Older drivers are not involved in as many automobile accidents or fatal crashes as was anticipated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The institute said that, contrary to its own projections, rates for fatal and less severe accidents have dropped among older drivers.
There were 28 million people 70 years old or older in 2008, and 78 percent of them had driver's licenses--up from 73 percent in 1997. These factors led the IIHS to express concern about the risk in a 2001 report.
However, fatal crashes involving a driver 70 or more years old fell about 37 percent between 1997 and 2008, according to the IIHS.
"This isn't what we expected given driver demographics and other influences," said Anne McCartt, senior vice president of research in the institute's Status Report.
Older drivers are getting into less fatal accidents than middle-aged drivers (35-54), according to the report, even as fatal crash involvement rates for middle-aged drivers during 1997-2008 declined 23 percent.
Crashes involving only property damage declined 10 percent for older drivers, but increased for middle-aged drivers by 1 percent.
The IIHS said some states have restricted older drivers, requiring them to renew licenses more often and take vision tests. The institute said improvement in health among this age group may also help them in an accident, and it appears the group is policing themselves.
"With or without state action, it looks like older people are doing a good job of addressing their own driving abilities," said Ms. McCartt.
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