Drivers 85 and Older Face an 88% Higher Traffic Fatality Rate Than Seniors Aged 65–74, Study Finds
Licensed drivers aged 85 and older experience a traffic fatality rate nearly 88% higher than drivers aged 65 to 74, according to a new national study by CR Legal Team examining senior-driver deaths, fatal-crash involvement and roadway safety.
In 2024, drivers aged 85 and older recorded 14.47 traffic deaths per 100K licensed drivers, compared with 7.71 deaths per 100K among motorists aged 65 to 74.
The findings highlight considerable differences in fatality rates within the older driving population, even as the United States experiences continued growth in the number of licensed senior motorists.
The study found that more than 54 million Americans aged 65 and older held driver’s licenses in 2024, an increase of 14.1% from 2020. Over the same period, senior-driver fatalities increased by 15.9%, reaching 4,917 deaths nationwide.
Although drivers aged 65 to 74 accounted for a larger number of deaths, the fatality rate was substantially higher among motorists aged 85 and older.
The findings suggest that understanding senior-driver safety requires examining individual age groups, road conditions and fatal-crash circumstances rather than treating everyone over 65 as a single population.
Fatality Rates Increase Substantially Among the Oldest Drivers
CR Legal Team’s analysis identified a clear increase in driver fatality rates across three senior age groups.
Senior-Driver Fatality Rates by Age Group, 2024
| Driver Age | Fatality Rate per 100K Licensed Drivers |
|---|---|
| 65–74 | 7.71 |
| 75–84 | 10.11 |
| 85+ | 14.47 |
The oldest group recorded a fatality rate approximately 43% higher than drivers aged 75 to 84 and nearly 88% higher than those aged 65 to 74.
The differences become especially significant when examining the number of licensed drivers in each age category.
In 2024, approximately 32.54 million Americans aged 65 to 74 held driver’s licenses, compared with 4.58 million drivers aged 85 and older.
The younger senior group recorded 2,508 deaths, while drivers aged 85 and older accounted for 663 fatalities.
Despite having substantially fewer total deaths, the oldest drivers experienced the highest fatality rate relative to their licensed population.
Comparing the Youngest and Oldest Senior Drivers
| Measure | Ages 65–74 | Ages 85+ |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed drivers | 32.54 million | 4.58 million |
| Driver fatalities | 2,508 | 663 |
| Fatality rate per 100K | 7.71 | 14.47 |
The comparison illustrates why relying exclusively on total deaths can obscure the relative risks experienced by different age groups.
Drivers aged 65 to 74 represented a much larger population and recorded nearly four times as many deaths as drivers aged 85 and older.
However, once licensed-driver populations were taken into account, the oldest age group experienced a considerably higher rate of fatal outcomes.
Fatal-Crash Involvement per Mile Rises With Age
The differences become more pronounced when researchers account for the distance motorists travel.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety data included in CR Legal Team’s analysis shows that fatal-crash involvement rates increase substantially among the oldest age groups when measured per 100 million miles driven.
Fatal-Crash Involvement per 100 Million Miles Traveled
| Driver Age | Fatal-Crash Involvement Rate |
|---|---|
| 70–74 | 2.1 |
| 75–79 | 2.8 |
| 80–84 | 5.3 |
| 85+ | 7.9 |
These mileage-adjusted estimates are based on 2022 data, rather than the 2024 licensed-driver fatality rates presented above.
Drivers aged 85 and older experienced approximately 3.8 times the fatal-crash involvement rate of drivers aged 70 to 74.
The rate also increased sharply between the 75–79 and 80–84 age groups, rising from 2.8 to 5.3 fatal-crash involvements per 100 million miles.
The oldest group recorded a further increase to 7.9.
These differences matter because older motorists generally drive fewer miles than younger adults. Population-based fatality rates alone cannot fully capture differences in how frequently drivers are exposed to traffic.
The higher mileage-adjusted involvement rate among the oldest motorists highlights the importance of examining both driving exposure and crash severity.
Physical Vulnerability Plays a Major Role in Fatal Crash Outcomes
A higher fatality rate does not necessarily mean that older drivers are more likely to make dangerous driving decisions.
Research discussed in CR Legal Team’s study identifies physical vulnerability as an important contributor to fatal outcomes among older motorists.
As people age, injuries sustained during collisions may become more severe, and recovery can be complicated by underlying health conditions or reduced physical resilience.
This means collisions that might produce nonfatal injuries among younger adults can carry greater consequences for older occupants.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety identifies increased susceptibility to injury and medical complications as major factors behind elevated fatal-crash rates among older drivers.
The distinction is important because fatality statistics measure the outcome of a collision, not simply whether an individual was responsible for causing it.
A driver involved in a crash may face an increased risk of death because of physical vulnerability even when the collision circumstances are similar to those involving a younger motorist.
Consequently, measures that reduce collision severity could play an important role in lowering fatalities among older drivers.
Intersections Account for a Growing Share of Fatal-Crash Involvement
Roadway design is another major concern identified in the research.
Federal crash data analyzed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that older drivers are increasingly represented in fatal multiple-vehicle crashes occurring at intersections.
In 2024, approximately 24% of fatal-crash involvements among passenger vehicle drivers aged 20 to 64 were multiple-vehicle crashes at intersections.
The proportion increased considerably among older drivers.
Share of Fatal-Crash Involvements Occurring in Multiple-Vehicle Intersection Crashes
| Driver Age | Share |
|---|---|
| 20–64 | Approximately 24% |
| 70–74 | 32% |
| 75–79 | 34% |
| 80–84 | 40% |
| 85+ | 46% |
Among drivers aged 85 and older, nearly half of fatal-crash involvements occurred in multiple-vehicle intersection crashes.
That compared with approximately one-quarter among motorists aged 20 to 64.
For drivers aged 80 to 84, the figure reached 40%, while those aged 75 to 79 recorded 34%.
These percentages describe the distribution of fatal-crash involvements within each age group. They do not establish that older drivers caused those collisions.
Nevertheless, the findings indicate that intersections are an important setting for understanding fatal crashes involving older motorists.
Intersection safety measures may include improved visibility, clearer traffic signals, more intuitive turning movements and roadway designs that provide additional time for drivers to recognize and respond to potential conflicts.
Such improvements could benefit drivers across all age groups.
Distracted Driving Does Not Explain the Entire Senior-Driver Safety Problem
The study also examined whether distraction contributes disproportionately to fatal crashes involving older motorists.
According to the NHTSA findings discussed by CR Legal Team, distraction-related fatality figures were approximately 5% across each of the three senior-driver age categories: 65–74, 75–84 and 85 and older.
The similarity across age groups does not support the assumption that the oldest motorists are uniquely affected by distracted driving.
Federal records identified several specific distractions among older drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Reported Distraction Factors Involving Older Drivers in Fatal Crashes
| Distraction Factor | Recorded Cases |
|---|---|
| Mobile phone use | 29 |
| Person or object outside the vehicle | 29 |
| Vehicle-integrated controls | 14 |
| Another occupant inside the vehicle | 10 |
The study also identified 20 drivers aged 65 to 74 using mobile phones during fatal crashes, compared with nine drivers aged 75 and older.
These findings demonstrate that distraction can take multiple forms, including activities unrelated to handheld phone use.
However, distracted-driving statistics are subject to underreporting, and the available figures do not establish the full contribution of distraction to senior-driver fatalities.
The research also does not demonstrate that distraction is the primary reason fatality rates rise among the oldest drivers.
Vehicle Safety Technology Could Reduce Fatalities
The study identifies vehicle safety technology as one potential way to reduce fatal crash outcomes among older motorists.
Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that several driver-assistance systems could potentially help prevent approximately one-quarter of older-driver fatalities.
The technologies highlighted include:
- Front crash prevention: Systems designed to detect potential forward collisions and provide warnings or automatic braking.
- Blind-spot detection: Technology that alerts drivers to vehicles in adjacent areas that may be difficult to see.
- Lane-departure warnings: Systems that notify motorists when their vehicles begin leaving a travel lane unintentionally.
These technologies may help drivers recognize hazards or reduce collision severity, although their effectiveness depends on system capabilities and driving conditions.
For older motorists, crash avoidance and injury mitigation are both important.
The study’s findings also indicate that vehicle technology should be considered alongside roadway improvements rather than as a complete solution on its own.
Licensing Policies Could Focus More on Driving Ability Than Age
The variation in fatality rates across senior age groups has also raised questions about licensing requirements and driver fitness assessments.
States currently use different policies for older motorists, including license renewal schedules, vision examinations and procedures for reviewing medical conditions that may affect driving.
The study discusses approaches supported by traffic safety organizations, including additional assessments when concerns about driving ability arise.
Potential measures include reviewing crash histories, conducting vision assessments, evaluating medical concerns and considering restricted licenses when appropriate.
Such measures could help identify drivers who may benefit from additional assistance without assuming that reaching a particular age automatically makes someone unsafe.
The distinction matters because the study documents considerable differences in fatality rates between senior age groups but does not establish that every individual within a high-rate age category presents the same driving risk.
A person’s medical condition, driving ability, roadway environment and vehicle safety features may all contribute to their individual circumstances.
The National Senior-Driver Population Continues to Expand
The findings come amid substantial growth in the number of older Americans retaining their driving privileges.
Between 2020 and 2024:
- Licensed drivers aged 65 and older increased from 47.67 million to 54.39 million.
- The senior driving population grew by approximately 6.72 million.
- Annual senior-driver fatalities increased from 4,241 to 4,917.
- The national senior-driver fatality rate reached 9.04 per 100K licensed drivers in 2024.
The increase in licensed older drivers creates a growing need for transportation systems that accommodate motorists with a broad range of physical abilities and driving experience.
At the same time, the substantial difference between the youngest and oldest senior age groups demonstrates why senior-driver safety should not be treated as a single issue.
Preventing Fatalities May Require a Broader Approach to Road Safety
CR Legal Team’s findings indicate that the oldest drivers face particularly elevated risks of fatal outcomes, but they also point to opportunities for reducing those risks without relying exclusively on age-based driving restrictions.
The approximately 88% difference in fatality rates between drivers aged 85 and older and those aged 65 to 74 is substantial.
Mileage-adjusted fatal-crash involvement rates reinforce the differences, while intersection statistics identify a roadway environment deserving particular attention.
For transportation officials, the findings suggest that safer intersections, better visibility, improved vehicle safety technology and targeted assessments of driving ability could form part of a broader prevention strategy.
The research also highlights the importance of distinguishing a driver’s likelihood of being involved in a collision from their vulnerability to fatal injuries when a crash occurs.
As the population of licensed older drivers continues to expand, reducing fatal crash outcomes will increasingly depend on measures that account for both roadway hazards and the physical consequences of serious collisions.