Do Older Drivers Have More Accidents?

Do Older Drivers Have More Accidents?

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For every story of a disorientated pensioner heading the wrong way down a motorway there are many thousands of older road users who drive perfectly sensibly and therefore safely all the time. The Office for National Statistics produces many detailed reports on the age of drivers involved in incidents, and there are clues that suggest older drivers may, in fact, be safer than younger ones.

We can start by looking at the cost of car insurance; try insuring the same car for a 19 year old and a 60 year old and you will immediately see the difference. Of course, the latter has more experience, but the former is still well imbued with fresh instructions on how to drive correctly and is yet to pick up any bad habits.

Recent statistics show that of all the 300,000 road accidents that occur, on average, each year in the UK, some 77% of casualties were between the ages of 16 and 59. We have to bear in mind at this point that these figures include drivers, passengers and pedestrians, and that of course there are more people in this age group who drive cars than in the group above.

The 60 and above age group accounts for just ten percent of all casualties, while those below the age of 16 perhaps tellingly for almost 13%. If we look a little closer we find that the occupants of cars make up 70% of the total, and pedestrians 12% of all casualties in the UK over a year. Taking into account the relative numbers of people in each of these age group it is possible to say that older people are responsible for a significant amount of accidents on our roads, but is it significant enough to single them out as a menace on the roads? Given that children account for more casualties one would have to conclude that it is very difficult to do so with any certainty.

About the Author:
Hi, my name's Simon Tregg and I write about whiplash claims and road accidents at www.WhiplashClaims.org a UK based website in the personal injury claims sector. I also write about personal injuries, sports injuries, accidents at work and asbestos related illnesses.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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