The Wolf Administration is highlighting the resources available to older Pennsylvanians when it comes to safe driving. Nearly 23 percent of Pennsylvania drivers are 65 and older.  In 2018, more than 21,700 crashes in Pennsylvania involved a driver 65 or older, and 330 of those crashes were fatal.

“This represents nearly 17% of the total crashes in Pennsylvania, and nearly 28% of the fatalities,” explains Kurt Myers, Deputy Secretary for PennDOT’s Driver & Vehicle Services.

State officials are alerting older residents to signs that may indicate it’s time to stop driving. These include feeling nervous while driving, difficulty paying attention or judging gaps in traffic, and slower response times. Frequent close calls, or unexplained scrapes and dents in the car are also signs it may be time to stop driving. PennDOT says drivers are often involved in accidents that include complex driving tasks.

“Including failing to properly yield the right of way, improper left turn across traffic, and pulling out and making abrupt and improper lane changes,” says Myers.

But just because older drivers may need to stop driving, it doesn’t mean they won’t be able to get around town.

“As older adults adjust to life changes, the need for accessible and available transportation alternatives increase,” says Steve Horner, Deputy Secretary of the PA Department of Aging.

Pennsylvania offers a Shared-Ride program, a free or reduced-cost driving service helping citizens 65 or older get from place to place. In 2017, more than 3.3 million rides were given through the program. This program offers on-demand ride services for a reduced cost compared to public transit. Senior citizens or an approved third-party sponsor pay 15 percent of the fare, and the Lottery Fund pays the remaining 85 percent on local shared-ride transportation service. To see which providers offer ride-sharing services in your area, click here: https://gis.penndot.gov/transitmap/.  

There is also a free transit program for senior citizens. This allows residents 65 or older to ride free on local fixed-route service whenever the local public transit system is operating. In order to ride free, senior citizens will need a transit identification card. To obtain one, contact your local public transit agency. County-by-county contact information can be found here: https://gis.penndot.gov/transitmap/. 

Leaders say these programs offer older residents the chance to stay connected.

“The Wolf Administration and the Department of Aging are committed to ensure that older adults have the information and resources needed to remain active and connected in their communities,” Horner explains.

To learn more about all of the riding services available to older Pennsylvanians and people with disabilities, click here: https://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/PublicTransitOptions/Pages/Seniors-and-Persons-With-Disabilities.aspx.