The rising number of car accidents involving senior drivers, especially those over 70, has long been a concern for highway safety experts. Especially nowadays, with more older drivers on American roads than ever, this issue is increasingly pressing.
In 2021, about 37 million people in the U.S. were over 70—around 32 million of them were still holding a driver’s license. But which parts of the United States pose the greatest risk to seniors behind the wheel?
Analyzing data for state-specific road accident fatality rates across age groups from 2017 to 2021, the personal injury law firm Bader Scott pinpoints riskier states for senior driving.
Here’s a look at 10 U.S. states where senior drivers are most likely to be involved in serious accidents.
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10. Kansas
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 21.11%
Seniors cruising the Kansas roads should be careful as it ranks 10th among the deadliest states for older drivers—out of 4,050 road fatalities, 855 involve older drivers. The state’s wintery weather conditions additionally make driving more challenging.
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9. New Hampshire
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 21.72%
Between 2017 and 2021, New Hampshire reported 225 fatalities involving senior drivers, landing in the 9th spot on the list of states with the highest risk for older people behind the wheel.
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8. Pennsylvania
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 21.83%
Home to gridlocked cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s roadways witnessed a significant 11,848 fatalities, and among them, 2,586 attributed to drivers aged 65 and above.
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7. Minnesota
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 22.00%
Minnesota, known for its frigid, snow-covered winters, grapples with challenging driving conditions, perilous roads and a significant number of road fatalities. Between 2017 and 2021, the state documented a total of 3,931 deaths stemming from road accidents, with 865 of these incidents involving senior drivers.
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6. Vermont
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 22.10%
While Vermont doesn’t see as many fatalities, just 629 in total—139 of those involved drivers over 65 years old. That’s more than any other age group in the state, according to the data.
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5. Massachusetts
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 22.84%
Seniors in the Bay State should take extra caution behind the wheel, as Massachusetts ranks as the 5th most dangerous state for older drivers, with 3,617 road fatalities, including 826 seniors over 65.
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4. New Jersey
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 22.84%
In a tie with Massachusetts, New Jersey recorded a total of 5,880 road fatalities, with 1,343 linked to drivers over 65. These senior drivers experienced a notably higher fatality rate, as emphasized in the report.
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3. Rhode Island
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 22.94%
The state with Rhode Island ranks as the third most dangerous state for senior drivers, with 139 out of 606 total traffic fatalities involving individuals over 65.
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2. New York
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 23.30%
Driving in New York, the home of the Big Apple is challenging for drivers of all ages, but but people over 65 should be extra cautious behind the wheel, as out of 10,706 road accident deaths in total between 2017 and 2021—2,494 were elderly deaths.
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1. Maine
Percentage of deaths over the age of 65: 24.58%
Maine takes the top spot as the riskiest place for older drivers, where folks aged 65 and over account for just 24.58% of road accident deaths. Out of 1,538 total road accident fatalities in the state, a significant 378 were senior citizens, making them the most affected age group.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
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