Big Boomer Worry – Parents Driving

The U.S. population aged 65 and older is estimated to increase from 47 million in 2015 to 72 million in 2030,* meaning more senior drivers will be on the roads. And if they are able to find cheap online car insurance deals, they’ll be spending much less on the roads than a lot of drivers. This also means that more adult children may need to have difficult conversations with their aging parents about driving. However, a new survey released today by Liberty Mutual Insurance reports a significant gap between the number of baby boomer children of senior drivers concerned about their parents’ driving abilities (55 percent) and the number who are actually having conversations with their parents about the issue (23 percent). Further, 29 percent of boomer children say they are likely to avoid the conversation entirely. When it comes to safety, although older drivers are more experienced, they are still required to speak talk to their parents about safe driving, especially when it comes to being aware of their surrounds and other drivers, for example, Truck drivers. While some drivers may be confident with their driving it is important to take care when Truck drivers are nearby since an accident with a Truck could end in catastrophe. If you or your a member of your family find yourself in a truck accident, you might want to look into contacting someone like this Texas Truck Accident Lawyer to help you with your case. Driver safety should be paramount, whether they drive a Bentley or a minivan. It can also be dangerous for people to continue to use older cars that don’t come equipped with the safety features that new ones do. This is also true for vans. According to IVL, it is possible to afford a new van without having to pay a large outright fee. For this reason, leasing might be a suitable option.

“Nine in 10 boomer children of senior drivers think it is important to have driving conversations with their aging parents, but few are taking action – thus, not addressing potential safety risks on the roads,” said David Melton, driving safety expert with Liberty Mutual Insurance and managing director of global safety. “Earlier and more frequent conversations about senior driving are essential. If people take away one lesson from this study, it is to have this conversation with your loved ones – and have it soon.”

The Liberty Mutual Insurance survey of more than 1,000 boomer children of senior drivers indicates that they are more concerned about their aging parents’ driving (59 percent) than they are about family members driving under the influence (43 percent).

Boomer children cite the following as top concerns associated with their senior parents’ driving:

• Poor eyesight: 47 percent
• Drives too slow: 38 percent
• Poor hearing: 30 percent
• Drives distracted: 25 percent

Less than half (38 percent) of boomer children of senior drivers think that their parents will understand and be open to a discussion about giving up driving. Most of the boomer children fear the outcome will be negative, predicting the following reactions:

• 46 percent think their parents will be angry or hurt
• 31 percent think their parents will say it is too hard to find other modes of transportation
• 22 percent think their parents will be more determined to keep driving

Tips for Approaching the Driving Conversation
Boomers’ concerns about senior driving are valid, with 17 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities happening to older individuals, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 2011, 5,401 people aged 65 and older were killed and 185,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

“Aging is an inevitable occurrence that has several implications,” added Melton. “It’s important that we recognize that age can bring changes that impact one’s driving abilities. Each individual situation is unique, which is why Liberty Mutual Insurance encourages boomer children to talk openly with their parents about driving.”

Liberty Mutual Insurance offers tips and resources for talking to senior loved ones about driving, including:

• Take a ride with your parents and observe their driving. Watch their awareness of their driving environment. Do they have slow reaction times? Are there dents, close calls, tickets or warnings?
• Discuss the topic early and have realistic expectations, as it is likely that the matter will not be resolved with the first discussion.
• Look into alternate transportation solutions and be prepared to discuss options.

There are a number of options to help senior drivers maintain a responsible level of mobility and independence. Liberty Mutual Insurance is proud to partner with ITNAmerica , the first and only national nonprofit network for America’s aging population, which promotes sustainable, community-based transportation solutions for seniors. Through caring volunteers from the local community, ITNAmericaprovides rides for seniors in private automobiles 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Today’s older Americans are among the most active and community-engaged seniors in our nation’s history, and mobility and independence are essential to preserve those great qualities,” said Katherine Freund, founder and president of ITNAmerica. “Liberty Mutual Insurance’s findings further strengthen the need for families to have the conversation with seniors, as well as provide more alternative transportation resources to help them make responsible driving decisions.”

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