The number of licensed drivers older than 65 climbed to 41.7 million in 2016, which accounted for nearly one in five of the nation’s 221.7 million licensed drivers, outpacing every other age group, according to data released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on Monday.
The number of licensed drivers between 75-79 years old increased 4.98 percent from the previous year, the largest increase among all age groups. The number of licensed drivers older than 85 increased 4.62 percent from the previous year, making it the second fastest-growing age group.
“FHWA researchers have pioneered numerous safety enhancements — such as cutting-edge retroreflective laminates which make highway signs brighter and more visible from greater distances — to address the needs of older drivers, which range from declining vision to decreased flexibility and psychomotor performance, and changes in perceptual and cognitive performance,” the agency stated in a release.
FHWA also funds the Roadway Safety Foundation, which operates the “Clearinghouse for Older Road user Safety.” The clearinghouse provides resources to promote safety among older drivers.
Meanwhile, the number of younger licensed drivers remains flat. There were 8.8 million licensed teenage drivers in 2016. That’s the lowest level since the government began compiling data in 1963. Additionally, the number of licensed 20- to 34-year-old drivers increased slightly to 57 million.