Older Drivers

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (ODSAW)

Next week from December 5-9, is Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (ODSAW). In 2020, there were 55.7 million people in the United States - 17% of the population - who were over the age of 65. It is important to note, simply getting older doesn't mean individuals have to hang up their keys. The risk of crashes for older drivers is in part related to physical, visual, and cognitive changes associated with aging, medical conditions and the medications used to treat them. Our role here at NHTSA is to ensure that all people in the United States have safe mobility on our roadways.

The Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services hosts a website, granddriver.net, that has a wealth of information for older drivers and their loved ones. In addition, you will find resources gathered by NHTSA. 

Please also reference the links below for additional resources to use in addressing safety among older drivers:

• NHTSA Traffic Safety Marketing: ODSAW Earned Media Fact Sheet, Sample Op Ed and Social Media Messaging

• Clearinghouse for Older Road User Safety (ChORUS): ODSAW 2022 Resources — Sample Press Releases/Articles, Sample Social Messages, Infographics, Posters, Lobby Slides, and more.

• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): Find the ODSAW 2022 themes and ways to connect with AOTA to educate, empower, and enable older drivers and their families to plan for their safe transportation at Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (#ODSAW) | AOTA

• Spotlight on Older Driver Safety Awareness Week Resources Meeting presentation slide deck

• TSI Older Road User Program Management Course Details

Older Americans Month

This May, please join the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in celebrating  Older Americans Month (OAM) by promoting mature driver safety. The older population are vulnerable road users. In fact, the fatal-crash driver involvement risk for both male and female licensed older drivers increases at age 75, and the highest increase is in the 80 to 84 age group.1 Due to age-related vulnerabilities, older drivers are more likely to be injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes.2 In 2021, Virginia mature driver (age 65+) fatalities increased by over 15% (145 vs 126) compared to 2020. 

As the number of older Americans continues to rise, DMV remains dedicated to eliminating fatal and serious injuries for all road users – including our older population. To support us in this mission, please share the available resources below during OAM and throughout the entire year to promote the safety of older drivers in your local community. Resources include: articles, social media messages, lobby slides, posters, handouts, sample press releases, presentations and infographics.

• Virginia Grand Driver
• Road Safe Seniors
• NHTSA- Older Drivers
• Towards Zero Deaths Virginia-Mature Drivers

Thank you for your continued dedication to highway safety.