Press Statement  MassDOT and the Registry of Motor Vehicles Recognize Older Driver Safety Awareness Week

"Understand, Be Proactive, Plan" annual campaign to stress the importance of having an open dialogue, creating a plan and making informed decisions

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) are raising awareness about the unique challenges facing drivers who are 65 years of age and older and encouraging families, friends and providers to initiate critical conversations about driver safety and mobility. During Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, which runs Monday, December 2, through Friday, December 6, valuable information is shared to help inform driving decisions. This informational campaign promotes a wide range of resources that encourage discussions around older driver safety. The theme for this year, from the American Occupational Therapy Association, is “Understand, Be Proactive, Plan” to highlight the importance of building understanding as a means to planning and making decisions involving older drivers. 

“Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is a reminder to all of us to support older drivers year-round with the resources they need to make informed decisions about mobility and road safety,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “Every user of our transportation system deserves to feel safe, and we are committed to making older individuals who drive have the information and support they need to make the best decisions for themselves and others.” 

“Driving is an essential everyday task for many older adults, and it is important to recognize when action is needed to preserve safety,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “This year, we’re encouraging individuals to engage in early planning discussions with families and friends and to use the resources we’ve developed to navigate any changes in driving ability. By working together, we can support older drivers in making informed decisions about their mobility options.” 

Decisions about driving ability should never be based on age alone. However, changes in vision, reflexes, physical fitness, and cognitive fitness may cause safety concerns. Most older adults outlive their ability to drive safely by an average of seven to ten years, according to AAA Traffic Safety Foundation.  Being proactive about safe driving skills, learning ways to identify changes early, and intervening as soon as possible can help older drivers maintain safe mobility. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the U.S. population of people 65 and older increased by 30% between 2013 and 2022. Additionally, in 2022, the number of traffic deaths involving a driver 65 years of age and older was the highest since at least 1975.  NHTSA reminds motorists that simply getting older doesn’t mean it’s time to hang up their keys, but they should evaluate how they – or loved ones – drive.  

The RMV offers the following resources and workshops for older adults and providers: 

• Visit the RMV’s website for older driver resources and learn more about older driver safety. 
• Attend one of the RMV’s free Safe Driving workshops, which can be requested by community organizations and associations that cater to older individuals:
  • Shifting Gears – rules of the road, defensive driving, and safe driving tips.
  • The Driving Decision – advice for families and providers who are concerned about a person’s ability to drive safely. 
• View RMV’s video, Shifting Gears, which highlights how age-related changes can affect a person’s ability to drive and how everyone can support older driver safety and mobility. 
• Review ”Your Health and Driving Safely” to learn about license policies and procedures, driving evaluation programs, warning signs of unsafe driving, and to identify alternatives to driving. 

Older adults who live in Greater Boston and who are transitioning away from driving may find helpful the MBTA’s free travel instruction services to help older adults and people with disabilities travel independently on the bus, train, and Commuter Rail. All services are available in person or digitally via Zoom upon request. More information is available on the MBTA’s website. Moreover, riders 65 and older are eligible for reduced MBTA fares with a Senior CharlieCard.

Outside of Greater Boston, many Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) also offer travel training. To learn about travel training programs and transit services available in their area, residents should contact their RTA. Councils on Aging and Aging Service Access Points can also be great resources for learning about transportation alternatives to driving. Older adults and their caregivers can also look for transportation options in Ride Match, an online, searchable database of public and private transportation options. Ride Match is hosted by the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority but covers transit services statewide. 

All RTAs in Massachusetts provide reduced fare programs for seniors who ride public transportation on RTA services – and 13 of the 15 RTAs are currently participating in fare-free service for all ages. 

Additional information and recommendations on how older drivers can stay safe while driving can be found on the NHTSA’s website. Information for practitioners/providers can be found on the American Occupational Therapy Association’s website.