Safe Communities reports that there have been eight fatalities in Wood County to date, compared to nine this time last year.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Safe Communities reminds families and caregivers to talk with older drivers about safe driving.
Adults, 65 and older, account for approximately 17 percent of the U.S. population. For this demographic, mobility and independence are essential to staying engaged and active in their communities. Age-related changes may undermine an individual’s driving ability and increase their likelihood of being seriously injured or killed in the event of a vehicle crash.
Being proactive about safe driving skills, learning ways to identify changes early and intervening as soon as possible can help older drivers maintain safe mobility on the road.
The NHTSA offers information and guidance to help families and caregivers have open and honest discussions with their loved ones to ensure they are safe on the road for years to come.
Between 2013 and 2022, the population of people 65 and older in the U.S. increased by 29 percent.
In 2022, there were 7,971 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the U.S., accounting for 19 percent of all traffic fatalities. Fatal crash rates per 100,000 licensed older drivers increased sharply from 2021 to 2022. The data shows these rates had declined from 2019 to 2020, then returned to near 2019 levels in 2021 and 2022. The decrease from 2019 to 2020 and the subsequent increase from 2020 to 2021 likely resulted from older adults staying home during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Be Empathetic
NHTSA encourages family members and caregivers to discuss safe driving with the seniors in their lives. Families and caregivers who understand how age-related changes may affect an older driver’s ability to drive safely can be better equipped before starting a conversation about this topic. Helping seniors understand how physical and cognitive changes may affect driving abilities can help extend independent driving or determine how best to handle driving scenarios.
Be Supportive
Many older adults are risk-averse and may limit their driving only to daytime and during light traffic. These are great self-regulation strategies to extend safe driving abilities and should be supported by families and caregivers if appropriate. Operating a vehicle is a complex task and it is important to never base driving ability on age. Understand that everyone will experience aging differently, with changes that may include reduced strength, flexibility, vision and cognition.
It is imperative to be aware of these changes. Safe driving ability can also be affected by certain medications or medical conditions. Support seniors by attending medical appointments and by encouraging them to share any driving-related concerns with their healthcare provider.
Be Proactive
Help be proactive about safety by encouraging seniors to keep up with their driving skills and learn about new traffic patterns, vehicle features and traffic laws. Take the time to review vehicle manuals with older drivers. If needed, seniors should ask for help if they don’t understand a vehicle’s safety feature. It is also a good idea to regularly assess their safe driving to determine if any changes are needed. This can be done using a self-assessment tool or by a professional who is trained to evaluate driving skills and abilities.
Support an older driver in planning ahead for safe mobility beyond the driver’s seat. This should be done before they can no longer drive by exploring alternate transportation options that best meet their needs. Delaying these conversations can make it more difficult and stressful for all involved. Alleviate these negative feelings by showing compassion and empathy during conversations. This will make for a more empowering and productive conversation.
NHTSA offers free resources for older drivers and provides information about how loved ones can create a safe system for all road users whether driving, walking, or cycling.
For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/Older Drivers.
Safe Communities of Wood County is a division of Bowling Green State University Community Well Being, office of Health and Wellness.
