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Older drivers are prominent in car accident statistics. When is the right time to park the car for good?

There were more than 16,700 car accidents in Pennsylvania in 2009 involving a driver at least 65 years of age (senior citizen driver). That’s 14 percent of the total number of PA car accidents in 2009! In addition, 276 of those PA car accidents involving senior citizen drivers resulted in fatalities, representing 22 percent of all PA car accident fatalities for that year. These numbers show quite an increase in senior citizen car accidents in PA from prior recent years.

In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 16 percent of all drivers are currently age 65 or older. It is estimated that in 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65, which amounts to nearly 57 million individuals.

In this era when people are living much longer lives, 65 does not sound all that old, and most people aged 65 certainly don’t qualify as "elderly". So, at what age are we too old to drive?

Though it is a humiliating loss of independence for an active older person to give up driving privileges, that tough decision to take away mom or dad’s car may save lives and help prevent Bucks County car accidents. Drivers over the age of 70 are at high risk of car accident injuries and car accident fatalities, second only to the 16-19 age group, which is at highest risk.

Studies show that the highest incidence of car accidents involving senior citizen drivers is at intersections. Moreover, older drivers have a tendency to get into more left turn car accidents as they age. Given all of the quick decisions required to navigate an unassisted (i.e. no left turn arrow) left turn, in the middle of a busy intersection, it is not surprising that older drivers have difficulties and sometimes end up causing serious Bucks County car accidents or Mercer County car accidents.

With age comes diminishing vision and hearing, memory slips, duller reflexes (affecting reaction time), and the likelihood of prescription medications that may cause drowsiness or other impairments. Any of these factors can lend to causing a Bucks County or Philadelphia car accident.

There are steps senior citizen drivers can take to keep themselves from causing Bucks County car accidents or suffering injuries in a Mercer County car accident:

1. Take an Approved Driver Improvement course. (Completing this course could also lower a senior citizen driver’s auto insurance rate).

2. Wear seatbelts.

3. Do not drive in bad weather, at night, at peak hours (such as rush hour), or long distances.

4. Do not drink and drive, or drive under the influence of medication that causes a high degree of drowsiness or lightheadedness.

5. Exercise regularly to increases strength and flexibility.

6. Have eyes checked at least once per year and wear prescribed corrective eyewear.　

Many states are showing a decrease in the number of senior citizen car accidents based partly upon older drivers following the tips provided above. We’d like to see Pennsylvania’s senior citizen car accident statistics improve, as well.

If you have been injured in a Bucks County car accident, Mercer County car accident or Philadelphia car accident due to a senior citizen or an older person’s negligence, contact an experienced local Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer. Learn about your options and how we can help you receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering by contacting the Bucks County personal injury lawyers at Saile & Saile LLP.

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