Safety Topics Safety Topics Bicycle Safety Child Safety Distracted Driving Drug-Impaired Driving Drunk Driving Motorcycle Safety Move Over Safety Older Driver Safety Pedestrian Safety Rail Grade Crossing School Bus Safety Seat Belt Safety Speeding Teen Driver Safety Vehicle Safety View All Breadcrumb Safety Topics Older Driver Safety Older Driver Safety Older drivers face unique safety concerns including vision, reflexes, and physical fitness. We have materials to help guide the discussion with older drivers, and children and caregivers of aging adults.Many assets are available in English and Spanish. Share this information with partner organizations to help spread the message across communities.A reminder, Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is December 1-5, 2025 – a good opportunity to increase messaging. Facts Messaging Videos Awareness Week Resources Facts Older population facts, stats and reports from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis Get More Facts & Reports In 2023 there were 7,891 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 19% of all traffic fatalities.From 2022 to 2023 there was a 2% decrease in the number of people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes.In 2023 there were 59.2 million people — 18% of the total U.S. population — who were 65 and older.The older population traffic fatality rate per 100,000 population in 2023 was 13.32, a decrease of 5% from 13.96 in 2022.Older female drivers accounted for 24% of all female driver fatalities in 2023, compared with 17% for the older-male-driver fatalities.Among the older population, the traffic fatality rate per 100,000 population in 2023 was highest for the 80-to-84-and-older age group.Older drivers made up 22% of all licensed drivers in 2023, compared to 18% in 2014. In 2023 most traffic fatalities in crashes involving older drivers occurred during the daytime (70%), on weekdays (68%), and were in multi-vehicle crashes (68%). These percentages are higher compared to all fatalities (46% were during the daytime, 58% were on weekdays, and 46% were in multi-vehicle crashes).Among passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2023, when restraint use was known, those occupants 65 and older were restrained 70% of the time, compared to 45% for those occupants under 65. 70% of older pedestrian fatalities in 2023 occurred at non intersection locations, compared to 85% for those under 65.For facts translated in Spanish, visit NHTSA.gov/Espanol. Talking Points We've prepared talking points related to older drivers. After downloading, we encourage you to add local stats and facts to the document. Some talking points are for an older driver audience and others are for families and caregivers. Talking Points | English Talking Points | Spanish Earned Media We've produced a sample news release and drafted documents that can be used as a newsletter, article, column or part of other content. News Release | English News Release | Spanish Social Media Sample social media posts are available for you to use on your various social media platforms, including Facebook, X and Instagram. Social Media | English Social Media | Spanish Image Library Images often help boost content engagement, especially on social media posts. We offer a variety of traffic safety images for free.Older Driver Image Library Videos Keeping Independent For practitioners, professionals PREVIEW EXTERNAL LINK Overcome Concerns, Occupational Therapy PREVIEW EXTERNAL LINK Older Driver Safety Awareness Week Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is December 1-5, 2025, and you'll see increased communication related to older drivers. You can use any of the material available on this page to increase your older driver messaging.If using earned media material, you can customize the news release and newsletter to reference Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. For Medical Professionals Driving-Related Fact Sheet For Medical ProfessionalsCardiovascular DiseaseCognitive ConditionsDementiaDiabetesFunctional ConditionsPhysical LimitationsSeizuresSleep DisordersVisual Impairment Additional Resources Older Population data visualizationDriveWell ToolkitClearinghouse for Older Road User Safety: RoadSafeSeniors.orgOlder Driver Countermeasures That WorkNHTSA.gov Older Drivers: English | SpanishSign up to get campaign updates via email from Traffic Safety Marketing
Safety Topics Safety Topics Bicycle Safety Child Safety Distracted Driving Drug-Impaired Driving Drunk Driving Motorcycle Safety Move Over Safety Older Driver Safety Pedestrian Safety Rail Grade Crossing School Bus Safety Seat Belt Safety Speeding Teen Driver Safety Vehicle Safety View All Breadcrumb Safety Topics Older Driver Safety Older Driver Safety Older drivers face unique safety concerns including vision, reflexes, and physical fitness. We have materials to help guide the discussion with older drivers, and children and caregivers of aging adults.Many assets are available in English and Spanish. Share this information with partner organizations to help spread the message across communities.A reminder, Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is December 1-5, 2025 – a good opportunity to increase messaging. Facts Messaging Videos Awareness Week Resources Facts Older population facts, stats and reports from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis Get More Facts & Reports In 2023 there were 7,891 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 19% of all traffic fatalities.From 2022 to 2023 there was a 2% decrease in the number of people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes.In 2023 there were 59.2 million people — 18% of the total U.S. population — who were 65 and older.The older population traffic fatality rate per 100,000 population in 2023 was 13.32, a decrease of 5% from 13.96 in 2022.Older female drivers accounted for 24% of all female driver fatalities in 2023, compared with 17% for the older-male-driver fatalities.Among the older population, the traffic fatality rate per 100,000 population in 2023 was highest for the 80-to-84-and-older age group.Older drivers made up 22% of all licensed drivers in 2023, compared to 18% in 2014. In 2023 most traffic fatalities in crashes involving older drivers occurred during the daytime (70%), on weekdays (68%), and were in multi-vehicle crashes (68%). These percentages are higher compared to all fatalities (46% were during the daytime, 58% were on weekdays, and 46% were in multi-vehicle crashes).Among passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2023, when restraint use was known, those occupants 65 and older were restrained 70% of the time, compared to 45% for those occupants under 65. 70% of older pedestrian fatalities in 2023 occurred at non intersection locations, compared to 85% for those under 65.For facts translated in Spanish, visit NHTSA.gov/Espanol. Talking Points We've prepared talking points related to older drivers. After downloading, we encourage you to add local stats and facts to the document. Some talking points are for an older driver audience and others are for families and caregivers. Talking Points | English Talking Points | Spanish Earned Media We've produced a sample news release and drafted documents that can be used as a newsletter, article, column or part of other content. News Release | English News Release | Spanish Social Media Sample social media posts are available for you to use on your various social media platforms, including Facebook, X and Instagram. Social Media | English Social Media | Spanish Image Library Images often help boost content engagement, especially on social media posts. We offer a variety of traffic safety images for free.Older Driver Image Library Videos Keeping Independent For practitioners, professionals PREVIEW EXTERNAL LINK Overcome Concerns, Occupational Therapy PREVIEW EXTERNAL LINK Older Driver Safety Awareness Week Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is December 1-5, 2025, and you'll see increased communication related to older drivers. You can use any of the material available on this page to increase your older driver messaging.If using earned media material, you can customize the news release and newsletter to reference Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. For Medical Professionals Driving-Related Fact Sheet For Medical ProfessionalsCardiovascular DiseaseCognitive ConditionsDementiaDiabetesFunctional ConditionsPhysical LimitationsSeizuresSleep DisordersVisual Impairment Additional Resources Older Population data visualizationDriveWell ToolkitClearinghouse for Older Road User Safety: RoadSafeSeniors.orgOlder Driver Countermeasures That WorkNHTSA.gov Older Drivers: English | SpanishSign up to get campaign updates via email from Traffic Safety Marketing