Older drivers (Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety), 2022

Georgia Traffic Safety Facts
2022 Data

August 2024
Key Findings
In 2022, an estimated 3.0 million people in Georgia were 55 years and older a 9% increase from 2018. The older population (55+ years) represented 27% of the total Georgia resident population.
Older drivers (55+ years) also accounted for 35% of all licensed drivers, 24% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, and 20% of all drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes.
65+ Years In 2022, there were 1.7 million licensed
drivers 65+ years old a 20% increase from 2019. Drivers 65+ years old represented 20% of all licensed drivers. The number of drivers ages 65+ years involved in fatal crashes decreased by 11% (from 341 drivers in 2021 to 305 drivers in 2022). Drivers ages 65+ years accounted for 12% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022. In 2022, the total motor vehicle crashrelated hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 65+ years was $321 million.
Cross-Cutting Findings
Between 2021 and 2022, the number of pedestrians 65+ years of age that were seriously or fatally injured decreased by 8% (from 95 to 87), and the rate of seriously or fatally injured pedestrians 65+ years per 100,000 population decreased by 11% (from 5.93 to 5.29).
Governor's Office of Highway Safety
7 M.L.K. Jr Dr SE Suite #643 Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-6996 www.ga h igh wa ys a fe ty.o rg

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 road users" 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 the 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 involving drivers aged 65+ decreased by 11% (from 341 drivers in 2021 to 305 in 2022), and the rate of drivers 65+ years involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 population decreased by 13%. The number and rate of drivers in the 55-to-64 age group involved in fatal crashes decreased by 12%. Across the decade, drivers 65+ years represented approximately 13% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes.

Figure 1. Older Drivers (55+ Years) Involved in Fatal Crashes and Rate per 100,000 Population, 20182022

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
22.9
25.0

21.2

25.2 24.3

22.2

525

20.0

15.0

18.6

10.0

294 272

20.6
277 313

19.0
322 299

21.5
338 341

425
18.5 325
297 305 225

5.0

125

-
2018

2019

Source: FARS 2018-2022

2020

2021

25
2022

Page 1

In 2022, older drivers aged 65+ years represented 19% of the population and 20% of all licensed drivers. However, they only represent 9% of all drivers involved in traffic crashes and 12% 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 may be indicative of the vulnerability of that driving population and the fragility that aging brings. In 2022:
For every 100,000 traffic crashes involving drivers aged 65+ years, 490.3 were fatal crashes.
For every 100,000 licensed drivers aged 65+ years, 18.4 drivers aged 65+ years were involved in a fatal crash.
For every 100,000 Georgia residents aged 65+ years, 18.5 drivers aged 65+ years were involved in a fatal crash.

Table 1. Drivers Involved in Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes by Age Group, 2022

Age Group
(Years)
15-20

Number of Drivers Involved

Traffic

Fatal

Crashes Crashes

71,767

192

Licensed Drivers

Estimated Population

653,350

918,341

Rates of Drivers

Involved in Fatal Crashes

Per 100,000
Crashes

Per 100,000
License

Per 100,000
Population

267.5

29.4

20.9

21-24

71,581

212

565,017

609,852

296.2

37.5

34.8

25-34

159,323

553

1,475,323 1,511,231

347.1

37.5

36.6

35-44

124,974

486

1,384,622 1,445,295

388.9

35.1

33.6

45-54

99,578

382

1,336,349 1,397,510

383.6

28.6

27.3

55-64

79,683

297

1,296,656 1,337,315

372.7

22.9

22.2

65+

62,213

305

1,660,750 1,645,027

490.3

18.4

18.5

65-74

42,955

191

985,433

994,257

444.7

19.4

19.2

75-84

16,479

95

521,906

495,658

576.5

18.2

19.2

85+

2,779

19

153,411

155,112

683.7

12.4

12.2

TOTAL

715,646* 2,617*

8,007,598 10,799,566

*Totals include drivers 14 years or younger or with unreported age Source: FARS 2022; CODES 2022; DDS 2022; OASIS 2022

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 2022, 19.4 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, 2022

37.5 37.5 35.1

All Drivers = 32.7

29.4

28.6

22.9 19.4 18.2

12.4

15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
Source: FARS 2022, DDS 2022

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 2018 to 2022.
Fatalities among drivers aged 65+ years decreased by 8%, from 184 in 2021 to 170 in 2022. Fatalities among motorcyclists (operators and passengers) aged 65+ years increased by 9%, from 11
fatalities in 2021 to 12 fatalities in 2022. Throughout the five years, most fatally injured passengers of older drivers were over the age of 65
years. In 2022, 84% (26 out of 31) of fatally injured passengers of drivers 65+ years were also over the age of 65 years.

Table 2. Traffic Fatalities in Crashes Involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Person Type and Year, 2018-2022

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

2018

154 56%

11 4%

7

22

29

3%

8%

11%

56 20%

2019

184 57%

20 6%

8

32

40

2%

10%

12%

55 17%

2020

176 56%

7 2%

12

29

42*

4%

9%

13%

60 19%

2021

184 54%

11 3%

16

25

42

5%

7%

12%

70 21%

2022

170 50%

12 4%

5

26

31

1%

8%

9%

64 19%

Note: Percent is calculated across the rows. * Includes passengers of unknown age. Source: FARS 2018-2022

NonMotorists
24 9% 23 7% 28 9% 34 10% 30 9%

Total
274 100% 322 100% 313 100% 340 100% 340 100%

In 2022, there were 1,414 persons with suspected serious injuries involved in crashes that involved older drivers aged 65+ years--16% of all serious injuries. Figure 3 shows the percentage of serious injuries among all persons involved in crashes with at least one older driver aged 65+ in 2022. Among all serious injuries involving older drivers:
57% were occupants in the vehicle operated by the older driver (represented by light and dark teal in Figure 3). - 45% were older drivers aged 65+ years - 12% were the passengers of the older driver
43% were occupants of other vehicles or non-motorists (represented by brown and peach in Figure 3). - 39% were occupants of vehicles that were not operated by an older driver - 4% 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, 2022
Occupant in older driver's vehicle
Occupant in another vehicle or non-motorist

Occupant of another vehicle
39% (556)

Non-Motorists 4% (59)

Older Driver 45% (627)

1,414 Serious Injuries
Source: CODES 2022

Passengers of Older Driver 12% (172)

Page 3

39% 36%
49% 55% 67% 54% 63% 54% 61%
50% 60%
35% 55%
46% 38% 27%

Restraint Use & Seatbelt Violations

Figure 4 shows the percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants (across all seating positions) who were unrestrained by age group and sex between 2020 and 2022. Passenger vehicles include passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans.
Between 2020 and 2022, there were more unrestrained, fatally injured, older passenger vehicle occupants who were male compared to female. Based on known restraint use: 55% of fatally injured, male occupants aged
55-64 years were unrestrained, compared to 46% of female occupants. 38% of fatally injured, male occupants aged 65+ years were unrestrained, compared to 27% of female occupants. 12% of seriously injured1 drivers 65+ years were unrestrained, and 11% 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, 2020-2022 (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 2020-2022

In 2022, older drivers (55+ years) represented 10% of all seatbelt violations and 7% 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 passenger vehicle occupants ages 65+ years fatally injured that were unrestrained from 2018 to 2022. Nearly one out of every three (31%) of all passenger vehicle occupants 65+ years of age (regardless of seating position) were unrestrained.
32% of all fatally injured older drivers aged 65+ years old were unrestrained.
21% of fatally injured front seat passengers 65+ years old were unrestrained.
58% of fatally injured backseat passengers (passenger side) aged 65+ years were unrestrained.

Figure 5. Percent of Fatally Injured Passenger Vehicle Occupants (Aged 65+ Years) Unrestrained* by Seating Position, 2018-2022
Restrained Unrestrained
*Based on known restraint use Note: the number of backseat passenger fatalities aged 65+ years is relatively low. Source: FARS 2018-2022

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

Page 4

Older Driver Licensing and Population Trends
In 2022, an estimated 3.0 million people (27% of the total Georgia resident population) were 55 years of age and older. Thirteen percent of the Georgia population was 65 years old or older. Compared to 2018, the overall population in Georgia increased by 4%; however, the population of persons 55 years and older increased by 9% in 2022. 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 have steadily increased. According to the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services, "Georgia's 60+ population is expected to increase by 66% between 2010 and 2050. Georgia's 85+ population is expected to triple to 462,723 persons in 2050 the fastest-growing age group."2

In 2022, there were 2.96 million licensed drivers over the age of 55 years a 12% increase from 2019. Older drivers (55+ years) made up 35% of all licensed drivers in 2022. Table 6 shows the number of licensed older drivers and population estimates by age group and sex for 2018 and 2022.

Table 3: Population Estimates and Licensing among Persons 55+ Years, 2018 and 2022

Age Group and Sex

55-64 Years
65+ Years

Male Female Total Male Female Total

Population Estimates

2018

2022

Change Number Percent

610,792 647,483

+ 36,691

+ 6%

674,890 689,832

+ 14,942

+ 2%

1,285,682 1,337,315

+ 51,633

+ 4%

636,519 720,844

+ 84,325

+ 13%

823,890 924,183 + 100,293 + 12%

1,460,409 1,645,027 + 184,618 + 13%

2019*
607,225 651,887 1,259,112 648,180 736,334 1,384,514

Licensed Drivers

2022

Change Number Percent

628,577 + 21,352

+ 4%

668,079 + 16,192

+ 2%

1,296,656 + 37,544

+ 3%

777,646 + 129,466 + 20%

883,104 + 146,770 + 20%

1,660,750 + 276,236 + 20%

65-74 Years
75-84 Years
85+ Years

Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total

407,759 487,660 895,419 179,310 239,047 418,357 49,450 97,183 146,633

454,824 539,433 994,257 213,436 282,222 495,658 52,584 102,528 155,112

+ 47,065 + 51,773 + 98,838 + 34,126 + 43,175 + 77,301 + 3,134 + 5,345 + 8,479

+ 12% + 11% + 11% + 19% + 18% + 18% + 6% + 5% + 6%

414,869 468,348 883,217 186,676 212,520 399,196 46,635 55,466 102,101

463,803 521,630 985,433 243,851 278,055 521,906 69,992 83,419 153,411

+ 48,934 + 53,282 + 102,216 + 57,175 + 65,535 + 122,710 + 23,357 + 27,953 + 51,310

+ 12% + 11% + 12% + 31% + 31% + 31% + 50% + 50% + 50%

Total Age 55+ Years

Male Female Total

1,247,311 1,498,780 2,746,091

1,368,327 1,614,015 2,982,342

+ 121,016 + 115,235 + 236,251

+ 10% + 8% + 9%

1,255,405 1,388,221 2,643,626

1,406,223 1,551,183 2,957,406

+ 150,818 + 162,962 + 313,780

+ 12% + 12% + 12%

**2018 DDS licensed drivers were not available; therefore, 2019 values were reported. Source: OASIS 2018 and 2022; DDS 2019 and 2022

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 2022, 91% of all crashes involving older drivers aged 65+ years also involved other vehicles (multivehicle crashes), and 9% 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 a fixed object or animal.
Angle crashes were the most common manner of collision in multi-vehicle crashes involving older drivers aged 65+ years. For fatal and serious injury crashes, head-on collisions were the second highest-ranking 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-ranking 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, 2022

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

54%

Rear end (Front-to-rear)

38%

2

Head on (Front-to-front)

22%

Rear end (Front-to-rear)

20% Angle

38%

3

Rear end (Front-to-rear)

15%

Head on (Front-to-front)

Sideswipe 14% (Same or opposite
direction)

18%

Sideswipe
4 (Same or opposite direction)

5%

*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 2022, CODES 2022

Older drivers aged 65+ years losing control of their vehicle was the top contributing factor among operators involved in single-vehicle crashes. In 2022, 17% of older drivers (65+ years) involved in singlevehicle 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 (including left-hand turns) 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, 2022

Single Vehicle Crashes

Multi-Vehicle Crashes

Rank
1

Older Drivers (65+ Years)

Description

% of drivers

Driver lost control

17%

Older Drivers (65+ Years)

Description

% of drivers

Failed to yield

15%

Other Driver Description Following too close

% of drivers
18%

2 Other

13% Following too close

13% Failed to yield

9%

3 Reaction to object or animal

9% Changed lanes improperly

7% Changed lanes improperly

5%

4 Misjudged clearance

6% Other

4% Other

4%

Source: CODES 2022

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 2022.
Fatal crashes and all traffic crashes involving older drivers have similar environmental characteristics, except for the predominant location of crashes. In 2022:
48% of all traffic crashes involving older drivers occurred at an intersection or intersection-related location, and 55% of all fatal crashes involving older drivers occurred at non-intersections.
Among the fatal crashes that involved older drivers:
67% occurred in daylight conditions;
69% occurred during the weekda y, and 31% occurred during the weekday afternoon hours (12:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.); and
71% occurred in clear weather conditions.

Table 6. Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Older Drivers (65+ Years) by Environmental Characteristics, 2022

Environmental Characteristics

Fatal Crashes Involving Older
Drivers
Number Percent

Location *
Intersection (or related)
Non-Intersection

105

37%

159

55%

Other

23

8%

Light Conditions

Dark

88

31%

Daylight

193

67%

Dawn

1

0%

Dusk

5

2%

Day of Week / Time of Day *

Weekday

197

69%

6:00-11:59am

79

28%

12:00-5:59pm

77

27%

6:00-11:59pm

31

11%

12:00-5:59am

10

3%

Weekend

90

31%

6:00-11:59am

11

4%

12:00-5:59pm

32

11%

6:00-11:59pm

37

13%

12:00-5:59am

10

3%

Weather Conditions

Clear

203

71%

Cloudy

56

20%

Rain

24

8%

Other

4

1%

Season

Winter

78

27%

Spring

62

22%

Summer

76

26%

Traffic Crashes Involving Older
Drivers
Number Percent

27,982 26,938
3,743
8,506 48,554
495 741
45,340 13,210
1,044 5,492 25,594 13,323 2,424
698 4,157 6,044
44,037 10,221
3,977 428
14,000 14,852 13,555

48% 46%
6%
14% 83%
1% 1%
77% 23%
2% 9% 44% 23% 4% 1% 7% 10%
75% 17%
7% 1%
24% 25% 23%

Fall

71

25%

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.

16,256

28%

*See data considerations for definitions of intersection and non-intersection locations. Other intersections include roundabouts, railroad crossings, and manage lanes (i.e., HOV lanes).

Source: CODES 2022, FARS 2022

Page 7

Traffic-Related Injuries and Fatalities among the Aging Population
In 2022, older persons aged 65+ years represented 8% of all emergency room visits (7,185 out of 91,645) and 19% of all hospitalizations (1,645 out of 8,603) related to motor vehicle traffic incidences. The total motor vehicle traffic-related hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 65+ years was $321 million. In 2022, there were 532 persons aged 55 years or older (55+ years) fatally injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Over half of these traffic fatalities (52%, 280 out of 532) 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, 2022

Age Group

Emergency Room Visits

Number

Percent Rate per 100,000

of Total

Population

Hospitalizations

Number

Percent of Rate per 100,000

Total

Population

Traffic Fatalities

Number

Percent of Rate per 100,000

Total

Population

Less than 15 5,075 6%

247.8

63

1%

3.1

49

3%

2.4

15-20

10,762 12%

1171.9

699

8%

76.1

139

8%

15.1

21-24

9,462 10%

1551.5

694

8%

113.8

135

8%

22.1

25-34

21,866 24%

1446.9

1,702 20%

112.6

366

20%

24.2

35-44

15,860 17%

1097.4

1372 16%

94.9

301

17%

20.8

45-54

11,980 13%

857.2

1211 14%

86.7

264

15%

18.9

55-64

9,455 10%

707.0

1217 14%

91.0

252

14%

18.8

65+

7,185 8%

436.8

1,645 19%

100.0

280

16%

17.0

65-74 4,875 5%

490.3

908

11%

91.3

156

9%

15.7

75-84 1,916 2%

386.6

558

6%

112.6

101

6%

20.4

85+ 394

0%

254.0

179

2%

115.4

23

1%

14.8

Total

91,645 100%

839.8

8,603 100%

78.8

1,797* 100%

16.5

*Total includes fatalities with unreported or unknown age

Source: FARS 2022, OASIS 2022; 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 others-- per 100,000 population fluctuated between 2018 and 2022. Figure 6 compares the motor vehicle fatality rate among the older population between 2018 and 2021 in rural and urban counties. The motor vehicle traffic fatality rate for all older age groups is higher in rural counties than in urban counties.
The motor vehicle traffic fatality rate
in rural counties increased for persons in the 65-to-74 and 75-to84 age groups by 46% and 18%, respectively.
The motor vehicle traffic fatality rate
in urban counties decreased for persons in the 65-to-74 and 85+ age groups by 26% and 30%, respectively.

Figure 6. Change in Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates by Age Group per 100,000 Population and Region Type (2018 and 2022)

Rural Counties (118 counties)

Urban Counties (41 counties)

55-64 75-84

65-74 85+

55-64 75-84

65-74 85+

34.7 55-64, 30.5

30.4

75-84, 29.5

29.8

85+, 22.0 65-74, 20.4

19.3

85+, 18.9

75-84, 15.9

15.5

55-64, 14.7

15.0 13.2

65-74, 14.6

10.8

2018

2022

2018

2022

Source: FARS 2018 and 2022; OASIS 2018 and 2022

Page 8

Total motor vehicle traffic fatalities among persons 55+ years increased by 8% (from 494 fatalities in 2018 to 532 fatalities in 2022), and the 55+ population increased by 9%. Figure 7 and Table 8 show the proportion of older persons involved in traffic fatalities for 2018 and 2022.
The proportion of older driver fatalities aged 55+ years decreased from 36% of all driver fatalities in 2018
to 31% in 2022. Fatalities among drivers aged 65+ years decreased slightly from 19% of all driver fatalities in 2018 to 18% of all driver fatalities in 2022. Older passenger fatalities also slightly decreased, from 29% of all passenger fatalities in 2018 to 26% in 2022.
Older motorcyclist fatalities (operator and passenger) aged 55+ years, though a relatively small number,
decreased from 23% of all motorcyclist fatalities in 2018 to 18% of all motorcyclist fatalities in 2022. Additionally, 26% of all motorcyclists with a valid motorcycle designation (Class M or MP) on their driver's license were 55-to-64 years old, and 27% were 65+ years old in 2022 (Motorcycles Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, 2022 )
Older pedestrian fatalities aged 55+ years increased slightly from 32% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2018 to
34% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2022. Older bicyclist fatalities increased from 37% of all bicyclist fatalities in 2018 to 48% of all bicyclist fatalities in 2022. (Pedestrians and Bicyclists (Non-Motorists) Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, 2022 ).

Figure 7: Proportions of All Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities by Person Type and Age Group, 2018 and 2022

50%

55-64

65-74

75-84

85+

40%

30%

6%

20%

11%

10%

17%

0%
2018

7% 10% 13%
2022

8% 7% 11%
2018

7% 9% 7%
2022

6% 16% 2018

4% 12%
2022

4% 11%
16%
2018

4% 9%
21%
2022

7% 3% 23% 2018

7% 14%
28%
2022

Driver

Passenger

Motorcyclist

Pedestrian

Bicyclist

Table 8: Proportions of All Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities by Person Type and Age Group, 2018 and 2022

Person Type

2018

2022

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 Fatalities

804 515 135

88

50

16 953 656 126

91

65

14

100%

64% 17%

11%

6%

2% 100% 69% 13% 10%

7%

1%

Passenger

250

177

28

17

20

8 244 180

17

22

18

7

Fatalities

100%

71% 11%

7%

8%

3% 100% 74%

7%

9%

7%

3%

Motorcyclist

154

119

24

10

1

-- 221 180

27

9

3

1

Fatalities

100%

77% 16%

6%

1%

0% 100% 81% 12%

4%

1% <1%

Pedestrian

262

178

41

28

10

4 345 222

71

30

13

1

Fatalities

100%

68% 16%

11%

4%

2% 98% 64% 21%

9%

4% <1%

Bicyclist

30

19

7

1

2

1

29

14

8

4

2

--

Fatalities

100%

63% 23%

3%

7%

3% 97% 48% 28% 14%

7%

--

Other

5

2

2

1

--

--

5

2

3

--

--

--

Fatalities*

100%

40% 40%

20%

--

-- 100% 40% 60%

--

--

--

All Traffic 1,505 1,010 237 145

83

29 1,797 1,254 252 156 101

23

Fatalities** 100%

67% 16%

10%

6%

2% 100% 70% 14%

9%

6%

1%

*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 Population
In 2022, pedestrians aged 65+ years represented 9% of all pedestrians involved in crashes (277 out of 2,929), 7% of all pedestrian serious injuries (43 out of 608), and 13% of all pedestrian fatalities (44 out of 345). Persons aged 65+ years represented 19% of the Georgia population in 2022--with an annual growth of 4%. As shown in Table 13, the number of pedestrians 65+ years of age that were seriously or fatally injured decreased by 8% (from 95 in 2021 to 87 in 2022), and the rate of seriously or fatally injured pedestrians 65+ years decreased by 11% (from 5.93 in 2021 to 5.29 in 2022). 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, 2018-2022

Year

Serious Injury

Fatalities

Total Serious

Injuries and

Fatalities

Number

Annual % Change

Population

Number

Annual % Change

Rate Per 100,000 Population

Rate

Annual % Change

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

48

95

19%

1,584,071

1%

5.93

17%

2022

43

44

87

-8%

1,645,027

4%

5.29

-11%

Source: CODES 2018- 2022, FARS 2018-2022, OASIS 2018-2022

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, 2022

Age Group

Police-Reported Suspected Serious
Crash Injuries

Emergency Medical Services

Trauma Center Emergency Room Hospitalizations

#

%

Rate

#

% Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate #

% Rate

Less than 55

463

55-64 91

76% 15%

6.4 1,918 73% 24.2 744 72% 9.4 1314 78% 16.6 498 66% 6.3 6.8 392 15% 29.3 156 15% 11.7 204 12% 15.3 132 18% 9.9

65-74 34 6% 3.4 222 8% 22.3 83 8% 8.3 117 7% 11.8 79 11% 7.9

75-84 7 1% 1.4

85+

2 <1% 1.3

81 3% 16.3 32 3% 6.5 38 2% 7.7 30 4% 6.1 24 1% 15.5 14 1% 9.0 15 1% 9.7 10 1% 6.4

*Total 608 100% 6.9 2637 100% 24.2 1029 100% 9.4 1688 100% 15.5 749 100% 6.9

*Includes eleven suspected serious injuries with unknown age.

Source: CODES 2022, DPH-OHIP Hospital Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Room Visit Only Data 2022, GEMSIS 2022, Georgia Trauma Registry 2022

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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.
"At Intersection" is used when a person is on a roadway either (1) in the intersection, (2) in the area between a crosswalk and the perimeter of the intersection, or (3) in a crosswalk (marked or unmarked) adjacent to an intersection. "Intersection-Related" is used when a person is within the trafficway 50 feet out from the perimeter of an intersection area or if the crash is related to the flow of traffic through an intersection. "Not at Intersection" is when the person is more than 50 feet out from the perimeter of an intersection, and the crash is not identified as related to the movement of vehicles through an intersection. "Non-Trafficway Locations" are crashes that occur outside the boundaries of the trafficway (i.e., driveways or parking lots).
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): NonMotorist (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. (2024, August). Older Drivers: 2022 data. (Georgia Traffic Safety Facts). Atlanta, GA: Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
8/28/2024

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