Shapiro Administration promotes safe driving resources for older Pennsylvanians

Representatives from several Pennsylvania state agencies and the American Automobile Association (AAA) gathered at the White Rose Senior Center in York to provide information and resources aimed at supporting older drivers during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week.

The event featured speakers from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID), and AAA. They addressed safety concerns for older drivers and discussed available support programs.

"Mobility is essential to quality of life at any age, especially as friends and families gather to celebrate the holiday season," said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet. "While many older drivers have a lifetime of valuable driving experience to draw from, PennDOT continually seeks to balance the safety of our roadways with the need for independence and autonomy."

Data from 2024 show that there were 21,986 crashes in Pennsylvania involving at least one driver aged 65 or older, resulting in 308 fatalities. These incidents accounted for nearly one-fifth of all crashes statewide and over a quarter of total traffic fatalities. While older drivers tend to have fewer crashes per driver compared to national averages, their crash rate per mile driven is higher.

Speakers at the event included PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet, Department of Aging Deputy Secretary Jonathan Bowman, PSP Director of Community Outreach Captain Adam Reed, PID Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Market Regulation David Buono, Director of the PA American Automobile Association Federation Ted Leonard, and Fritzi Schreffler, PennDOT Engineering District 8 Safety Press Officer.