Older drivers (Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety), 2021

Georgia Traffic Safety Facts
2021 Data

August 2023
Key Findings
In 2021, an estimated 2.9 million people were 55 years and older a 10 percent increase from 2017. The older population (55+ years) made up 27 percent of the total Georgia resident population.
Older drivers (55+ years) also accounted for 35 percent of all licensed drivers, 26 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, and 19 percent of all drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes.
65+ Years In 2021, there were 1.5 million licensed
drivers 65+ years a 22 percent increase from 2017. Drivers 65+ years made up 19 percent of all licensed drivers. The number of drivers ages 65+ years involved in fatal crashes increased by 14 percent (from 299 drivers in 2020 to 341 drivers in 2021). Drivers ages 65+ years accounted for 13 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2021. In 2021, the total motor vehicle crashrelated hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 65+ years was $292 million.
Cross-Cutting Findings
Between 2020 and 2021, the number of pedestrians 65+ years of age that were seriously or fatally injured increased by 18 percent (from 80 to 94), and the rate of seriously or fatally injured pedestrians 65+ years per 100,000 population increased by 17 percent (from 5.08 to 5.93).
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 increased by 14 percent (from 299 drivers in 2020 to 341 drivers in 2021), and the rate of drivers 65+ years involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 population increased by 13 percent. The number and rate of drivers in the 55-to-64 age group involved in fatal crashes slightly increased by 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Across the decade (2012-2021), 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, 20172021

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

26.0

25.0
21.9
20.0

22.9 18.6

21.2

24.3

20.6

19.0

15.0
329 308
10.0

294 272

277 313

322 299

25.0 525

21.5

425

325
336 341
225

5.0

125

-
2017

2018

Source: FARS 2017-2021

2019

2020

25
2021
Page 1

In 2021, older drivers aged 65+ years represented 15 percent of the population and 19 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 2021:
For every 100,000 traffic crashes involving drivers aged 65+ years, 579.4 were fatal crashes.
For every 100,000 licensed drivers aged 65+ years, 22.3 drivers aged 65+ years were involved in a fatal crash.
For every 100,000 Georgia residents aged 65+ years, 21.5 drivers aged 65+ years were involved in a fatal crash.

Table 1. Drivers Involved in Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes by Age Group, 2021

Age Group
(Years)
15-20

Number of Drivers Involved

Traffic Crashes
75,774

Fatal Crashes
215

Licensed Drivers
633,567

Estimated Population
908,221

Rates of Drivers

Involved in Fatal Crashes

Per 100,000
Crashes

Per 100,000
License

Per 100,000
Population

283.7

33.9

23.7

21-24

75,168

260

543,760

574,233

345.9

47.8

45.3

25-34

163,436

567

1,401,893 1,494,153

346.9

40.4

37.9

35-44

120,860

452

1,318,949 1,428,680

374.0

34.3

31.6

45-54

98,912

389

1,305,857 1,398,509

393.3

29.8

27.8

55-64

77,751

336

1,271,578 1,343,137

432.1

26.4

25.0

65+

58,851

341

1,531,994 1,584,071

579.4

22.3

21.5

65-74

41,308

216

945,284

987,987

522.9

22.9

21.9

75-84

14,739

99

460,898

455,027

671.7

21.5

21.8

85+

2,804

26

125,812

141,057

927.2

20.7

18.4

TOTAL

715,646* 2,617*

8,007,598 10,799,566

*Totals include drivers 14 years or younger or with unreported age Source: FARS 2021; CODES 2021; DDS 2021; OASIS 2021

365.7

32.7

24.2

Figure 2 displays the rate of drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers by age group. As age increases, the rate of involvement in fatal crashes decreases. In 2021, 22.9 drivers aged 65-to-74 years for every 100,000 licensed drivers aged 65-to-74 years were involved in a fatal crash.

Figure 2. Rate of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes per 100,000 Licensed Drivers by Age Group, 2021

47.8 40.4

All Drivers = 32.7

33.9

34.3

29.8 26.4 22.9 21.5 20.7

15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
Source: FARS 2021, DDS 2021

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 2017 to 2021.
Fatalities among drivers aged 65+ years increased by 5 percent--from 176 in 2020 to 185 in 2021. Fatalities among motorcyclists (operators and passengers) aged 65+ years increased by 58
percent--from 7 fatalities in 2020 to 11 fatalities in 2021. Throughout the five-year period, most fatally injured passengers of older drivers were over the age of
65 years. In 2021, 60 percent (25 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, 2017-2021

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

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%

2021

185 54%

11 3%

16

25

42*

5%

7%

12%

68 20%

34 10%

340 100%

Note: Percent is calculated across the rows. There were no motorcycle passenger fatalities in crashes involving older drivers or motorcycle operators between 2017-2021. * Includes passengers of unknown age. Source: FARS 2017-2021

In 2021, there were 1,281 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 2021. Among all serious injuries involving older drivers:
55 percent were occupants in the vehicle operated by the older driver (represented by gray in Figure 3). - 44 percent were the older driver aged 65+ years - 11 percent were the passengers of the older driver
45 percent were occupants of other vehicles or non-motorists (represented by brown in Figure 4). - 41 percent were occupants of vehicles that were not operated by an older driver - 4 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, 2021
Occupant in older driver's vehicle
Occupant in another vehicle or non-motorist
Non-Motorists 4% (58)

Occupant of another vehicle
41% (520)

Older Driver 44% (565)

1,281 Serious Injuries
Source: CODES 2021

Passengers of Older Driver 11% (138)

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 between 2019 and 2021. Passenger vehicles include passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans.
Between 2019 and 2021, there were more unrestrained, fatally injured, older, passenger vehicle occupants who were male compared to female. Based on known restraint use:
51 percent of fatally injured male occupants aged 55-to-64 years were unrestrained compared to 45 percent of female occupants.
34 percent of fatally injured male occupants aged 65+ years were unrestrained compared to 23 percent of female occupants.
10 percent of seriously injured1 drivers 65+ years were unrestrained and 13 percent of seriously injured passengers 65+ years were unrestrained (not shown in Figure 4).

42% 42%
45% 56% 68%
42% 63%
52% 57%
44% 57%
34% 51%
45% 34% 23%

Figure 4. Percent of Fatally Injured Passenger Vehicle Occupants Unrestrained* in Traffic Crashes by Age Group and Sex, 2019-2021 (3-year period)
Male Female
80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
0% Less 15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
than 15
*Based on known restraint use Passenger vehicles include passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans. Source: FARS 2021

In 2021, older drivers (55+ years) represented 13 percent of all seatbelt violations and 5 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 2017 to 2021.
31 percent of all fatally injured, older drivers aged 65+ years old were unrestrained.
27 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. - 42 percent of fatally injured backseat passengers 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, 2017-2021
Restrained Unrestrained
*Based on known restraint use Note: The number of backseat passenger fatalities aged 65+ years is relatively low. Source: FARS 2017-2021

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

Page 4

Older Driver Licensing and Population Trends
In 2021, 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 2017, the overall population in Georgia increased by 4 percent; however, the population of persons 55 years and older increased by 10 percent in 2021. 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 2021, there were 2.8 million licensed drivers over the age of 55 years a 14 percent increase from 2017. Older drivers (55+ years) made up 35 percent of all licensed drivers in 2021. Table 6 shows the number of licensed older drivers and population estimates by age group and sex for 2017 and 2021.

Table 3: Population Estimates and Licensing among Persons 55+ Years, 2017 and 2021

Age Group and Sex

55-64 Years
65+ Years

Male Female Total Male Female Total

Population Estimates

2017

2021

Change Number Percent

599,889 648,643 + 48,754

+ 8%

663,673 694,494 + 30,821

+ 5%

1,263,562 1,343,137 + 79,575

+ 6%

612,926 699,137 + 86,211 + 14%

794,884 884,934 + 90,050 + 11%

1,407,810 1,584,071 + 176,261 + 13%

2017
** ** 1,191,504 ** ** 1,257,619

Licensed Drivers

2021

Change Number Percent

612,800

**

**

658,778

**

**

1,271,578 + 80,074

+ 7%

715,305

**

**

816,689

**

**

1,531,994 + 274,375 + 22%

65-74 Years
75-84 Years
85+ Years
Total Age 55+ Years

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

397,552 473,327 870,879 168,113 226,221 394,334 47,261 95,336 142,597
1,212,815
1,458,557
2,671,372

452,769 535,218 987,987 196,943 258,084 455,027 49,425 91,632 141,057
1,347,780
1,579,428
2,927,208

+ 55,217 + 61,891 + 117,108 + 28,830 + 31,863 + 60,693 + 2,164 - 3,704 - 1,540
+ 134,965
+ 120,871
+ 255,836

+ 14% + 13% + 13% + 17% + 14% + 15% + 5% - 4% - 1%
+ 11%
+ 8%
+ 10%

** ** 814,352 ** ** 349,994 ** ** 93,273 **
**
2,449,123

443,291 501,993 945,284 214,914 245,984 460,898 57,100 68,712 125,812 1,328,105
1,475,467
2,803,572

** ** + 130,932 ** ** + 110,904 ** ** + 32,539 **
**
+ 354,449

** ** + 16% ** ** + 32% ** ** + 35% **
**
+ 14%

**2017 DDS licensed drivers was not available by sex. Source: OASIS 2017 and 2021; DDS 2017 and 2021

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 2021, 91 percent of all crashes involving older drivers aged 65+ years also involved other vehicles (multi-vehicle crashes), and 9 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, 2021

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

51% Angle

45%

Rear end (Front-to-rear)

36%

2 Head on (Front-to-front)

22%

*Not a collision with a motor vehicle

18% Angle

36%

3 Rear end (Front-to-rear)

19%

Rear end (Front-to-rear)

17%

Sideswipe same direction

14%

4 Sideswipe (Same or opposite
direction)

7%

Head on (Front-to-front)

13%

*Not a collision with a motor vehicle

8%

* The first harmful event was not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport. For example, a collision with a fixed object may be the first harmful event. Source: FARS 2021, CODES 2021

Older drivers aged 65+ years losing control of their vehicle was the top contributing factor among operators involved in single-vehicle crashes. In 2021, 31 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, 2021

Single Vehicle Crashes

Multi-Vehicle Crashes

Rank
1

Older Drivers (65+ Years)

Description

% of drivers

Driver lost control

31%

Older Drivers (65+ Years)

Description

% of drivers

Failed to yield

31%

Other Driver Description Following too close

% of drivers
41%

2 Other

22% Following too close

26% Failed to yield

20%

3 Reaction to object or animal 13% Changed lanes improperly

14% Changed lanes improperly 10%

4 Misjudged clearance

9% Other

7% Other

9%

Source: CODES 2021

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 2021.
Fatal crashes and all traffic crashes involving older drivers have similar environmental characteristics, except for the predominant location of crashes. In 2021:
47 percent of all traffic crashes involving older drivers occurred at an intersection or intersection-related location, and 62 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;
71 percent occurred during the weekday, and 33 percent occurred during the weekday afternoon hours (12:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.); and
73 percent occurred in clear weather conditions.

Table 6. Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Environmental Characteristics, 2021

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

Fatal Crashes Involving Older
Drivers
Number Percent

Traffic Crashes Involving Older
Drivers
Number Percent

120

38% 26,240

47%

197

62% 25,180

45%

--

--

4,056

7%

Unknown

--

--

428

1%

Light Conditions

Dark

84

26%

7,874

14%

Daylight

225

71% 46,492

83%

Dawn

4

1%

461

1%

Dusk

4

1%

706

1%

Day of Week / Time of Day *

Weekday 6:00-11:59am

224

71% 43,147

77%

72

23% 12,584

23%

12:00-5:59pm

104

33% 24,472

44%

6:00-11:59pm

37

12%

5,124

9%

12:00-5:59am

11

3%

967

2%

Weekend

93

29% 12,757

23%

6:00-11:59am

14

4%

2,370

4%

12:00-5:59pm

27

9%

5,799

10%

6:00-11:59pm

43

14%

3,921

7%

12:00-5:59am

9

3%

667

1%

Weather Conditions

Clear

231

73% 40,033

72%

Cloudy

54

17% 10,528

19%

Rain

30

9%

4,911

9%

Other

2

1%

432

1%

Season Winter

70

22% 12,484

22%

Spring

77

24% 13,723

25%

Summer

73

23% 13,750

25%

Fall

97

31% 15,947

29%

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 2021, FARS 2021

Page 7

Traffic-Related Injuries and Fatalities among the Aging Population
In 2021, older persons aged 65+ years represented 7 percent of all emergency room visits (6,876 out of 93,536) and 18 percent of all hospitalizations (1,573 out of 8,598) related to motor vehicle traffic incidents. The total motor vehicle traffic-related hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 65+ years was $292 million. In 2021, there were 538 persons aged 55 years or older (55+ years) fatally injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Over half of these traffic fatalities (55 percent, 299 out of 538) 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, 2021

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 4,913

5%

237.5

61

1%

2.9

47

3%

2.3

15-20

11,555 12%

1272.3

699

8%

77.0

143

8%

15.7

21-24

10,200 11%

1776.3

727

8%

126.6

160

9%

27.9

25-34

22,695 24%

1518.9

1,782 21%

119.3

352

20%

23.6

35-44

16,101 17%

1127.0

1388 16%

97.2

296

16%

20.7

45-54

11,960 13%

855.2

1193 14%

85.3

247

14%

17.7

55-64

9,236 10%

687.6

1175 14%

87.5

239

13%

17.8

65+

6,876

7%

434.1

1,573 18%

99.3

299

17%

18.9

65-74 4,642

5%

469.8

932

11%

94.3

169

9%

17.1

75-84 1,817

2%

399.3

464

5%

102.0

94

5%

20.7

85+ 417

0%

295.6

177

2%

125.5

36

2%

25.5

Total

93,536 100% 990.5

8,598 100%

52.0

1,797* 100%

16.6

*Total includes fatalities with unreported or unknown age

Source: FARS 2021, OASIS 2021; 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 2017 and 2021. Figure 6 compares the motor vehicle fatality rate among the older population between 2017 and 2021.
The motor vehicle traffic fatality rate for the 85+ age
remains the highest compared to other age groups and decreased by 11 percent from 23.3 in 2017 to 20.7 in 2021.
The fatality rate for persons in the 65-to-74 and 55-to-
64 age group decreased by 3 percent and 1 percent respectively.
The fatality rate for persons less than 55 years of age
increased by 18 percent (from 13.4 in 2017 to 15.8 in 2021).

Figure 6. Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates by Age Group per 100,000 Population, 2017 and 2021

85+, 23.3

20.7

65-74, 19.4

18.9

55-64, 18.0

17.8

75-84, 16.6

17.1

15.8

Less than 55, 13.4

2017

2021

Source: FARS 2017 and 2021; OASIS 2017 and 2021

Page 8

Total motor vehicle traffic fatalities among persons 55+ years increased by 7 percent (from 501 fatalities in 2017 to 538 fatalities in 2021), and the 55+ population increased by 10 percent. Figure 7 and Table 8 show the proportion of older persons involved in traffic fatalities for 2017 and 2021.
The proportion of older driver fatalities aged 55+ years decreased from 36 percent of all driver fatalities in
2017 to 32 percent in 2021. Fatalities among drivers aged 65+ years decreased slightly from 21 percent of all driver fatalities in 2017 to 19 percent of all driver fatalities in 2021. Older passenger fatalities also slightly decreased from 18 percent of all passenger fatalities in 2017 to 17 percent in 2021.
Older motorcyclist fatalities (operator and passenger) aged 55+ years, though a relatively small number,
decreased from 22 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities in 2017 to 19 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities in 2021. 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 25 percent were 65+ years old in 2021 (Motorcycles Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, 2021 ).
Older pedestrian fatalities aged 55+ years increased slightly from 33 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in
2017 to 34 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in 2021. Older bicyclist fatalities increased from 40 percent of all bicyclist fatalities in 2017 to 47 percent of all bicyclist fatalities in 2021. (Pedestrians and Bicyclists (Non-Motorists) Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, 2021 ).

Figure 7: Proportions of All Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities by Person Type and Age Group, 2017 and 2021

55-64

65-74

75-84

85+

50%

40%

30%

36%%

20%

11%

10%

15%

0%

2017

26%% 11% 13%
2021

4% 7% 7% 9%
2017

5% 6% 6% 6% 2021

7% 14%
2017

5% 12%
2021

7% 7% 19%
2017

1% 11% 19%
2021

40% 2017

7% 20%
20% 2021

Driver

Passenger

Motorcyclist

Pedestrian

Bicyclist

Table 8: Proportions of All Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities by Person Type and Age Group, 2017 and 2021

2017

2021

Person Type

Age Group

Age Group

Total

Less than 55

55-64

65-74

75-84

85+

Total

Less than 55

55-64

65-74

75-84

85+

Driver

872 562 130 100

55

25 983 668 129 105

59

21

Fatalities

100%

64% 15%

11%

6%

3% 100% 68% 13% 11%

6%

2%

Passenger

254

186

22

17

19

10 282 207

17

18

18

13

Fatalities

100%

73%

9%

7%

7%

4% 100% 73%

6%

6%

6%

5%

Motorcyclist

139

109

20

10

--

-- 194 158

24

10

2

--

Fatalities

100%

78% 14%

7%

--

-- 100%

81%

12%

5%

1%

--

Pedestrian

253

168

48

17

18

1 306 195

58

33

12

2

Fatalities

100%

66% 19%

7%

7% <1% 100% 64% 19% 11%

4%

1%

Bicyclist

15

9

6

--

--

--

15

8

3

3

1

--

Fatalities

100%

60% 40%

--

--

-- 100%

53%

20% 20%

7%

--

Other

7

4

2

1

--

--

17

7

8

2

--

Fatalities*

100%

57% 29%

14%

--

-- 100%

41%

47%

0% 12%

--

All Traffic 1,540 1,038 228 145

92

36 1,797 1,243 239 169

94

36

Fatalities** 100%

67% 15%

9%

6%

2% 100% 69% 13%

9%

5%

2%

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

**All traffic fatalities include persons with unknown ages

Source: FARS 2017 and 2021

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Older Pedestrian Fatal and Serious Injuries

In 2021, pedestrians aged 65+ years represented 8 percent of all pedestrians involved in crashes (224 out of 2,741), 8 percent of all pedestrian serious injuries (47 out of 572), and 15 percent of all pedestrian fatalities (47 out of 306). Pedestrians aged 65+ years may be more vulnerable in traffic crashes because of the fragility that aging brings. As shown in Table 9, the number of pedestrians 65+ years of age that were seriously or fatally injured increased by 18 percent (from 80 in 2020 to 94 in 2021), and the rate of seriously or fatally injured pedestrians 65+ years increased by 17 percent (from 5.08 in 2020 to 5.93 in 2021). Table 10 shows the number, percent, and rate of traffic-related pedestrian 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, 2017-2021

Year

Serious Injury

Fatalities

Total Serious

Injuries and

Fatalities

Number

Annual % Change

Population

Number

Annual % Change

Rate Per 100,000 Population

Rate

Annual % Change

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%

2021

47

47

94

18%

1,584,071

1%

5.93

17%

Source: CODES 2017- 2021, FARS 2017-2021, OASIS 2017-2021

Table 10. Older Pedestrian (Aged 65+ Years) Traffic-Related Serious Injuries, Percent of Total Serious Injuries, and Rate per 100,000 Population by Age Group and Injury Surveillance Source, 2021

Age Group

Police-Reported Suspected Serious
Crash Injuries

Emergency Medical Services

Trauma Center Emergency Room Hospitalizations

#

Less than 55

435

55-64 71

% 76% 12%

Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate

5.5 2,264 76% 28.8 797 74% 10.1 1,294 78% 16.4 487 69% 6.2

5.3 424 14% 31.6 166 15% 12.4 222 13% 16.5 125 18% 9.3

65-74 38 7% 75-84 9 2%

3.8 179 6% 18.1 88 8% 8.9 97 6% 9.8 64 9% 6.5 2.0 81 3% 17.8 25 2% 5.5 36 2% 7.9 22 3% 4.8

85+

--

--

--

22 1% 15.6 3 <1% 2.1 9 1% 6.4 4 1% 2.8

*Total 572 100% 5.3 2,970 100% 27.5 1,079 100% 10.0 1,658 100% 15.4 702 100% 6.5

*Includes twelve suspected serious injuries with unknown age. Source: CODES 2021, DPH-OHIP Hospital Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Room Visit Only Data 2021, GEMSIS 2021, Georgia Trauma Registry 2021

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Data Definitions and Considerations:
Persons 55-to-64 years old and persons 65 years or older are considered "older drivers" 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), Sport Utility Vehicles, and pickup trucks.
The Department of Driver Services provided licensing data for the 2021 year. Licensing data by sex and license type was not obtained for the 2017 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 2021 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. (2023, August). Older Drivers: 2021 data. (Georgia Traffic Safety Facts). Atlanta, GA: Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

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