According to a study by AAA, there are over 29 million licensed drivers over the age of 65 in the United States. The study sites many conditions that affect elderly drivers, including arthritis, limited upper body movement and impaired vision.
Because of the different situations and limitations of elderly drivers, it is recommended that elderly drivers consider specific features of a vehicle before purchasing, such as crashworthiness, anti-lock brakes and adjustable head restraints.
The increasing number of independent drivers over the age of 65 is a great concern according to a Texas based study by the International Risk Management Institute. This study states that, with the exception of teenagers, elderly drivers experience the highest rate of car crash deaths per mile driven. The study shows that elderly drivers, particularly over the age of 80, pose higher risks to pedestrians and others on the road.
In a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 200,000 drivers over the age of 65 were involved in accidents in 2006.
There are car wreck attorneys currently working on cases in which serious or fatal injury has occurred due to the negligence of drivers.