Dealing with Distractions on the Road

There are many more distractions on the road today, electronic distractions being the newest. The key to driving safely is managing our distractions. We [Older drivers] have to be prepared to react to other drivers, not only be good drivers ourselves.

—Cathy Rossi, formerly AAA Mid-Atlantic, now working for the state of Delaware

Statistics

The statistics here are gathered from various sources and information obtained throughout the initial phases of the campaign.

Delaware

Delaware is projected to have the 6th largest ratio of seniors to general population in the United States by 2030.¹
By 2030, almost 25% of Delaware’s population will be over the age of 65.¹
Kent and Sussex Counties will experience the largest growth rate in their senior populations over the next several decades.¹
The state’s percentage of drivers over the age of 65 will increase over the next several decades.¹
Older drivers comprise 17% of Delaware’s drivers, are involved in 14% of fatal crashes, and are involved in 18% of crashes with pedestrians.²
In 2008, 17 seniors were killed in crashes and 797 were injured.²
Older Delawareans, whether as a passenger or a driver, were reported making 89 percent of their trips in a private vehicle.³

National

Older drivers comprise 15% of all licensed drivers, but that percentage is increasing faster than those of all other age groups.²
Older drivers constitute 14% of all traffic fatalities, 14% of occupant fatalities, and 19% of pedestrian fatalities.²
In 2007, 196,000 older drivers were injured in crashes.²
In 2004, there were more than 28 million licensed drivers age 65 years or older, a 17% increase from the number in 1994.⁴
Older drivers who are injured in motor vehicle crashes are more likely than younger drivers to die from their injuries.⁴

Sources

¹“Assessing the Needs of Delaware’s Older Drivers,” Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware
²Delaware Office of Highway Safety (2007-National and 2008-Delaware)
³Delaware Department of Transportation (2004)
⁴Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/older.htm