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MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AT WORK						Print
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										Older Drivers at Workolder driver in the workplace banner with location pointer - Ages 55+ iconBanner Photo by ©Daviles/ThinkstockOlder workers (those ages 55 and older) bring extensive skills, knowledge, and experience built over the course of a lifespan. However, age-related physical and mental changes may affect older workers’ driving. While such changes are normal, they also put older drivers at a greater risk of dying if they are in a motor vehicle crash. Employers and workers share the responsibility for keeping older drivers safe at work.Did you know?May is Older Americans Month, and Older Driver Safety Awareness Week takes place in December. Use our animated image to promote older driver safety.Older Drivers Fact SheetEmployers and workers can use our fact sheet to keep older drivers safe on the road throughout their working lives.What do we know about older drivers in the workplace?calendar icon
By 2030, 32% of the U.S. population is expected to be age 55 or older, an increase from 28% in 2016. The share that is age 65 or older will grow even more: from 13% in 2016 to 20% in 2030.1
The age groups with the largest projected increases in labor force participation between 2014 and 2024 are persons ages 65 to 74 years (+4.5%) and ages 75 years and older (+6.4%).2
By 2030, 85% to 90% of Americans age 65 or older will be licensed to drive.3
Research shows that older drivers are more likely than their younger counterparts to adopt safe behaviors such as wearing a seat belt and complying with speed limits. However, those age 55 and older have twice the risk of dying in a work-related crash than younger workers do.4 It is normal for physical and mental abilities to decline with age – putting older workers at greater risk of serious injury if they are involved in a motor vehicle crash.
In 2020 motor vehicle crashes accounted for 36% of all work-related deaths among workers age 55 or older.5How can you prevent crashes among older drivers at work?EmployersWorkersRelated Resources**Employers: Use the following recommendations to develop safety and health programs that consider older drivers’ needs.**
Consider whether the work can be done without driving. Reducing the amount of driving workers do is the most effective way to prevent motor vehicle crashes.
Set policies that allow drivers to consult with their supervisors to adjust driving hours if they have trouble seeing at night, and to stop driving if they are too tired or the weather is bad.
Provide “refresher” driving training that includes topics such as safe-driving strategies, changes in road rules, regulations on distracted driving, and new vehicle safety features.
Restrict driving based on assessment of actual driving ability, rather than general health status or an arbitrary age limit.
Give workers general information about the possible effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications on their driving.**Workers: Take the following actions to stay safe while driving for work.**
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about potential effects of your medications on safe driving.
Get a thorough eye exam at least every 1-2 years, as your vision may change with age.
Maintain good health by engaging in regular physical activity, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and complying with all health exams and screenings.
Use a driving self-assessment tool to evaluate your driving.
Talk with your supervisor if you are having difficulty with driving, as you may need to change your driving habits.NIOSH Center for Productive Aging and Work
Learn how to promote the safety of workers of all ages and their lifelong well-being.
CDC Older Adult Drivers
Understand how the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash increases with age and learn about prevention strategies.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Discover advice on how to talk with older drivers about safe driving.
My Car Does What
Learn about your vehicle’s advanced safety features.**References**1U.S. Census Bureau [2019]. Projections by age and sex composition of the population. Table 3. Detailed age and sex composition of the population.2Bureau of Labor Statistics [2015]. Career Outlook: Projections of the labor force, 2014-2024.3AAA [2019]. Senior Driver Safety & Mobility.4Based on 2011-2019 data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries query system and 2011-2019 Employed Labor Force (ELF) population data.5Bureau of Labor Statistics [2022]. Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries query system.
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  August 30, 2022						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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