Rhode Island is the most dangerous state when it comes to drivers 65 and older while New Mexico is the safest.
After decades of saving and enduring the roller coaster ride of the markets, it’s finally time to retire and, of course, making the hard-earned, well-saved dollars plays a role in where one might settle, but there is another factor that may trump it: death.
If you plan to be an active senior and get behind the wheel of your car, truck or SUV to pick up grandkids or simply head to the market, Rhode Island is the place you are least likely to want to retire. The Ocean State is the most dangerous state for drivers 65 and older, according to Caring.com.
The website’s 2015 Senior Driving study estimated that about 14 million Americans had been involved in a car crash caused by an elderly driver in the previous year. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that some 586 elderly drivers are injured and 15 are killed in auto accidents in the U.S. daily.
“Little Rhody” was followed by Maine, Minnesota, New York and Idaho. The study compared the number of people age 65 and older who were killed in car accidents with that age group’s share of the population in each state. In Rhode Island, for example, senior citizens comprised 35% of car-related fatalities in 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Since seniors made up just 16% of Rhode Island’s population (per the U.S. Census), they were 19 percentage points more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than expected.
New Mexico is the least dangerous state for older drivers. North Dakota, Louisiana, Alaska, Montana, Mississippi and South Carolina followed and are the only other states where seniors accounted for fewer car-related fatalities than their share of the population projected.
“It’s never easy to tell mom or grandpa to stop driving, but these numbers show why it’s crucial to have that conversation before it’s too late,” said Dayna Steele, Caring.com’s chief caring expert and the author of Surviving Alzheimer’s with Friends, Facebook and a Really Big Glass of Wine.
“Many seniors think they’ll lose their independence if they stop driving, so investigate alternatives like ride-sharing services and public transportation. Also, try to offer rides from family members, friends and neighbors when possible.”
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One of the factors some states face is that they have lax driving rules for senior drivers. Thirty-one states have stricter rules for older drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. The most common requirement is a more frequent renewal cycle. 11 states require mature motorists to pass a vision test after a certain age. Only two (Illinois and New Hampshire) mandate a supplemental road test at age 75.
Weather and out-of-date transportation infrastructure can also impact the rate of senior driving deaths in a given area, said Richard Murdocco, who has written extensively about land use, urban planning and development.
And in suburban areas lacking mass transportation options or pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, seniors often must drive to get around, which can also push up the rate of older adults involved in car accidents in those communities, he notes.
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“Nationwide, suburban areas have struggled with aging populations – they’re trying to adapt an old infrastructure to the new normal of a graying population,” Murdocco said.