Old male driver fatalities increase by 25% compared to 17% for old female driver fatalities
By: Hemanth Ramesh December, 16, 2019
According to a report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2008 to 2017, older male driver fatalities increased by 25%, compared to a 17% increase in older female driver fatalities.
An analysis by Gavop finds that female drivers over the age of 65 were less likely to cause accidents compared to male drivers over the age of 65. For female drivers over the age of 85, 12.41 crashes were reported per 100,000 licensed drivers compared to 34.30 crashes per 100,000 individuals. Compared to younger drivers, senior drivers are more likely to be killed in car crashes where the initial impact point is on the left side (17% vs 11%).
According to the NHTSA, 6784 people aged 65 and above were killed in motor vehicle accidents. This was about 18% of the total fatalities in motor vehicle accidents during 2017. From 2008 to 2017, the number of individuals over 65 who died in motor vehicle crashes saw a decline from 14.3 per 100,000 individuals in 2008 to 13.3 per 100,00 individuals in 2017.
Overall for 10 years, the number of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes per 100,000 individuals has been higher for individuals over the age of 65. 6,907 people aged 65 and over were killed in traffic crashes in 2018, which amounted to 19% of all traffic fatalities.
It is also observed that the older a driver gets above the age of 60, he/she is more likely to be involved in accidents as seen in the graph below. 34.30 crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers were reported for males over 85 compared to 22.28 crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers for males aged between 65-69.
Age and gender of the driver are some of the main factors influencing car insurance rates. It is observed that car insurance rates steadily rise once the driver crosses the age of 60, as noted in the graph below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hemanth Ramesh
Hemanth Ramesh works as a writer for Gavop. He has previously written content for film promotions, start-ups, advertising agencies and event management firms. Hemanth Ramesh completed his MA in Journalism and Mass Communication from The English and Foreign Languages University. His other passion includes script writing.
