California's Aging Population Getting Into More Traffic Collisions

New data from transportation research group TRIP, shows that fatalities involving at least one driver over 65 years old are up 22% in California.

1 minute read

March 19, 2018, 8:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Deadly crashes are up in California, particularly among drivers over 65. Transportation research group TRIP says there's been an 11% bump in fatalities from traffic collisions over the past five years and a 22% jump in deadly crashes that involve at least one driver over 65.

Carolyn Kelly, TRIP's Associate Director of Research and Communications, suggested several strategies to help decrease these incidents including making signage clearer and simplifying intersections. Still older drivers are more prone to deadly crashes than their younger peers. "Kelly also cited two compounding factors: older drivers' reduced ability to avoid accidents and their heightened physical fragility, which makes them more susceptible than younger, healthier drivers," Susan Carpenter with Vikram Patel report for SCPR.

Thursday, March 15, 2018 in SCPR

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