%0 Journal Article
%T Fatality and Injury Severity of Older Adult Motor Vehicle Collisions in Orange County, California, 1998-2007
%A Lotfipour
%A Shahram
%A Sayegh
%A Rockan
%A Chakravarthy
%A Bharath
%A Hoonpongsimanont
%A Wirachin
%J Western Journal of Emergency Medicine : Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health
%D 2013
%I UC Irvine Health School of Medicine.
%X Introduction: Injuries and fatalities in adult drivers 18每65 years of age have decreased in recent years due to safer vehicles, enhanced medical policies, and implementation of injury prevention policies. However, adult drivers over 65 years of age are continuing to suffer from motor vehicle collision-relatedinjuries and fatalities at a more constant rate. A number of physiological factors contribute to the deterioration in visual acuity, slower reaction speeds, and decreased awareness in older drivers. The objective of this study was to examine injury severity and fatality rates in older drivers compared to theiryounger counterparts in Orange County, California.Methods: This study used the Statewide Integrated Traffic Record System data for Orange County for the years 1998每2007. Drivers were categorized into 4 age groups: 25每64, 65每74, 75每84, and older than 85 years of age. Injury severity was assessed by the investigating officer.Results: Of the 197,814 drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions, 178,481 (90.2%) were in the 25每 64 age group; 11,397 (5.8%) were 65每74; 6,592 (3.3%) were 75每84; and 1,344 drivers (0.7%) were over 85. Those aged 25每64 had the lowest fatality rate per 100,000 people, 2.5, whereas those 75每84 had the highest fatality rate, 4.9. The percent of crashes involving a left turn increased with age, and the percent that were stopped in the road decreases with age. Change in injury collision involvement ratio in the 3 younger age groups decreased by 26% to 32%, but decreased by 18% among drivers aged 85years and older.Conclusion: The decrease in collision fatalities was greater in the 25每64-year-old group compared to the older adult population. This disparity highlights the need for further injury prevention efforts for older drivers. [West J Emerg Med. 2013;14(1):63-68.]
%K Older Adult Drivers
%K Motor Vehicle Collisions
%K Injury Severity
%K fatalities
%U http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9tt8728t#