Seatbelt use among Colorado's older drivers is on the rise, suggests data highlighted in recognition of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. According to a review of serious injury and fatal crash data spanning from 2021 to 2024 by the Colorado State Patrol, drivers aged 70 and above showed significant adherence to seatbelt use, clocking in at 78%, noticeably higher than the 66.7% for all other age groups. This scrutiny came as part of a campaign to better understand the risks older drivers face on the road.
The data release comes with a message from the Colorado State Patrol emphasizing the critical need for older adults to regularly assess their own driving capabilities. "The optimal situation is for drivers to determine when they no longer feel safe behind the wheel and volunteer to retire from driving," said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, as per Colorado State Patrol. He underlined that Colorado offers a pathway for seniors to smoothly transition away from driving by surrendering their license in exchange for a state ID at no cost. Yet in some cases, the initiative to cease driving must be prompted by family members or officers if concerning driving behavior is observed.
When diving deeper into at-fault fatal crashes involving the same age group, the findings pointed to a higher incidence on Wednesdays, with the one hour leading up to lunchtime being particularly perilous. The entirety of the afternoon also proved to be a risky period, from noon to 5 p.m. The geographic distribution of these fatal at-fault crashes spanned both rural and urban areas, with the highest numbers in the counties of Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Larimer, and Jefferson, and the roadways most affected being Highway 50, Interstate 70, Highway 160, Interstate 25, and Highway 285.
As a protective measure, many seniors are already adapting their daily routines to avoid the heightened risks associated with night driving, rush-hour congestion, and inclement weather. "Many seniors adjust their schedules to combat the impact of driving at night, heavy traffic congestion, and poor weather," Col. Packard reiterated, as obtained by Colorado State Patrol. Packard also suggested that family and friends can support their senior loved ones by providing them with driving services, personally driving them for complex commutes, and staying vigilant for signs of deteriorating driving abilities that could heighten their risk of being involved in a crash.
