A 93-year-old Massachusetts man who confused the brake and the gas pedals accidentally drove directly into a Wal-Mart entrance and injured six people. In 2003 an 86-year-old motorist made the same mistake and drove directly into the crowd at a Santa Monica, California farmer's market, killing 10 and injuring over 70. In Massachusetts a 73-year-old driver jumped a curb, driving directly into the crowd surrounding a war memorial in 2009.

These are dramatic examples dangerous car accidents caused by aging drivers and may not be the norm. Studies surrounding the subject have not yet come to a cohesive agreement but one thing is sure: as our large older population ages the percentage of elderly drivers will rise and it is estimated by the United States Census Bureau that 1 in 4 American citizens will be over the age of 65 by 2050.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a detailed report in 2001 on the driving records of the elderly which initially surmised that older drivers are involved in more car accidents than younger motorists. A subsequent report released in 2010, again by the IIHS, found that senior drivers are no more likely to be in car accidents than younger drivers on the road and in fact both fatal accidents and less serious motor vehicle accidents have decreased overall since 1997.

The hypothesis for this decrease, both in the rate of accidents throughout the country and in the rate of accidents the elderly are involved in, is that campaigns increasing driving safety awareness have inspired younger and older drivers alike to be on the lookout for risks. It is believed that senior motorists police themselves by understanding and identifying their physical and perceptual limitations and either avoid driving temporarily or permanently surrender their licenses.

When is an Aging Driver of Dangerous Driver?
Elderly drivers who begin gradually accumulating an increasing number of minor dings, dents and scratches, traffic tickets and near-miss accidents should take note of and take action. These signs indicate the difficulty in controlling the motor vehicle.

Less dramatic signs are physical limitations, mobility issues and a decrease in reaction times. A decline in vision or hearing can greatly impair drivers and the pain of arthritis in the neck, back, shoulders, elbows and wrists can make it difficult to check blind spots or turn and react quickly to hazards in traffic and on the road. Some feel because the drivers no about these limitations they should technically be held liable for negligence.

Regulations may come into light in the future but at this point only individual motorists can make the choice to limit or halt their driving and promote safety on the road.

If you are in aging driver or have been involved in and injured in an automobile accident involving an aging driver then contact a personal injury attorney directly to assist you with insurance negotiations and potential lawsuits.