Why Older Drivers Are More Careful Behind The Wheel

Older drivers are more experienced on the roads and have fewer accidents than young drivers. That’s not an opinion, but a fact. According to figures from the Department of Transport (DOT) released in 2004, during the previous year drivers aged 16–19 were three times more likely to die in a car crash than those aged 40–49, and a staggering four times more likely to perish than drivers aged 50–69 years old.

The DOT report also concluded that speed is the major contributory factor when it comes to deaths on the road among young male drivers compared to older drivers. Indeed, almost 41% of total casualties aged 16–25 were involved in accidents where excessive speed was the major contributory factor. In general, young drivers overestimate their ability behind the wheel and therefore frequently exceed safe driving speeds as opposed to older drivers who as well as being more experienced are also more cautious. (more…)