ChORUS provides you the information you need to understand the options available for your loved ones as they consider their driving safety. The Family and Caregiver Guide offers tools and resources to guide your conversations and assist as you talk with your loved ones about their driving safety and planning for their transportation as they age.
As those we care about and for age, we often worry about their safety on the road. Not only is there concern about experiencing a crash but if a crash occurs, it is more likely to result in serious injury or fatality. According to the CDC, in 2017, almost 7,700 older adults (aged 65+) were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and more than 257,000 were treated in emergency departments for motor vehicle crash injuries. This means that each day, approximately 20 older adults are killed, and an additional 700 are injured in motor vehicle crashes.
Older persons are at greater risk of injury when in a crash, may have a long recovery period from the injury, and are likely to experience lasting impacts on their daily activity as a result of those injuries. Older persons still driving should consider not only their own health and risk, but also the health and risk of those around them; family members and friends riding with them, other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, or road users.
Planning ahead makes it easier for us and the older road users we support to drive safer, drive longer, and, when necessary, continue an active life if they can no longer drive. The ChORUS Older Driver Transportation Planning Tool can help you through the steps of developing a transportation plan. A downloadable/printable version of the tool is also available so you can take it with you to discuss with others, put on your refrigerator etc.