Time to give up the car keys?

According to a 2015 report by the Centers for Disease Control, more than 40 million U.S. drivers are aged 65 or older—that’s a 50 percent jump from 1999. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that there will be 53.7 million drivers who are at least 70 years old on the road in 2030.

While teenage drivers still cause the most vehicle accidents, older drivers tend to run the risk of serious injury or being killed when they are involved in a car accident. So, as drivers get older, their insurance premiums tend to increase.

Often, people give up driving because it is no longer necessary for them to drive around anymore. However, for those drivers who may be more reluctant to relinquish their car keys, there are some factors to consider when making this decision, including the following:

• certain medical conditions or medications (e.g., dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, vision problems; heart problems, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis or diabetes) can affect a person’s memory or attention span; vision; or mobility;
• the condition of the roads and signage may be in such need of repair that it is hard to navigate in your local area; or
• the vehicle is in need of service and it isn’t safe to drive.

Keep in mind, newer cars offer improved safety features (e.g., air bags, rear-view cameras and stay-in-lane technology) that can keep drivers of all ages safer on the road. Some of these safety features also can offer drivers discounts on their auto insurance premiums.

As your lifestyle continues to evolve, remember that your insurance coverages need to evolve to keep up with any changes. Give our agency a call, we can review your insurance policies (e.g., auto policy’s collision coverage, life insurance and homeowners) to make sure you have the coverage to protect you at any stage of life.