Senior Driving in Alaska

A man poses for a NHTSA driving ad

An elderly couple travels across country

A man waits at a red light

Everyone ages differently and where some people are perfectly capable of continuing to drive in their seventies, eighties, and even beyond; many elders, however, are at higher risk for on or off road crashes. According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) senior drivers are more likely to receive traffic citations for failing to yield, turning improperly, and running red lights and stop signs - an indication of decreased driving ability. A person 65 or older who is involved in a car crash is more likely to be seriously injured, more likely to require hospitalization, and more likely to die than younger people involved in the same crash. In particular, fatal crash rates rise sharply after a driver has reached the age of 70.

How should you prepare to start the conversation with an older driver? Here is helpful information provided by The Hartford Financial Services Group on how and when to help someone through this often difficult decision making process.

 

Organizations

• Alaska AARP
• Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (Senior Services Division)
• AAA
• Senior Corps
• SeniorDrivers.org
• AgeLab

 

Useful Articles and Statistics

• Senior Citizen Driving: Warning Signs and Helping an Unsafe Driver to Stop Driving
• Better Options for Older Adults
• Mature Driver Information from the Alaska DMV
• Alaska DUI Advice
• 1994-2006 Pedestrian Fatalities by Age (79 KB)
• AAA Foundation - Senior Safety & Mobility (620 KB)
• When a Disoriented Senior Wants to Drive
• Good Morning America story "Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk"

 

The Driving Safety Cycle

PLAN: Before you begin driving, plan your route, make sure your car is properly prepared and make alternate transportation arrangements when appropriate.

SCAN: Pay close attention to what is happening all around you. Look and listen for situations that may require you to react quickly.

THINK: Consider how safety will be affected by what you have seen or heard.

DECIDE: Decide how to handle the situation so you feel in control.

ACT: Apply good judgement to eliminate unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.