While there are plenty of people who defy age stereotypes, it is useful to give age some consideration if involved in a car crash.
Looking at how old the other driver was may help you determine the cause of the crash.
Younger drivers often cause crashes due to inexperience
Statistics show that young drivers are the most dangerous on the road. This is because, like any skill, it takes time to get good at driving. Getting a driving license does not mean someone is a safe driver. It just means they did enough on the day to pass the test.
The more you drive, the more situations you come across. That experience teaches you how to act in similar situations in the future.
For example, the first time you see a child run into the road after a ball, you might notice there is a park there. Hence you drive slower whenever you pass it in the future, keeping a watchful eye for children.
Or the first time you see a truck swing out right before turning left, you learn to give trucks a wider berth around turns offs.
Older drivers often crash due to poorer reactions
Let’s say your route travels past an area where many retirees live. You might notice their average speed is slower than most drivers. Or that they are more hesitant at intersections. As we age, our hearing and eyesight deteriorate, and our reactions slow.
Hence if the other driver is in their 70s or 80s, they might have thought it was clear to pull out because their eyesight was not strong enough to see you coming. Or perhaps it just took so long to pull out that it was no longer safe.
It can be challenging to determine the cause of a crash, so consider legal guidance to ensure you cover all possibilities.
