Elderly Car Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of elderly car accidents causing fatal injuries is increasing. Over a 10 year study, the number of people aged 65 and older grew about 14%.
Have you or someone you know been involved in an elderly car accident? If so, contact one of our experienced auto accident lawyers in your area today!
When looking at the number of people in the US who are licensed to drive, there are fewer elderly people who are licensed to drive when being compared with younger groups. In addition, the elderly drivers who do have licenses drive fewer miles per licensed driver.
Even with these facts, reports show that people aged 65 and over have a higher rate of fatal crashed per mile drived, per 100,000 people, and per licensed driver than any other group except for young drivers.
Elderly car accident crashs:
- Almost half of all fatal crashes involving people aged 80 and older occur at intersections and involve more than one vehicle.
- Individuals aged 75 and older hold the record for the highest pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people.
- 82% of crashes involving the elderly occured during the daytime hours
- 71% of crashes involving the elderly occured on weekdays
- 75% of crashes involving the elderly involved a second vehicle
When comparing all age groups, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in a one year study that "older people made up 9 percent of the resident population but accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities and 17 percent of all pedestrian fatalities."
Have you or someone you know been involved in an elderly car accident? If so, contact one of our experienced auto accident attorneys in your area today!
Information regarding license renewals for elderly drivers:
| State |
Length of
Renewal Cycle |
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR OLDER DRIVERS |
Alabama |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Alaska |
5 yr. |
None |
Mail renewal not available to people 69 and older and to people whose prior renewal was by mail. |
Arizona 1 |
Until age 65 1 |
5 yr. for people 65 and older |
People 70 and older may not renew by mail. |
Arkansas |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
California |
5 yr. |
None |
At age 70, mail renewal is prohibited. No more than two sequential mail renewals are permitted, regardless of age. |
Colorado |
10 yr. (eff. 7/1/01) |
5 yr. for people 61 and older (eff. 7/1/01) |
Mail renewal not available to people 66 and older and to people whose prior renewal was by mail. |
Connecticut |
4 yr. or 6 yr. |
None that are safety related 2 |
None that are safety related 2 |
Delaware |
5 yr. |
None |
None |
District of Columbia |
5 yr. |
None |
At age 70, or nearest renewal date thereafter, a vision test is required and a reaction test may be required. Applicant must provide a statement from a practicing physician certifying the applicant to be physically and mentally competent to drive.
At 75 years, or nearest renewal date thereafter, and on each subsequent renewal date, the applicant may be required to also complete the written and road tests. |
Florida |
6 yr. with clean record; 4 yr. otherwise |
None |
Renewal applicants 80 and older must pass a vision test administered at any driver's license office or if applying for an extension by mail must pass a vision test administered by a licensed physician or optometrist. (eff. 1/1/04) 3 |
Have you or someone you know been involved in an elderly car accident? If so, contact one of our experienced auto accident attorneys in your area today!
| State |
Length of
Renewal Cycle |
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR OLDER DRIVERS |
Georgia |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Hawaii |
6 yr. |
2 yr. for people 72 and older |
None |
Idaho |
4 yr. |
Drivers ages 21-62 have the choice of a 4- or 8-yr. license; drivers 63 and older will receive a 4-yr. license |
None |
Illinois |
4 yr. |
2 yr. for drivers ages 81-86; 1 yr. for drivers 87 and older |
Renewal applicants 75 and older must take a road test. |
Indiana |
4 yr. |
3 yr. for drivers 75 and older |
None |
Iowa |
5 yr. |
2 yr. for drivers 70 and older |
None |
Kansas |
6 yr. |
4 yr. for drivers 65 and older |
None |
Kentucky |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Louisiana |
4 yr. |
None |
Mail renewal not available to people 70 and older and to people whose prior renewal was by mail. |
Maine |
6 yr. |
4 yr. for drivers 65 and older |
Vision test required at first renewal after driver's 40th birthday and at every second renewal until age 62; thereafter, at every renewal. |
Have you or someone you know been involved in an elderly car accident? If so, contact one of our experienced auto accident attorneys in your area today!
| State |
Length of
Renewal Cycle |
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR OLDER DRIVERS |
Maryland |
5 yr. |
None |
None that are safety related 4 |
Massachusetts |
5 yr. |
None |
None that are safety related 4 |
Michigan |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Minnesota |
4 yr. |
None |
None that are safety related 4 |
Mississippi |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Missouri |
6 yr. |
3 yr. for drivers 70 and older and 21 and younger |
None |
Montana |
8 yr., 4yr. if by mail, or on 75th birthday, whichever occurs first |
4 yr. for drivers 75 and older |
A person may not renew by mail for consecutive terms. |
Nebraska |
5 yr. |
None |
None |
Nevada |
4 yr. |
None |
None that are safety related 4 |
New Hampshire |
5 yr. |
None |
Renewal applicants age 75 and older must take a road test. |
Have you or someone you know been involved in an elderly car accident? If so, contact one of our experienced auto accident lawyers in your area today!
| State |
Length of
Renewal Cycle |
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR OLDER DRIVERS |
New Jersey |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
New Mexico |
4 or 8 yr. at driver's option |
4 yrs. for drivers who would turn 75 in the last half of an 8-yr. renewal cycle |
None |
New York |
5 yr. |
None |
None |
North Carolina |
5 yr. |
None |
People 60 and older are not required to parallel park in the road test. |
North Dakota |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Ohio |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Oklahoma |
4 yr. |
None |
None that are safety related 5 |
Oregon |
8 yr. |
None |
Vision screening is required every 8 yr. for drivers 50 and older. |
Pennsylvania |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Rhode Island |
5 yr. |
2 yr. for drivers 70 and older |
None |
Have you or someone you know been involved in an elderly car accident? If so, contact one of our experienced auto accident lawyers in your area today!
| State |
Length of
Renewal Cycle |
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR OLDER DRIVERS |
South Carolina |
10 yr. 6 |
5 yr. for drivers 65 and older |
Vision test required for people 65 and older . |
South Dakota |
5 yr. |
None |
None |
Tennessee |
5 yr. |
None |
Licenses issued to people 65 and older do not expire. 5 |
Texas |
6 yr. |
None |
None |
Utah |
5 yr. |
None |
Vision test required for people 65 and older. |
Vermont |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
Virginia |
5 yr. |
None |
None |
Washington |
5 yr. |
None |
None |
West Virginia |
5 yr. |
None |
None |
Wisconsin |
8 yr. |
None |
None |
Wyoming |
4 yr. |
None |
None |
1 In Arizona, the license is valid until age 65. Any person 65 years and older who is renewing by mail must submit a vision test verification form, provided by the department, or verification of an examination of the applicant's eyesight. The vision test or examination must be conducted not more than 3 months before.
2 In Connecticut, people 65 and older may choose a 2-year or 6-year renewal cycle. A personal appearance at renewal generally is required. Upon a showing of hardship, people 65 and older may renew by mail.
3 In Florida, only two successive renewals may be made electronically or by mail, regardless of age.
4 Some states' licensing laws specifically prohibit licensing administrators from treating people differently solely by virtue of advanced age. Maryland law specifies that age alone is not a grounds for reexamination of drivers; applicants for an initial license age 70 and older must provide proof of previous satisfactory operation of a vehicle or physician's certificate of fitness. Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination by reason of age with regard to licensing. Minnesota and Nevada law specify that age alone is not a justification for reexamination. In Nevada, applicants for mail renewal age 70 and older must include a medical report.
5 License fee reduced for drivers 62-64 and are waived for drivers 65 and older in Oklahoma; fees are reduced for drivers 60 and older in Tennessee.
6 Beginning October 1, 2008 every licensee will be required to submit to a vision test every 5 years. Have you or someone you know been involved in an elderly car accident? If so, contact one of our experienced auto accident attorneys in your area today!
Updated: LW |
