Older drivers in the US hit record numbers

The number of older drivers on the US road network continues to increase. According to the latest data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the number of drivers on the US road network hit a record- high in 2016 at 221.7 million. Of these, 41.7 million are 65 years or older. This age group is growing faster than any other, and is far outpacing their teenage counterparts.
December 20, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The number of older drivers on the US road network continues to increase. According to the latest data from the 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the number of drivers on the US road network hit a record- high in 2016 at 221.7 million. Of these, 41.7 million are 65 years or older. This age group is growing faster than any other, and is far outpacing their teenage counterparts.


The largest single-year percentage increase in licensed drivers that year was among those who are between 75-79 years old, increasing by 4.98% over the previous year. Except for five states – Michigan, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming – the nation saw increases among licensed drivers in 2016 compared to the previous year.

The new data show 57 million drivers between the ages of 20-34, which accounted for nearly one in four US drivers last year, increasing slightly from the 56.1 million reported in 2015.

Teen drivers continued to increase slightly for the third year in a row, rising to 8.8 million – the highest level since 2013, but remaining at among the lowest levels since the federal government began compiling driver license data in 1963.

In 2016, America’s 112.1 million licensed women drivers outnumbered their male counterparts by 2.5 million.

The data collected from all 50 states and Washington, DC, show that licensed drivers aged 85 or older increased by 161,182 people, or 4.62%, since the previous year, making it the nation’s second-fastest growing demographic group in 2016.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK construction machine exports growth
    August 23, 2016
    The latest figures from the UK’s Construction Equipment Association (CEA) show that exports of machines continued to show modest growth in Q2 2016. This continued to reverse the declining trend seen in 2015, which reflected poor demand in many major overseas markets according to the CEA. Measured in volume terms (tonnes), exports showed 6.1% growth in Apr/Jun compared with Jan/Mar 2016. However, compared with the same quarter in 2015, Apr/Jun was still 10.3% below last year’s level. For the first half year,
    Read More
  • Recycled pavement use rises again in the US, according to NAPA
    January 16, 2015
    The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement in the United States increased during 2013 after two years of no rise, according the latest report from the US National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). The report found that more than 73 million tons of reclaimed asphalt pavement and 1.7 million tons of reclaimed asphalt roofing shingles were used in new asphalt pavement mixes in the United States during in 2013. Using recycled asphalt material saved about $2 billion in 2013 over the use of virgin materials,
    Read More
  • Wacker Neuson remains on growth track
    August 9, 2023
    Wacker Neuson remains on its growth track in 2023.
    Read More
  • Us bridges pose cause for concern
    August 2, 2017
    On Aug 1st 2017, it was 10 years since the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis collapsed. The bridge had been classified as structurally deficient and was undergoing repair at the time. However the repairs focussed on the decking rather than the structure, with the additional weight of the extra asphalt layers and the construction machinery parked adding to the total load and contributing to the collapse.
    Read More

Highlighted Content