In 2018, there were an estimated 35 million people 70 and older living in the United States, representing about 11 percent of the population. Based on data reported by states to the Federal Highway Administration, there were approximately 29 million licensed drivers 70 and older in 2018 (FHWA, 2019).



Compared with drivers ages 20-69, fewer people 70 and older are licensed to drive (FHWA, 2019), and, based on data from the National Household Travel Survey, they drive fewer miles. However, older people now keep their licenses longer and make up a bigger proportion of the population than in past decades. The number of licensed drivers 70 and older increased 66 percent between 1997 and 2018. The proportion of the 70-and-older population with licenses went from 73 percent in 1997 to 83 percent in 2018.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population 70 and older is projected to increase to 53 million in 2030 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). The increase in the older driver population has led to concerns about the potential effects on traffic safety.

Contrary to expectations, however, fewer older drivers died in crashes and fewer were involved as drivers in fatal collisions during 1998-2018 than in previous decades.

A total of 4,973 people ages 70 and older died in motor vehicle crashes in 2018. This is 15 percent fewer than in 1997, when deaths peaked, even though the population of people 70 and older rose. The rate of fatalities per capita among older people has decreased 46 percent since 1975.

Rate of fatal crash involvements among passenger vehicle drivers 70 and older per 100,000 people, 1975-2018

Nationally, the fatal crash involvement rates of drivers 70 and older declined per licensed driver during 1997-2012 and per vehicle mile traveled between 1995-96 and 2008 at a faster pace than the rates for drivers 35-54 years old (Cicchino & McCartt, 2014). The reductions were strongest among the oldest drivers (age 80 and older).

Based on 2016-17 travel data, drivers 70 and older drove 43 percent fewer miles, on average, than drivers ages 35-54. However, older drivers are traveling more miles than they used to. From 1995-96 to 2016-17, average yearly mileage increased by 65 percent for drivers 70 and older, compared with a 37 percent increase for drivers 35-54.

Older drivers have low rates of police-reported crash involvements per capita; their per capita fatal crash rates begin to increase at about age 70. Per mile traveled, crash rates and fatal crash rates also start increasing at about age 70.

It's worth noting that older drivers generally travel fewer miles than most other age groups and, like low-mileage drivers of other ages, they tend to accumulate much of their mileage in city driving conditions. In contrast, drivers who accumulate more miles tend to drive more on freeways or divided multilane roads, which generally have much lower crash rates than other types of roads. Hence, the elevated crash rates for older drivers when measured per mile traveled may be somewhat inflated due to the type of driving they do (Janke, 1991).

Insurance claims provide another view of crashes of all severities. Drivers ages 60-64 have the lowest rates of property damage liability claims and collision claims per insured vehicle year. Rates start increasing after about age 65. However, older drivers' insurance claim rates are much lower than rates for the youngest drivers.

Per capita rate of passenger vehicle crash involvements by driver age, 2018

Passenger vehicle crash rates per mile traveled, by driver age, April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017

Number of collisions and property damage liability insurance claims per 100 insured vehicle years by rated driver age, 1981-2019 vehicle models, calendar years 2015-2019