However, in 13 states a significant number of fatal crashes were attributable to higher speed limits, especially on rural interstates. The results suggest that these 13 states should investigate what other factors may have prevented increases in fatal crashes in the other 26 states. Impaired older drivers. A safety issue that will become more crucial in the coming years involves impaired older drivers. By 2020 aging baby boomers will double the number of people 70 and older to nearly 40 million.
Some older drivers become much more accident-prone because of failing faculties.
The effects of aging begin showing up in increased fatal-accident rates for drivers ages 70 to 84. Drivers 85 or older have a higher rate of fatal accidents than teenagers. And greater frailty can make an accident less survivable for seniors. Clearly the answer is better license-renewal screening, including vision and road tests, to identify impaired older drivers. Yet only Illinois, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia require drivers 75 and older to take a road test to renew their licenses.