According to the statistics of the Estonian Traffic Insurance Fund (LKF), the share of road accidents caused by elderly drivers has increased by 70% over the past 10 years.

This year, drivers aged 65+ have caused 1,700 traffic insurance incidents. At the same time, the damage frequency of traffic accidents is highest among young drivers under 26 - every 7^th young driver causes a traffic accident during the year.

According to Ulli Reimets, head of LKF's damage prevention department, attention must be paid to both the young and the elderly. "If your loved one or friend wants to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, they must be prevented. In the same way, a grandfather or an elderly neighbor must not drive a car if his/her state of health can be a danger to other road users", explained Reimets.

In just five months this year, 14,000 traffic insurance cases have occurred in Estonia with a total loss of EUR 28 million, the average loss has reached EUR 2,030. In addition, Estonian vehicles caused 1,000 accidents abroad.

Half of the traffic accidents are caused by drivers aged 27-49, they are the most in traffic and every 19^th of them causes a traffic accident during a year. Young people up to the age of 26 cause 14% of all traffic insurance cases, but their damage frequency is high - every 7^th young driver causes a traffic accident. At the same time, traffic accidents caused by drivers aged 50 to 64 account for a quarter of all accidents, and drivers aged 65 and over account for 12%. The damage frequency for these age groups is slightly below average, the LKF's report says.