Should We Worry About Seniors Being Safe Drivers?

This question is bound to provoke some thought. It may either cause concern, or in some cases, outrage.  Of course, many seniors have many decades of driving experience and the benefit of a long and clean dirivng history.  But still, many insurers class them as a high risk group to cover, just like teenagers. How can we compare the youngest drivers to the oldest drivers?

High Risk Drivers Can Be Young Or Old

Teens are high risk drivers because they are inexperienced. Many may be inpulsive and immature. This is not a gootad combination of traits for safe drivers. But insurers may cut them a break if they demonstrate maturity and responsibility by taking a driver’s education course, keeping a B grade average, and of course, keep their records clean of accidents for a period of time!

Senior citizens, on the other hand, have had time to mature and develop a lot of driving experience. This is not the issue. The issue is that age and illness may slow down reaction times. Many seniors may also experience a loss of vision or hearing. Sometimes these issues are subtle, so they are not addressed or noticed, but can seriously affect how well a person operates a vehicle!

Please do not take this article as a rant against teen or senior drivers. All of us have to pass through life stages. It is just an explanation of safety problems thaat the younger and older drivers may have. And while teens and young adults may cause more serious accidents, because they may be frail, older people are less likely to survive them. So this is all about safety.

High Risk Car Insurance For Seniors and Teens

Either way, both seniors and drivers under 25 are responsible for more than their share of claims. That is why both car insurance under age 25  and senior car insurance can be tough to get and expensive!

Become A Better Senior Driving

But just as younger drivers can improve the odds, and insurance rates, with driving classes and evidence of responsibility, so can older people. Refer to When Should Seniors Stop Driving for some great tips.  There are resources for helping an older person take a senior driving class, signs that age has become a problem for a senior driver,   how to talk to Grandma about her driving, and much more.