Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008

• Older drivers are defined as being age 65 or older
  
  
• There were 10,311 older drivers involved in 9,863 crashes, accounting for 10.3% of the total crashes in Maryland.
  
  
• There were a total of 78 older driver-involved fatal crashes, which accounted for 13.2% of all fatal crashes in Maryland.
  
  
• 51 older drivers were killed in crashes and a total of 6,537 persons were injured.
  
  
• Property damage only crashes accounted for 56% of the total older driver-involved crashes.
  
  
• Older driver-involved crashes were fairly evenly distributed Monday through Friday and fewer crashes on Saturday and Sunday.
  
  
• Fatal older driver-involved crashes occurred most often on Wednesday (19.2%).
  
  
• 63% of the fatal and 61% of the total older driver-involved crashes occurred between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  
  
• The vast majority of the total and fatal older driver-involved fatal crashes occurred in daylight.
  
  
• Nearly 60% of the total older driver-involved crashes occurred on state or county highways, 35.5% and 23.4% respectively.
  
  
• 56% of the fatal crashes occurred on state highways.
  
  
• 47.1% of the vehicles of older drivers involved in fatal crashes were on roads with posted speed limits of 40 MPH or less.
  
  
• 55% of the older drivers killed were 70-79 years old and 71% were male.
  
  
• Of all older drivers involved, those aged 80+ had the fewest crashes.
  
  
• Alcohol/Drugs were noted to be involved in 11.5% of fatal older driver-involved crashes and 4.4% of the total older driver crashes.
  
  
• 24% of the passengers involved and 86% of the passengers killed were 70 years old or older.
  
  
• 87% of all older drivers involved in crashes and 69% of older drivers killed were properly belted.
  
  
• Rear end and angle crashes accounted for 50% of the total older driver involved-crashes, 29.4% and 20.6% respectively.
  
  
• Angle crashes and driving in opposite direction accounted for 54% of the fatal older driver-involved crashes.
  
  
• Older driver-involved crashes occurred more frequently in Baltimore and Montgomery Counties, 17.0% and 14.5% respectively.
  
  
• Fatal older driver-involved crashes were highest in Prince George’s and Baltimore Counties, 12.8% and 11.5% respectively.

Information provided by:
Maryland Department of Transportation
State Higyhway Administration
Office of Traffic and Safety

U.S. Traffic Safety Facts 2008

• Older drivers are defined as being age 65 or older
• 13% of the total U.S. resident population (34 million) were people age 65 and older.
• 183,000 older individuals were injured in traffic crashes, accounting for 8% of all people injured in traffic crashed during the year.
  • These older drivers made up 15% of all traffic fatalities, 14% of all vehicle occupant fatalities, and 18% of all pedestrian fatalities.
• Most traffic fatalities involving older drivers occurred during the daytime (80%), occurred on weekdays (72%), and involved other vehicles (69%).
• Older drivers involved in fatal crashes had the lowest proportion of total drivers with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• 77% of all older occupants of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes were using restraints at the time of the crash, compared to 63% for other adult occupants (18 to 64 years old).
• 79% of fatalities occurred at non-intersection locations.
• In two-vehicle fatal crashes involving an older driver and a younger driver, the vehicle driven by the older person was nearly twice as likely to be the one that was struck (58% and 35%, respectively).
  • In 48% of these crashes, both vehicles were proceeding straight at the time of the collision.
  • In 22%, the older driver was turning left – 4 times more often than the younger driver.

Driver Involvement Rates in Fatal Crashes by Age and Sex, 2008

Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates in the Older Population by Age Group, 1998-2008

Involvement Rates for Older Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Age Group and Sex, 2008

Information provided by:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Center for Statistics and Analysis