If you had to guess, you might expect young drivers to be the fastest growing demographic of drivers in the country. After all, there are more teens learning to drive every day. According to a new report from the Federal Highway Administration, however, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In fact, the study found that drivers over the age of 85 represent the fastest growing driver demographic. Between 1998 and 2013, the number of these octogenarian drivers doubled. Today, there are more drivers over the age of 85 on the road than ever before. And whereas older Americans are coming out in record numbers to get their drivers licenses, many younger Americans are choosing to live without cars instead.
Drivers over 85 might be the fastest growing group of drivers, but the number of drivers over 50 is increasing as well. Currently, this group represents roughly 44 percent of all drivers in America, with 93.5 million as of 2013.
This trend has caused safety experts to raise concerns about the risks associated with elderly drivers. According to the CDC, accident fatality rates begin to increase between ages 70-74, and are at their highest in the over-85 demographic. The CDC attributes these figures to older drivers’ increased susceptibility to injuries and medical complications.
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