronic crash avoidance technologies designed to help drivers of all ages such as stability control, front crash prevention systems and autonomous braking can be effective in reducing crashes in vehicles equipped with these features, however they cannot be relied upon to replace cognitive deficits or compensate for the onset of a sudden health emergency behind the wheel.
Silverman, McDonald & Friedman’s experienced car accident lawyers in Newark, Wilmington and Seaford are strong advocates for their clients who have been injured in car crashes. We encourage you to contact us by calling 302-888-2900 or filling out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today.
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.