16-05-2025
Fatal crash rates rising for older drivers in Minnesota
May 16---- Older, experienced drivers are catching up with younger, inexperienced drivers in a race where no one wins.
"The reality is, the number of seniors dying on the roads is going up," Joanie Somes told an audience Wednesday at the Southwest Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths conference at the Prairie's Edge Casino Resort. The Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program works to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and deaths on Minnesota roads.
Somes is retired from a 40-year career as an emergency nurse. She is working with the
to call attention to the rise in serious injuries and deaths to drivers age 60 and over.
In 2007, Minnesota recorded 510 deaths on its roadways, with 102 of the victims being age 60 and over, or 20% of the total, according to the presentation.
Preliminary state Department of Public Safety numbers for 2024 show Minnesota experienced 479 deaths, with 166 of the victims age 60 and over, or 35% of the total.
Since 2019, seniors have been dying on the roads at the same proportion as younger drivers are, according to Somes. Young, inexperienced drivers have historically been disproportionately involved in fatal and serious-injury crashes.
The rise in the number of seniors dying in traffic crashes is attributed largely to the growing numbers of older drivers on the road. Many baby boomers are now seniors, and they will continue to represent a large share of total drivers for years to come. The last baby boomer turns 80 in 2040, Somes pointed out.
It's also believed that seniors are driving more today than in the past. Somes, who is 72, said 19% of people her age are still in the work force.
There are plenty of other factors keeping seniors on the roads as drivers. Alternative transportation may not be available where they live. They may be called upon to transport grandchildren. Their fellow seniors who no longer drive may rely on them.
Somes travels the state speaking to emergency responders, law enforcement and others about the factors that make seniors vulnerable to being in crashes. There is the obvious: "Our body just does not function as well" as we age, she said, adding that older adults lose strength and flexibility, and their vision declines.
Cognitive ability can decline too. The physical and cognitive changes are reflected in slower reaction times. It takes seniors eight seconds longer than millennials to react to information displayed on an in-vehicle screen, she said.
Seniors are also more likely than young drivers to have medical conditions or take medicines that can affect their driving performance.
The risk of death is higher for seniors when they are involved in serious-injury crashes. The risk that a serious injury can result in death increases 3% with each year after age 65, according to Somes.
Difficulty in judging the distance of oncoming traffic at intersections and not seeing other vehicles when making lane changes are two of the most common reasons seniors are involved in crashes, according to Somes. Three of five fatal crashes for older drivers, or 63%, occurred at intersections or interchanges.
She also pointed out that seniors are less likely to own vehicles that have the latest in safety technology, or, in many cases, they elect to turn some of the features off.
She urges seniors who are experiencing declines in their driving capabilities to reduce their driving times and to choose routes and times that are less congested. Somes also told the audience that there are many opportunities for older drivers to improve their driving skills, from exercising to participating in educational programs.
Importantly, she encourages seniors to "retire" from driving when their physical or cognitive abilities decline to unsafe levels. She also encourages communities to do more to provide transportation alternatives to allow seniors to remain independent without driving.
Resources on older drivers is available through the
website:
