MINNEAPOLIS, July 19, 2007 — Senior drivers are less likely than younger drivers to cause accidents, according to a new study, local media reported on Wednesday.

Drivers aged 65 and older are just one-third as likely as those between 15 and 24 to cause auto accidents, according to a study by the RAND Corporation.

Researchers found that in 2001, people aged 65 and older accounted for about 15 percent of all licensed drivers but caused only about 7 percent of all accidents in the United States.

By contrast, people aged 15 to 24 accounted for just 13 percent of all licensed drivers but caused 43 percent of all accidents.

While driving ability declines with age for most people, those seniors who continue to drive appear to be safer drivers than the general public might think, said David Loughran, a RAND senior economist and lead author of the study.

Seniors appear to make fairly sound decisions about when to reduce the amount they drive or stop driving altogether, Loughran said.

Deatils of the study can be found here.