Senior Drivers

Updated February 2013

People over age 65 make up 12 percent of the total U.S. population, or 35 million people.  This figure will double by 2030. The safe mobility of this age group is an issue many states and organizations are researching. Concern about their safety has increased during the last few months in light of recent serious crashes involving older drivers.  NCSL has compiled a list of resources and publications regarding this issue including a 50-state chart detailing state laws in this area.

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NCSL Publications

• New! Traffic Safety Trends: State Legislative Action 2012, February 2013, by Anne Teigen and Douglas Shinkle. See Appendix F: Licensing Procedures for Senior Drivers
• Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action, 2011, No. 36, February 2012, by Anne Teigen and Douglas Shinkle.
• Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action, 2010, No. 35,  December 2010, by Melissa Savage and Anne Teigen. 
• Boomers on Board, State Legislatures, December 2010.
• "Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action 2009," Transportation Series No. 34, February 2010, by Melissa Savage, Nick Farber, and Anne Teigen.
• "Older Drivers," February 2010, LegisBrief, by Melissa Savage.

Other Resources

• American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc
• NCSL/NHTSA Traffic Safety Legislation Database
• IIHS
• AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
• AAA
• Administration on Aging
• AARP
• NHTSA Older Driver Information
• CDC Older Driver Fact Sheet

NCSL Contacts

Anne Teigen