More Seniors Driving and Fatalities are Down

According a report issued by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the number American senior citizen drivers, over age 70, with a driver?s license has increased.? In 1997, 73 percent of the over 70 population had a driver?s license and in 2008, that number increased to 78 percent — that translates to 28 million licensed drivers over 70 years old. ?The study also shows the number of fatal crashes per licensed driver over 70 fell 37 percent from 1997 to 2008.? For drivers over 80 the number of fatal crashes declined by nearly half. ?Seniors, however, are still more likely to die in a crash than a younger driver.? A driver over 70 is three times more likely to be killed in an accident than a driver 35 to 54 years old, however, that number is down from 3.5 times n 1997.

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