Reducing Injuries and Fatalities to Older Drivers Vehicle Concepts

摘要

Population projections for 2000 through 2030 indicate that the number of people in the age 55-64 range will increase by about 50% and the numbers in the age ranges of 65-74, 75-84, and 85 or older will approximately double. The number in the age 85 and older range will continue to see phenomenal growth for the following two decades as well. Between 2030 and 2050, the number in the age 85 or older range will again double in size. If all the people in the ranges older than age 65 are added together, the number in this segment of the population will more than double in the next 30 years. Figure 1 shows that the number of miles driven per year is increasing for men and women in all the age ranges. Figure 2 demonstrates that fatality rates versus age fluctuates for drivers, with higher values for the younger- and older-driver segments of the population. The figure also shows an increase in older-driver fatality rates for drivers at age 65 and a greater increase at 75 or older. Projections for elderly highway user fatalities in 2000 to 2030 show a steady increase (Figure 3)—a trend that is consistent with the expected increase in the number of people age 65 or older.