Older drivers (Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety), 2020

Georgia Traffic Safety Facts
2020 Data

August 2022
Key Findings
In 2020, an estimated 2.9 million people were 55 years and older a 12 percent increase from 2016. The older population (55+ years) made up 27 percent of the total Georgia resident population.
Older drivers (55+ years) also accounted for 33 percent of all licensed drivers, 26 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, and19 percent of all drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes.
65+ Years In 2020, there were 1.5 million licensed
drivers 65+ years a 30 percent increase from 2016. Drivers 65+ years made up 17 percent of all licensed drivers. The number of drivers ages 65+ years involved in fatal crashes decreased by 4 percent (from 313 drivers in 2019 to 299 drivers in 2020). Drivers ages 65+ years accounted for 13 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2020. In 2020, the total motor vehicle crashrelated hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 65+ years was $227 million.
Cross-Cutting Findings
Between 2019 and 2020, the number of pedestrians 65+ years of age that were seriously or fatally injured increased by 27 percent (from 63 to 80), and the rate of seriously or fatally injured pedestrians 65+ years per 100,000 population increased by 22 percent (from 4.15 to 5.08).
Governor's Office of Highway Safety
7 M.L.K. Jr Dr SE Suite #643 Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-6996 www.gahighwaysafety.org

Older Drivers
Ages 55 Years and Older
For the purposes of this fact sheet, persons 55-to-64 years old and persons 65 years or older are considered part of the "older drivers" population particularly in relation to population, drivers, motor vehicle occupants, and non-motorists. The involvement of older drivers in traffic crashes does not imply that older drivers caused the crash either by their actions or failure to act.
This fact sheet contains information from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) crash data modified by Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation System (CODES) at the Department of Public Health (DPH), Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), Hospital Discharge Data, and Emergency Room Data. Refer to the 'Data Considerations' presented at the end of this publication for more information concerning the data.

Traffic Crashes Involving Older Drivers
Fatal crashes that involve drivers aged 65+ years decreased by 4 percent (from 313 drivers in 2019 to 299 drivers in 2020) and the rate of drivers 65+ years involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 population decreased by 8 percent. However, the number and rate of drivers in the 55-to-64 age group involved in fatal crashes increased by 16 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Across the decade, drivers 65+ years represented approximately 13 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes.

Figure 1. Older Drivers (55+ Years) Involved in Fatal Crashes and
Rate per 100,000 Population, 20162020
Drivers Aged 55-64 Yrs Drivers Aged 65+ Yrs Drivers Aged 55-64 Yrs Rate per 100,000 Population Drivers Aged 65+ Yrs Rate per 100,000 Population

30.0

24.7

25.0

26.0

22.9

21.2

24.3 525

20.0
22.1
15.0

10.0

305 300

5.0

21.9 329 308

18.6 294 272

20.6 277 313

322

425
19.0
325

299

225

125

-

2016

2017

Source: FARS 2016-2020

2018

2019

25
2020
Page 1

Older drivers aged 65+ years represented 15 percent of the population and 17 percent of all licensed drivers. However, they only represent 8 percent of all drivers involved in traffic crashes and 13 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes. Compared to other age groups, drivers 65+ years have the lowest rate of drivers involved in fatal crashes per licensed driver and per population. However, this age group has the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes per 100,000 motor vehicle traffic crashes. The rate of older drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 motor vehicle traffic crashes increases as the older drivers 65+ years continue to age. This is indicative of the vulnerability of that driving population and the fragility that aging brings. In 2020:
For every 100,000 traffic crashes involving drivers aged 65+ years, 690.2 were fatal crashes.
For every 100,000 licensed drivers aged 65+ years, 20.5 drivers aged 65+ years were involved in a fatal crash.
For every 100,000 Georgia residents aged 65+ years, 19.0 drivers aged 65+ years were involved in a fatal crash.

Table 1. Drivers Involved in Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes by Age Group, 2020

Age Group
(Years)
15-20

Number of Drivers Involved

Traffic

Fatal

Crashes Crashes

63,361

206

Licensed Drivers

Estimated Population

759,520

886,530

Rates of Drivers

Involved in Fatal Crashes

Per 100,000
Crashes

Per 100,000
License

Per 100,000
Population

325.1

27.1

23.2

21-24

63,053

183

589,230

571,580

290.2

31.1

32.0

25-34

137,957

536

1,495,891

1,506,359

388.5

35.8

35.6

35-44

101,677

387

1,366,619

1,394,847

380.6

28.3

27.7

45-54

85,861

374

1,361,129

1,391,098

435.6

27.5

26.9

55-64

67,380

322

1,302,412

1,323,211

477.9

24.7

24.3

65+

49,080

299

1,457,853 1,574,667

609.2

20.5

19.0

65-74

34,316

172

925,256

959,264

501.2

18.6

17.9

75-84

12,452

106

422,042

459,814

851.3

25.1

23.1

85+

2,312

21

110,555

155,589

908.3

19.0

13.5

TOTAL

602,866* 2,365*

8,332,654

*Totals include drivers 14 years or younger or with unreported age Source: FARS 2020; CODES 2020; DDS 2020; OASIS 2020

8,648,292

392.3

28.4

27.3

In 2020, drivers in the 75-to-84 years age group have the fourth highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes compared to other age groups--25.1 drivers ages 75to-84 years for every 100,000 licensed drivers aged 75-to-84 years. Figure 2 displays the rate of drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers by age group.

Figure 2. Rate of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes per 100,000 Licensed Drivers by Age Group, 2020

35.8

All Drivers = 28.4

31.1

27.1

28.3 27.5 24.7

25.1

18.6

19.0

15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
Source: FARS 2020, DDS 2020

Page 2

Fatalities and Serious Injuries in Crashes Involving Older Drivers
Table 2 shows the number of all traffic fatalities that involved drivers aged 65+ years by person type from 2016 to 2020.
Fatalities among drivers aged 65+ years decreased by 4 percent from 181 in 2016 to 176 in 2020. Fatalities among motorcyclists (operators and passengers) aged 65+ years decreased by 68 percent
from 22 fatalities in 2016 to 7 fatalities in 2020. Throughout the five-year period, most fatally injured passengers of older drivers were over the age of
65 years. In 2020, 69 percent (29 out of 42) of fatally injured passengers of drivers 65+ years were also over the age of 65 years.

Table 2. All Traffic Fatalities in Crashes Involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Person Type and Year, 2016-2020

Year

Older Drivers (65+Years)

Drivers

Motorcycle Operators

Passengers of Older Drivers by Age

Less than 65 Years

65+ Years

Total

Occupants of Other Vehicles

NonMotorists

Total

2016

181 60%

22 7%

14

22

36

5%

7%

12%

41 14%

20

300

7%

100%

2017

180 60%

10 3%

8

25

33

3%

8%

11%

51 17%

27

301

9%

100%

2018

154 56%

11 4%

7

22

29

3%

8%

11%

56 20%

24

274

9%

100%

2019

184 57%

20 6%

8

32

40

2%

10%

12%

55 17%

23

322

7%

100%

2020

176 56%

7 2%

12

29

42*

4%

9%

13%

60 19%

28

313

9%

100%

Note: Percent is calculated across the rows. There were no motorcycle passenger fatalities in crashes involving older drivers or motorcycle operators between 2016-2020. * Includes passengers of unknown age. Source: FARS 2016-2020

In 2020, there were 1,086 persons with suspected serious injuries involved in crashes that involved older drivers age 65+ years--14 percent of all serious injuries. Figure 3 shows the percent of serious injuries among all persons involved in crashes with at least one older driver aged 65+ years in 2020. Among all serious injuries involving older drivers:
57 percent were occupants in the vehicle operated by the older driver (represented by purple in Figure 3). - 46 percent were the older driver aged 65+ years - 11 percent were the passengers of the older driver
43 percent were occupants of other vehicles or non-motorists (represented by blue in Figure 4). - 40 percent were occupants of vehicles that were not operated by an older driver - 3 percent were non-motorists (i.e.,
pedestrians or bicyclists).

Figure 3: Percent of Persons Seriously Injured in Crashes Involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Person Type, 2020
Non-Motorists 3% (39)

Occupant of another vehicle
40% (431)

Older Driver 46% (497)

Passengers of Older Driver 11% (119)
1,086 Serious Injuries
Source: CODES 2020

Page 3

Restraint Use & Seatbelt Violations

Figure 4 shows percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants (across all seating positions) who were unrestrained by age group and sex in 2020. Passenger vehicles include passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans.
In 2020, there were more unrestrained, fatally injured, older, passenger vehicle occupants who were male compared to female. Based on known restraint use:
56 percent of fatally injured, male occupants aged 55-to-64 years were unrestrained compared to 53 percent of female occupants.
35 percent of fatally injured, male occupants aged 65+ years were unrestrained compared to 18 percent of female occupants.
15 percent of seriously injured1 drivers 65+ years were unrestrained and 21 percent of seriously injured passengers 65+ years were unrestrained (not shown in Figure 4).

Figure 4. Percent of Fatally Injured Passenger Vehicle Occupants Unrestrained* in Traffic Crashes by Age Group and Sex, 2020
Male Female

55% 44% 45% 44%
63% 63% 62% 44% 52% 50% 63% 26% 56% 53% 35% 18%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Less 15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

than 15

Age Group

*Based on known restraint use Passenger vehicles include passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans. Source: FARS 2020

In 2020, older drivers (55+ years) represented 13 percent of all seatbelt violations and 6 percent of child safety seat violations. Older drivers may be cited and convicted for seatbelt or child safety seat violations for other occupants within their vehicle.

Seating Positions: Driving with Peers
Figure 5 displays the seating positions of older drivers' passengers ages 65+ years fatally injured that were unrestrained from 2018 to 2020.
29 percent of all fatally injured, older drivers aged 65+ years old were unrestrained.
18 percent of all occupants (regardless of seating position and injury severity) riding with an older driver involved in a fatal crash were 65+ years of age. - 15 percent of fatally injured, front seat passengers 65+ years old were unrestrained. - 50 percent of fatally injured, backseat passengers (passenger side) aged 65+ years were unrestrained.

Figure 5. Percent of Fatally Injured Older Drivers (65+ Years) and their Fatally Injured Passenger Occupants (Aged 65+ Years) Unrestrained* by Seating Position, 2018-2020
*Based on known restraint use Note: the number of backseat passenger fatalities aged 65+ years is relatively low. Source: FARS 2018-2020

1 Serious injuries are suspected serious injuries reported by law enforcement.

Page 4

Older Driver Licensing and Population Trends
In 2020, an estimated 2.9 million people (27 percent of the total Georgia resident population) were 55 years of age and older. Fifteen percent of the Georgia population was 65 years old and older. Compared to 2016, the overall population in Georgia increased by 4 percent; however, the population of persons 55 years and older increased by 12 percent in 2020. As a result, older persons 55 years and older represent a greater proportion of the Georgia population.

Over the past decade, the older population across the 55-to-64 years, 65-to-74 years, and 75+ age groups steadily increased. According to the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services, "Georgia's 60+ population is expected to increase by 66 percent between 2010 and 2050. Georgia's 85+ population is expected to triple to 462,723 persons in 2050 being the fastest-growing age group."2

In 2020, there were 2.8 million licensed drivers over the age of 55 years a 26 percent increase from 2016. Older drivers (55+ years) made up 33 percent of all licensed drivers in 2020. Table 6 shows the number of licensed older drivers and population estimates by age group and sex for 2016 and 2020.

Table 3: Population Estimates and Licensing among Persons 55+ Years, 2016 and 2020

Age Group and Sex

55-64 Years
65+ Years
65-74 Years
75-84 Years
85+ Years

Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total

Population Estimates

2016

2020

Change Number Percent

586,707 630,343 + 43,636 + 7%

650,104 692,868 + 42,764 + 7%

1,236,811 1,323,211 + 86,400 + 7%

589,688 686,822 + 97,134 + 16%

764,974 887,845 + 122,871 + 16%

1,354,662 1,574,667 + 220,005 + 16%

384,580 435,035 + 50,455 + 13%

454,745 839,325

524,229 + 69,484 959,264 + 119,939

+ 15% + 14%

159,965 197,902 + 37,937 + 24%

217,237 261,912 + 44,675 + 21%

377,202 459,814 + 82,612 + 22%

45,143

53,885 + 8,742 + 19%

92,992 101,704 + 8,712 + 9%

138,135 155,589 + 17,454 + 13%

2016
483,356 589,463 1,072,819 509,073 615,049 1,124,122
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Licensed Drivers

2020

Change Number Percent

630,301 + 146,945 + 30%

672,111 + 82,648 + 14%

1,302,412 + 229,593 + 21%

683,010 + 173,937 + 34%

774,843 + 159,794 + 26%

1,457,853 + 333,731 + 30%

435,293

**

**

489,963 925,256

**

**

**

**

197,471

**

**

224,571

**

**

422,042

**

**

50,246

**

**

60,309

**

**

110,555

**

**

Total Age 55+ Years

Male Female Total

1,176,395 1,415,078 2,591,473

1,317,165 1,580,713 2,897,878

+ 140,770 + 165,635 + 306,405

+ 12% + 12% + 12%

992,429 1,313,311 1,204,512 1,446,954 2,196,941 2,760,265

**2016 DDS licensed drivers was not available by age groups 65-74 years, 75-84 years, and 85+ years. Source: OASIS 2016 and 2020; DDS 2016 and 2020

+ 320,882 + 242,442 + 563,324

+ 32% + 20% + 26%

2 Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services. State Fiscal Year 2017 Just the Facts (2017). Atlanta, GA: Department of Human Services. <https://aging.georgia.gov/document/document/just-facts-2017/download>. September 18, 2020.
Page 5

Contributing Circumstances
In 2020, 90 percent of all crashes involving older drivers aged 65+ years also involved other vehicles (multi-vehicle crashes), and 10 percent were single-vehicle crashes. The most common 'most harmful event' for multi-vehicle crashes was collisions with other motor vehicles; for single-vehicle crashes, collision with deer or other animal.
The most common manner of collision in multi-vehicle crashes involving older drivers aged 65+ years was angle crashes. For fatal and serious injury crashes head-on collisions were the second highest rank manner of collisions. The manner of collision is not vehicle specific and does not identify which vehicle or driver was at fault. Table 4 below shows the highest-rank manner of collision for multi-vehicle traffic, injury, and fatal crashes that involve older drivers aged 65+ years.

Table 4. Highest Rank Manner of Collision for Multi-Vehicle Crashes involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Crash Type, 2020

Rank

Fatal Crashes

Serious Injury Crashes

Traffic Crashes

Manner of Collision

% of crashes Manner of Collision

% of crashes Manner of Collision

% of crashes

1 Angle

52% Angle

55% Angle

39%

2 Head on (Front-to-front)

20%

Head on (Front-to-front)

16%

Rear end (Front-to-rear)

39%

3 Rear end (Front-to-rear)

15%

Rear end (Front-to-rear)

16%

Sideswipe same direction

14%

4 *Not a collision with a motor vehicle

8%

*Not a collision with a motor vehicle

7%

Head on (Front-to-front)

3%

* The first harmful event was not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport Source: FARS 2020, CODES 2020

Older drivers aged 65+ years losing control of their vehicle was the top contributing factor among operators involved in single-vehicle crashes. In 2020, 34 percent of older drivers (65+ years) involved in single vehicle crashes lost control of their vehicle moments before they crashed with an object other than another vehicle. The top contributing factors among older drivers and other drivers involved in multivehicle crashes were failure to yield and following too closely. This does not imply that the older driver or other drivers caused the crash either by their actions or failure to act.

Table 5. Top Contributing Factors with Crashes involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Number of Vehicles Involved and Person Type, 2020

Single Vehicle Crashes

Multi-Vehicle Crashes

Rank
1

Older Drivers (65+ Years)

Description

% of drivers

Driver lost control

34%

Older Drivers (65+ Years)

Description

% of drivers

Failed to yield

31%

Other Driver Description Following too close

% of drivers
40%

2 Other

20% Following too close

25% Failed to yield

21%

3 Reaction to object or animal 12% Changed lanes improperly

13% Changed lanes improperly 10%

4 Misjudged clearance

10% Other

8% Other

10%

Source: CODES 2020; FARS 2020

Page 6

Environmental Characteristics
Table 6 summarizes the environmental characteristics of where and when fatal crashes and traffic crashes involving older drivers aged 65+ years occurred in 2020.
Fatal crashes and all traffic crashes involving older drivers have similar environmental characteristics, except for the predominant location of crashes. In 2020:
48 percent of all traffic crashes involving older drivers occurred at intersection or intersection-related locations, and 68 percent of all fatal crashes involving older drivers occurred at non-intersections.
Among the fatal crashes that involved older drivers:
71 percent occurred in daylight conditions;
68 percent occurred during the weekday, and 35 percent occurred during the weekday afternoon hours (12:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.);
70 percent occurred in clear weather conditions; and
31 percent occurred in the fall season.

Table 6. Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Environmental Characteristics, 2020

Environmental Characteristics
Location * Intersection (or related) Non-Intersection Other

Fatal Crashes Involving Older
Drivers
Number Percent

Traffic Crashes Involving Older
Drivers
Number Percent

89

32% 22,105

48%

190

68% 21,212

46%

--

--

3,133

7%

Light Conditions

Dark

74

27%

6,819

15%

Daylight

198

71% 38,280

82%

Dawn

1

<1%

454

1%

Dusk

5

2%

605

1%

Day of Week / Time of Day *

Weekday

190

68% 36,106

78%

6:00-11:59am

46

16% 10,444

22%

12:00-5:59pm

99

35% 20,680

45%

6:00-11:59pm

35

13%

4,210

9%

12:00-5:59am

10

4%

772

2%

Weekend 6:00-11:59am

89

32% 10,344

22%

23

8%

1,902

4%

12:00-5:59pm

26

9%

4,714

10%

6:00-11:59pm

31

11%

3,209

7%

12:00-5:59am

9

3%

519

1%

Weather Conditions

Clear

195

70% 31,294

67%

Cloudy

45

16%

9,408

20%

Rain

29

10%

5,187

11%

Other

10

4%

563

1%

Season

Winter

74

27% 14,019

30%

Spring

54

19%

8,677

19%

Summer

64

23% 10,895

23%

Fall

86

31% 12,859

28%

Weekday 6:00 a.m. Monday to 5:59 p.m. Friday Weekend 6:00 p.m. Friday to 5:59 a.m. Monday Daytime 6:00 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. Nighttime 6:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. *See data considerations for definitions of intersection and non-intersection locations
Source: CODES 2020, FARS 2020

Page 7

Traffic-Related Injuries and Fatalities among the Aging Population
In 2020, older persons aged 65+ years represented 7 percent of all hospitalizations and emergency room visits related to motor vehicle traffic incidences (7,344 out of 98,314). The total motor vehicle trafficrelated hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 65+ years was $227 million. In 2020, there were 522 persons aged 55 years or older (55+ years) fatally injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Over half of these traffic fatalities (57 percent, 273 out of 522) were persons aged 65 years and older (65+ years).

Table 7. Number, Percent, and Rate of All Motor Vehicle Traffic-Related Emergency Room Visits, Hospitalizations, and Fatalities by Age Group, 2020

Emergency Room Visits

Hospitalizations

Traffic Fatalities

Age Group

Number

Percent of Total

Rate per 100,000 Population

Number

Percent of Total

Rate per 100,000 Population

Number

Percent of Total

Rate per 100,000 Population

Less than 15 4,723

5%

229.1

54

1%

2.6

55

3%

2.7

15-20

11,603 13%

1,308.8

660

9%

74.4

143

9%

16.1

21-24

10,256 11%

1,794.3

656

9%

114.8

113

7%

19.8

25-34

22,437 25%

1,489.5 1,561 20%

103.6

334

20%

22.2

35-44

15,227 17%

1,091.7 1,167 15%

83.7

250

15%

17.9

45-54

11,742 13%

844.1

1,111 15%

79.9

221

13%

15.9

55-64

8,704 10%

657.8

1,069 14%

80.8

249

15%

18.8

65+

5,994 7%

380.7

1,350 18%

85.7

273

16%

17.3

65-74 4,121

5%

429.6

712

9%

74.2

143

9%

14.9

75-84 1,530

2%

332.7

481

6%

104.6

105

6%

22.8

85+ 343

< 1%

220.5

157

2%

100.9

25

2%

16.1

Total

90,686 100% 846.7

7,628 100%

71.2

1,664* 100%

15.5

*Total includes fatalities with unreported or unknown age

Source: FARS 2020, OASIS 2020; Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of Health Indicators for Planning (OHIP) Hospital Inpatient Discharge

and Emergency Room Visit Data.

The motor vehicle fatality rate for all person types -- drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and other-- per 100,000 population fluctuated between 2016 and 2020. Figure 6 compares the motor vehicle fatality rate among the older population between 2016 and 2020.
The motor vehicle traffic fatality rate for the 85+ age
remains the highest compared to other age groups and increased slightly from 22.5 in 2016 to 22.8 in 2020.
The fatality rate for persons 55-to-64 increased by 10
percent (from 17.1 in 2016 to 18.8 in 2020).
The fatality rate for persons 65-to-74 and 75-to-84
decreased by 12 percent and 16 percent respectively.

Figure 6. 2016 and 2020 Change in Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates by Age Group per 100,000 Population

85+, 22.5

22.8

65-74, 19.8

75-84, 17.8

18.8

17.3

55-64, 17.1

14.9

Less than 55,

14.3

13.9

2016

2020

Source: FARS 2016 and 2020; OASIS 2016 and 2020

Page 8

Total motor vehicle traffic fatalities among persons 55+ years increased by 8 percent (from 479 fatalities in 2016 to 522 fatalities in 2020), and the 55+ population increased by 12 percent. Figure 7 and Table 8 show the proportion of the older persons' involvement in traffic fatalities for 2016 and 2020.
Older driver fatalities aged 55+ years remained 34 percent of all driver fatalities in 2016 and 2020.
Fatalities among drivers aged 65+ years decreased slightly from 21 percent of all driver fatalities in 2016 to 20 percent of all driver fatalities in 2020. Older passenger fatalities also remained at 24 percent of all passenger fatalities in 2016 and 2020.
Older motorcyclist fatalities (operator and passenger) aged 55+ years, though a relatively small number,
decreased from 26 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities in 2016 to 18 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities in 2020. Additionally, 27 percent of all motorcyclists with a valid motorcycle designation (Class M or MP) on their driver's license were 55-to-64 years old and 23 percent were 65+ years old in 2020 (Motorcycles Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, 2020 )
Older pedestrian fatalities aged 55+ years increased from 28 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in 2016 to
38 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in 2020. Older bicyclist fatalities decreased from 48 percent of all bicyclist fatalities in 2016 to 31 percent of all bicyclist fatalities in 2020. (Pedestrians and Bicyclists (NonMotorists) Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, 2020 ).

Figure 7: Proportions of All Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities by Person Type and Age Group, 2016 and 2020

50%

55-64

65-74

75-84

85+

40%

30%

7%

20%

11%

10%
13%
0%
2016

9% 10% 14%
2020

Driver

7%

8%

6%

6%

9%

9%

2016

2020

Passenger

12%

13%

15%

2016

2020

Motorcyclist

9% 16%

12% 23%

2016

2020

Pedestrian

41%

6% 22%

2016

2020

Bicyclist

Table 8: Proportions of All Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities by Person Type and Age Group, 2016 and 2020

Person Type
Driver Fatalities

Total
874 100%

Less than 55
578
66%

2016 Age Group

55-64 65-74 75-84

115

93

61

13% 11%

7%

85+
27 3%

Total
872 100%

Less than 55
572
65%

2020 Age Group

55-64 65-74 75-84

124

84

75

14% 10%

9%

85+
17 2%

Passenger

243

184

22

14

16

7 288 218

25

18

22

5

Fatalities

100%

76%

9%

6%

7%

3% 100% 90%

9%

6%

8%

2%

Motorcyclist

172

128

22

21

1

Fatalities

100%

74% 13%

12%

1%

-- 192 157

28

5

1

1

-- 100% 91% 15%

3%

1%

1%

Pedestrian

232

168

38

20

6

Fatalities

100%

72% 16%

9%

3%

-- 279 173

64

34

6

2

-- 100% 75% 23% 12%

2%

1%

Bicyclist

29

15

12

1

1

--

32

22

7

2

1

--

Fatalities

100%

52% 41%

3%

3%

-- 100% 76% 22%

6%

3%

--

Other

6

4

2

--

--

--

1

--

1

--

--

--

Fatalities

100%

67% 33%

--

--

-- 100%

-- 100%

--

--

--

All Traffic

1,556 1,077 211

149

85

34 1,664 1,142

249 143

105

25

Fatalities

100%

69% 14%

10%

5%

2% 100% 73% 15%

9%

6%

2%

*Other fatalities include persons on personal conveyances, unknown occupant type in a motor vehicle in-transport, and persons in/on buildings.

Source: FARS 2016 and 2020

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Older Pedestrian Population

In 2020, pedestrians aged 65+ years represented 8 percent of all pedestrians involved in crashes (202 out of 2,449), 10 percent of all pedestrian serious injuries (34 out of 358), and 15 percent of all pedestrian fatalities (42 out of 279). Persons aged 65+ years represented 15 percent of the Georgia population in 2020--with an annual growth of 4 percent. As shown in Table 13, the number of pedestrians 65+ years of age that were seriously or fatally injured increased by 27 percent (from 63 in 2019 to 80 in 2020), and the rate of seriously or fatally injured pedestrians 65+ years increased by 22 percent (from 4.15 in 2019 to 5.08 in 2020). Table 9 shows the number, percent, and rate of serious injuries reported for each injury surveillance source for the older pedestrian population aged 65 years and older.

Table 9. Older Pedestrian (Aged 65+ Years) Serious Injuries, Fatalities, and Injury Rate, 2016-2020

Year

Serious Injury

Fatalities

Total Serious

Injuries and

Fatalities

Number

Annual % Change

Population

Number

Annual % Change

Rate Per 100,000 Population

Rate

Annual % Change

2016

42

26

68

19%

1,354,662

4%

5.02

15%

2017

56

36

92

35%

1,407,810

4%

6.53

30%

2018

22

42

64

-30%

1,460,409

4%

4.38

-33%

2019

33

30

63

-2%

1,516,954

4%

4.15

-5%

2020

38

42

80

27%

1,574,667

4%

5.08

22%

Source: CODES 2020, FARS 2020, OASIS 2020

Table 10. Older Pedestrian (Aged 65+ Years) Traffic-Related Serious Injuries, Percent of Total Serious Injuries, and Rate by Age Group and Injury Surveillance Source, 2020

Age Group

Police-Reported Suspected Serious
Crash Injuries

Emergency Medical Services

Trauma Center Emergency Room Hospitalizations

#

% Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate

Less than 55

281

78%

3.6 1,399 75% 17.9 586 71% 7.5 1,220 80% 15.6 453 69% 5.8

55-64 43 12% 3.3 288 15% 21.8 143 17% 10.8 197 13% 14.9 113 17% 8.5

65-74 21 6% 75-84 10 3%

2.2 125 7% 13.0 72 9% 7.5 78 5% 8.1 62 9% 6.6 2.2 46 2% 10.0 20 2% 4.4 28 2% 6.1 23 4% 5.0

85+

3 1% 1.9 19 1% 12.2 5 1% 3.2 6 0% 3.9 3 0% 1.9

*Total 358 100% 3.3 1,877 100% 17.5 826 100% 7.7 1,529 100% 14.3 654 100% 6.1

*Includes twelve suspected serious injuries with unknown age. Source: CODES 2020, DPH-OHIP Hospital Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Room Visit Only Data 2020, GEMSIS 2020, Georgia Trauma Registry 2020

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Data Definitions and Considerations:
Persons 55-to-64 years old and persons 65 years or older are considered part of the "older drivers" population particularly in relation to population, drivers, motor vehicle occupants, and non-motorists. The involvement of older drivers in traffic crashes, serious injury crashes, and fatal crashes does not imply that older drivers caused the crash either by their actions or failure to act.
A traffic crash is defined as an incident that involved one or more motor vehicles where at least one vehicle was in transport and the crash originated on a public trafficway, such as a road or highway. Crashes that occurred on private property, including parking lots and driveways, are excluded.
Fatal crashes are defined as crashes that involve a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and that resulted in the death of a motorist or a non-motorist within 30 days of the crash.
Serious injuries are those suspected serious injuries reported by law enforcement and used when any injury, other than fatal injury, prevents the injured person from walking, driving, or normally continuing the activities the person was capable of before the injury occurred.
Passenger vehicles are defined as passenger cars, light trucks (including vans), utility vehicles, and pickup trucks.
The Department of Driver Services provided licensing data for the 2020 year. Licensing data by age, sex, and license type was not obtained for the 2016 year. The driver licensing database is a live database system and represents the information at a point-in-time on the date of extraction.
Contributing circumstances capture the precrash elements or improper actions of persons (motorcycle operators, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists) that may have caused the crash. Contributing factors in fatal and nonfatal crashes are often underreported in the datasets. There is at least one record per person involved in a fatal crash (FARS Data) and some missing records for persons involved in motor vehicle traffic crashes (Crash Data).

For More Information:
The two-page Quick Facts for Drivers Aged 55+ Years can be found on the GOHS or DPH websites below: https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/georgia-traffic-
safety-facts/ https://dph.georgia.gov/injury-epidemiology/crash-
outcome-data-evaluation-survey-codes
Other 2020 traffic safety facts are available online at the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety and Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation Systems (CODES): Non-Motorist (Pedestrians and Bicyclists), Motorcycle Safety, Young Adult Drivers, Distracted Drivers, Risky Driving, Large Trucks, and Occupant Protection.

The suggested APA format citation for this document is:
Georgia Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation System. (2022, August). Older Drivers: 2020 data. (Georgia Traffic Safety Facts). Atlanta, GA: Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

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