In 2005, 12 percent of the total U.S. resident population (over 36 million) were people age 65 years and older.
| “In 2005, older people accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities and 20 percent of all pedestrian fatalities.” |
There were over 28 million older licensed drivers in 2004 (2005 data not available) — a 17-percent increase from 1994. In contrast, the total number of licensed drivers increased by only 13 percent from 1994 to 2004.
Older drivers made up 15 percent of all licensed drivers in 2004, compared with 14 percent in 1994.
In 2005, 191,000 older individuals were injured in traffic crashes, accounting for 7 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. These older individuals made up 15 percent of all traffic fatalities, 14 percent of all vehicle occupant fatalities, and 20 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. Most traffic fatalities involving older drivers in 2005 occurred during the daytime (79%), on weekdays (73%), and involved other vehicles (73 %).
Figure 1
Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates by Age Group, 1995-2005
Of all adult drivers, older drivers involved in fatal crashes had the lowest proportion of total drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Among all fatally injured adult pedestrians, older pedestrians also had the lowest proportion of total drivers with BAC of .08 g/dL or higher.
Table 1
Age and Alcohol, 2005
| Age Group (Years) |
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes |
Pedestrian Fatalities |
Total |
BAC .08 or Higher |
Total |
BAC .08 or Higher |
Number |
Percent of Total |
Number |
Percent of Total |
<16 |
304 |
27 |
9 |
388 |
12 |
3 |
16-20 |
7,293 |
1,198 |
16 |
281 |
76 |
27 |
21-34 |
17,926 |
5,248 |
29 |
909 |
432 |
48 |
35-54 |
20,136 |
4,242 |
21 |
1,705 |
788 |
46 |
55-64 |
6,041 |
714 |
12 |
555 |
143 |
26 |
65+ |
6,215 |
326 |
5 |
981 |
85 |
9 |
| Total |
*59,104 |
11,921 |
20 |
**4,881 |
1,560 |
32 |
*Includes 1,189 drivers of unknown age.
**Includes 62 pedestrian fatalities of unknown age. |
Figure 2
Driver Involvement Rates in Fatal Crashes by Age and Sex, 2005
| “In two-vehicle fatal crashes with an older and a younger driver, the older driver’s vehicle was nearly twice as likely to be the one that was struck.” |
Three-fourths (75%) of all older occupants of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes were using restraints at the time of the crash, compared to 62 percent for other adult occupants (18 to 64 years old).
For older people, 69 percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2005 occurred at non-intersection locations. For other pedestrians, 82 percent of fatalities occurred at non-intersection locations. In two-vehicle fatal crashes involving an older driver and a younger driver, the vehicle driven by the older person was nearly twice as likely to be the one that was struck (60% and 33%, respectively). In 45 percent of these crashes, both vehicles were proceeding straight at the time of the collision. In 25 percent, the older driver was turning left — 5 times as often as the younger driver.
Table 2
Involvement of the Older Population in Traffic Fatalities, 1995 and 2005
| |
1995 |
2005 |
Percentage Change, 1995-2005 |
Number |
Percentage Age 65+ |
Total |
Age 65+ |
Percentage of Total |
Total |
Age 65+ |
Percentage of Total |
Total |
Age 65+ |
Population (thousands) |
Total |
262,803 |
33,619 |
12.8 |
296,410 |
36,790 |
12.4 |
13 |
9 |
-3.0 |
Male |
128,294 |
13,735 |
10.7 |
146,000 |
15,413 |
10.6 |
14 |
12 |
-1.4 |
Female |
134,510 |
19,885 |
14.8 |
150,411 |
21,377 |
14.2 |
12 |
8 |
-3.9 |
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes |
Total |
56,164 |
6,240 |
11.1 |
59,104 |
6,215 |
10.5 |
5 |
-0 |
-5.4 |
Male |
41,235 |
4,226 |
10.2 |
43,060 |
4,296 |
10.0 |
4 |
2 |
-2.7 |
Female |
14,184 |
2,014 |
14.2 |
14,974 |
1,918 |
12.8 |
6 |
-5 |
-9.8 |
Driver Fatalities |
Total |
24,390 |
3,894 |
16.0 |
27,472 |
3,935 |
14.3 |
13 |
1 |
-10.3 |
Male |
17,997 |
2,571 |
14.3 |
20,795 |
2,703 |
13.0 |
16 |
5 |
-9.0 |
Female |
6,393 |
1,323 |
20.7 |
6,598 |
1,231 |
18.7 |
3 |
-7 |
-9.8 |
Total Traffic Fatalities |
Total |
41,817 |
6,999 |
16.7 |
43,443 |
6,512 |
15.0 |
4 |
-7 |
-10.4 |
Male |
28,133 |
3,861 |
13.7 |
30,224 |
3,872 |
12.8 |
7 |
0 |
-6.7 |
Female |
13,663 |
3,137 |
23.0 |
13,089 |
2,639 |
20.2 |
-4 |
-16 |
-12.2 |
Occupant Fatalities |
Total |
35,291 |
5,666 |
16.1 |
37,594 |
5,412 |
14.4 |
7 |
-4 |
-10.3 |
Male |
23,498 |
3,045 |
13.0 |
25,985 |
3,160 |
12.2 |
11 |
4 |
-6.2 |
Female |
11,773 |
2,620 |
22.3 |
11,494 |
2,251 |
19.6 |
-2 |
-14 |
-12.0 |
Pedestrian Fatalities |
Total |
5,584 |
1,263 |
22.6 |
4,881 |
981 |
20.1 |
-13 |
-22 |
-11.1 |
Male |
3,856 |
758 |
19.7 |
3,432 |
611 |
17.8 |
-11 |
-19 |
-9.4 |
Female |
1,728 |
505 |
29.2 |
1,437 |
370 |
25.7 |
-17 |
-27 |
-11.9 |
Older Population Age Groups
The following table and graphs provide data for subgroups of the older population: 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and 85+ years. Table 3
Driver Involvement in Fatal Crashes and Pedestrian Fatalities in the Older Population by Age Group, 2005
| |
65-69 |
70-74 |
75-79 |
80-84 |
85+ |
Total |
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes |
1,768 |
1,444 |
1,247 |
1,004 |
752 |
6,215 |
Pedestrian Fatalities |
211 |
195 |
221 |
202 |
152 |
981 |
Figure 3
Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates in the Older Population by Age Group, 1995-2005
Figure 4
Involvement Rates for Older Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Age Group and Sex, 2005
Table 4- Driver Involvement in Fatal Traffic Crashes by State and Age Group, 2005
Table 5- Fatalities in Traffic Crashes by State and Age Group, 2005
For more information:
Information on the older population is available from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, NPO-121, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. NCSA information can also be obtained by telephone or by fax-on-demand at 800-934-8517. FAX messages should be sent to 202-366-7078. General information on highway traffic safety can be accessed by Internet users at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa. To report a safety-related problem or to inquire about motor vehicle safety information, contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Other fact sheets available from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis are Overview, Alcohol, Bicyclists and Other Cyclists (formerly titled Pedalcyclists), Children, Large Trucks, Motorcycles, Occupant Protection, Pedestrians, School Transportation-Related Crashes, Speeding, State Alcohol Estimates, State Traffic Data, and Young Drivers. Detailed data on motor vehicle traffic crashes are published annually in Traffic Safety Facts: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Crash Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the General Estimates System. The fact sheets and annual Traffic Safety Facts report can be accessed online at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa. |
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