GLEN BURNIE, MD (November 29, 2024) -- The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration is encouraging older drivers and their families to use several vital resources as part of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, Monday, December 2, through Friday, December 6, to allow those who can drive safely to continue to do so.
“Helping older drivers address age-related challenges is a top priority for us,” said Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “As we kick of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week in Maryland, we are sending a message that our state values its aging drivers and we are committed to doing all we can to help them stay safe on the road.” Older adults, as a group, are among the safest drivers on the roads. Drivers over age 55 are involved in fewer crashes, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are more likely to observe safer driving behaviors. However, older drivers are also more likely to be killed or injured in traffic crashes due to age-related vulnerabilities, such as more fragile bones, prescription medication use and chronic medical conditions. Except for teen drivers, older drivers have the highest crash death rate per mile driven, even though they drive fewer miles than younger people. As drivers age, factors such as decreased vision, impaired hearing, slower motor reflexes and worsening health conditions can place them at increased risks. Aging also tends to result in a reduction of strength, coordination, and flexibility, which can affect drivers’ ability to safely control a car. Here are some essential tips for elderly drivers: - have vision checked annually;
- stay physically active to maintain strength and flexibility;
- plan travel routes in advance;
- select optimal road conditions for travel to ensure safety;
- drive during daylight hours only in good weather.
Recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation exhibit the need for enhanced safety measures among drivers aged 65 and above. In 2022, this age group accounted for 19% of all fatal traffic crashes. However, various adaptive modifications in vehicles, such as hand controls and pedal extenders, offer tailored solutions to address their specific needs and improve driving comfort. The Motor Vehicle Administration produces a Resource Guide for Aging Drivers that offers detailed information and easy-to-use tools for customers to learn more about aging, health and driving. Additionally, there are several other safety resources to better understand the features available on newer vehicles designed to help prevent crashes and what adjustments can be made within the vehicle to make driving more comfortable. MyCarDoesWhat and www.car-fit.org%2F%26data=04%257C01%257Ccbrown17%2540mdot.maryland.gov%257C2a9dd8a5aad1413769a708d9b8c0b70b%257Cb38cd27c57ca4597be2822df43dd47f1%257C0%257C1%257C637743960122868566%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C3000%26sdata=3krmEmFrcGnxDwutb%2FtDRX%2F08dHUS%252BwtZq%2FTjGumZEM%253D%26reserved=0/1/0101019378f93113-8f4ae0dc-f119-4e55-9729-0df89ac08929-000000/1ecpOz4vnnUrKCScLteMpAwblmyh9PmPQL5Lflri1-w=381. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%252F%252Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%252F%253Furl%3Dhttps:%252F%252Fwww.car-fit.org%252F%2526data%3D04%25257C01%25257Ccbrown17%252540mdot.maryland.gov%25257C2a9dd8a5aad1413769a708d9b8c0b70b%25257Cb38cd27c57ca4597be2822df43dd47f1%25257C0%25257C1%25257C637743960122868566%25257CUnknown%25257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%25253D%25257C3000%2526sdata%3D3krmEmFrcGnxDwutb%252FtDRX%252F08dHUS%25252BwtZq%252FTjGumZEM%25253D%2526reserved%3D0/1/0101019378f93113-8f4ae0dc-f119-4e55-9729-0df89ac08929-000000/1ecpOz4vnnUrKCScLteMpAwblmyh9PmPQL5Lflri1-w%3D381&data=05%7c02%7ccbrown17%40mdot.maryland.gov%7c8092d39409b24f606c8608dd109b7ea0%7cb38cd27c57ca4597be2822df43dd47f1%7c0%7c0%7c638684982743489540%7cUnknown%7cTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=O4JoVGqlGPY%2BxCf0q6A27SO292A0HaTxlM/wQJE5CJw%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="4" data-ogsc="rgb(29, 87, 130)" style="border:0px;font:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#1d5782 !important;">CarFit are programs that ensure a motorist is up to date on the latest education and their vehicle is properly adjusted to them. “The MVA is committed to helping older drivers to continue to travel safely in their communities. We hope that they take advantage of all the available resources the MVA has to offer to help keep themselves healthy, safe, independent and confident when they’re behind the wheel,” Administrator Nizer said. If you or a loved one begins to recognize the warning signs for diminished driving capacity, have conversations with family, friends and your health care provider. Contact an occupational therapist or a driver rehabilitation specialist to get advice and to learn about other transportation. ###
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