WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 18, 2004-
Drivers over the age of 65 are almost twice (1.78 times) as likely to
die in car crashes as drivers age 55 to 64, according to a new study
released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The study found
that the probability of death or injury in car crashes increase with
age, as does the likelihood that an older driver will be involved in a
left-turn crash, affected by illness, or suffer from lapses in
perception that could contribute to a crash.
The "Older Driver Involvement in
Injury Crashes" report also revealed that drivers over 75 were over
two-and-a-half times (2.59) as likely to die in a car crash and drivers
over 85 were almost four times (3.72) as likely to die when compared to
drivers aged 55 to 64.
"As we age, our reaction time and
other cognitive skills can diminish," said Peter Kissinger,
President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "For instance,
our eyesight deteriorates to such an extent that by age 60 we require
ten times the amount of light necessary to see an object as when we were
16."
Moreover, the population of seniors is
increasing substantially - by 2030 one in five Americans will be 65 or
older. "Thus, dealing with this vulnerable population represents a
major public health issue."
The study also found that senior
drivers are more likely to be involved in left-turn crashes as they age.
The potential left-turn crash-risk is 25% higher for 65 year-olds and
50% higher for 85 year-olds compared to 55 to 64 year-olds.
In addition, when compared to drivers
55 to 64 those over 65 were more likely to have been ill or suffering
from some other physical ailment and more often to have had perceptual
lapses that contributed to their crash.
The Texas Transportation Institute
conducted the study for the AAA Foundation. The findings are based on an
analysis of 25 years of data involving four million injury crashes in
Texas.
"Second only to teen drivers,
older drivers are the second most likely group to sustain injuries or
death in traffic crashes," said Kissinger. "It is vital that
seniors periodically and honestly review their driving
performance."
The AAA Foundation suggests that both
physicians and children of senior drivers can play a major role in
assessing older driver's capabilities. Also, most senior drivers would
benefit from taking refresher training or a driver improvement course,
which in many states will qualify the individual for a car insurance
discount. A wealth of resources for senior drivers, their children, and
physicians are available at www.seniordrivers.org.
Research performed by the AAA
Foundation for Traffic Safety can be found at www.aaafoundation.org.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is an independent, publicly
funded-501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization
established in 1947 by AAA. The AAA Foundation's mission is to prevent
traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and
by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes.
