TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS
2012 Data
DOT HS 812 005
Revised May 2014
Older Population
In 2012, there were 5,560 people 65 and older killed and 214,000 injured in motor
vehicle traffic crashes. These older people made up 17 percent of all traffic fatalities
and 9 percent of all people injured in traffic crashes during the year. Compared to
2011, fatalities among people 65 and older increased by 3 percent. Among people
injured in this age group there was a 16-percent increase from 2011.
In 2012, 14 percent of the total U.S. resident population (43.1 million people)
were 65 and older. The older population fatality rate per 100,000 U.S. resident
population steadily declined from 18.7 in 2003 to 12.9 in 2012 (Figure 1).
In 2012, 17 percent of
all traffic fatalities in
the United States were
among people 65 and
older.
Figure 1
Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates by Age Group, 2003–2012
35
Traffic Deaths per 100,000 Population
30
Ages 16–20
25
20
15
Ages 21–34
Ages 65+
Ages 35–54
Ages 55–64
10
5
0
Ages 5–15
Age <5
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
2010
2011
2012
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
2
Among the 65-and-older age group from 2003 to 2012, the total population
increased by 20 percent (males increased by 26% and females increased by 16%).
However, as seen in Table 1, driver fatalities for this age group declined by 15
percent (decreased for males by 10% and for females by 26%); motorcyclist fatalities
increased by 201 percent (males increased by 194% and females increased by 333%).
Furthermore, among the 65-and-older age group from 2003 to 2012, pedalcyclist
fatalities increased by 80 percent (males increased by 83% and females by 50%).
Table 1
Involvement of the Older Population in Traffic Fatalities by Gender, 2003 and 2012
2003
Total
Age 65+
Total
Male
Female
290,108
142,429
147,679
35,864
14,974
20,889
Total*
Male
Female
58,517
42,586
15,211
6,445
4,435
2,010
Total*
Male
Female
26,779
19,955
6,821
4,067
2,719
1,348
Total*
Male
Female
42,884
29,346
13,532
6,698
3,775
2,923
Total*
Male
Female
37,341
25,425
11,912
5,649
3,163
2,486
Total*
Male
Female
4,774
3,274
1,499
981
556
425
Total*
Male
Female
32,271
20,899
11,370
5,388
2,940
2,448
Total
Male
Female
3,714
3,342
372
117
111
6
Total
Male
Female
629
556
72
45
41
4
2012
Percentage
of Total
Total
Age 65+
Population (Thousands)
12.4
313,914
43,145
10.5
154,492
18,815
14.1
159,422
24,330
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes
11.0
45,337
5,744
10.4
33,124
4,088
13.2
11,509
1,655
Driver Fatalities
15.2
21,394
3,449
13.6
16,525
2,456
19.8
4,866
993
Total Traffic Fatalities
15.6
33,561
5,560
12.9
23,808
3,451
21.6
9,733
2,107
Occupant Fatalities
15.1
27,869
4,486
12.4
19,722
2,742
20.9
8,133
1,744
Pedestrian Fatalities
20.5
4,743
935
17.0
3,285
590
28.4
1,454
343
Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities
16.7
21,667
3,991
14.1
14,138
2,297
21.5
7,521
1,694
Motorcyclist Fatalities
3.2
4,957
352
3.3
4,499
326
1.6
456
26
Pedalcyclist Fatalities
7.2
726
81
7.4
634
75
5.6
90
6
Percentage Change, 2003–2012
Percentage
of Total
Total
Age 65+
13.3
12.2
15.3
8
8
8
20
26
16
12.7
12.3
14.4
-23
-22
-24
-11
-8
-18
16.1
14.9
20.4
-20
-17
-29
-15
-10
-26
16.6
14.5
21.6
-22
-19
-28
-17
-9
-28
16.1
13.9
21.4
-25
-22
-32
-21
-13
-30
19.7
18.0
23.6
-1
0
-3
-5
6
-19
18.4
16.2
22.5
-33
-32
-34
-26
-22
-31
7.1
7.2
5.7
33
35
23
201
194
333
11.2
11.8
6.7
15
14
25
80
83
50
*Total includes unknown gender.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
3
Drivers
There were 35 million licensed older drivers in 2011 (2012 data not available)—a
21-percent increase from 2002. In contrast, the total number of licensed drivers
increased by only 9 percent from 2002 to 2011. Older drivers made up 16 percent of
all licensed drivers in 2011, compared with 15 percent in 2002.
As shown in Table 2, of all drivers, older drivers involved in fatal crashes had
the lowest proportion of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08
grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher.
Older drivers made
up 16 percent of all
licensed drivers in
2011, compared with
15 percent in 2002.
Table 2
Age and Alcohol of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, 2012
Age Group (Years)
<16
16–20
21–34
35–54
55–64
65+
Total
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes
BAC= .08+
Number
Percent of Total
10
8
758
18
4,120
30
3,372
23
805
14
413
7
9,678
21
Total
121
4,211
13,688
14,912
5,899
5,744
*45,337
*Includes 762 drivers of unknown age.
Thirteen percent fewer people were killed in crashes involving older drivers from
6,805 in 2003 to 5,894 in 2012.While the overall trend shows a decline for those 10
years, the number of people killed in crashes involving older drivers increased in
2012 by 5 percent compared to 2011 (Table 3).
Table 3
Fatalities in Crashes Involving Drivers 65 and Older, 2003–2012
Year
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Fatalities 6,805
6,585
6,647
6,334
6,169
5,825
5,613
5,782
5,636
5,894
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
Fatalities in crashes
involving older drivers
declined by 13 percent
from 2003 to 2012.
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
4
Most traffic fatalities involving older drivers in 2012 occurred during the daytime
(75%), occurred on weekdays (69%), and involved other vehicles (64%). Among
drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2012, older drivers had the lowest involvement
rate per population as compared to other driver age groups. The involvement rate
for male drivers (65+) was 21.73 and the involvement rate for female drivers (65+)
was 6.80 (Figure 2).
Figure 2
Driver Involvement Rates in Fatal Crashes by Age and Gender, 2012
45
40
Driver Involvement Rate per 100,000 Population
Females
Males
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
For older pedestrians,
68 percent of fatalities
in 2012 occurred at
non-intersection
locations.
16–20
21–24
25–34
35–44
45–54
Driver Age (Years)
55–64
65+
Pedestrians
For older people, 68 percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2012 occurred at nonintersection locations. For other pedestrians, 81 percent of fatalities occurred at nonintersection locations.
Among all fatally injured adult pedestrians, older pedestrians had the lowest
proportion of pedestrians with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher (Table 4).
Table 4
Pedestrian Fatalities by Age Group and BAC, 2012
Age Group
(Years)
BAC= .08+
Total
Number
Percent of Total
<16
292
7
2
16–20
265
68
25
21–34
1,028
480
47
35–54
1,475
704
48
55–64
724
240
33
65+
935
99
11
*4,743
1,608
34
Total
*Includes 24 pedestrian fatalities of unknown age.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
5
Older Population Age Groups
In 2012, among the older population, the fatality rate for the 80-84 age group was
16.39 per 100,000 population, which was higher than any other older age group.
The fatality rate for the 85+ age group declined by 37 percent, from 25.46 in 2003 to
15.98 in 2012 (Figure 3).
Figure 3
Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatality Rates Among Older Populations by Age Group,
2003–2012
30
25
Traffic Deaths per 100,000 Population
Ages 85+
Ages 80–84
20
Ages 75–79
Ages 70–74
15
Ages 65–69
10
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
For more information:
Information on traffic fatalities is available from the National Center for
Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), NVS-424, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. NCSA can be contacted at 800-934-8517 or via the
following e-mail address: [email protected]. General information on highway
traffic safety can be accessed by Internet users at www.nhtsa.gov/NCSA.
To report a safety-related problem or to inquire about motor vehicle safety
information, contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Other fact sheets available from the National Center for Statistics and
Analysis are Alcohol, African American, Bicyclists and Other Cyclists, Children,
Hispanic, Large Trucks, Motorcycles, Occupant Protection, Overview, Pedestrians,
Race and Ethnicity, Rural/Urban Comparisons, School Transportation-Related
Crashes, Speeding, State Alcohol Estimates, State Traffic Data, and Young Drivers.
Detailed data on motor vehicle traffic crashes are published annually in Traffic
Safety Facts: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Crash Data from the Fatality Analysis
Reporting System and the General Estimates System. The fact sheets and annual
Traffic Safety Facts report can be accessed online at www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/
CATS/index.aspx.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
6
In 2012, fatal crash driver involvement rates per 100,000 population among older
male drivers was highest (24.95) in the 85-and-older age group; and among older
female drivers was highest in the 80-84 age group (7.73) (Figure 4).
Figure 4
Involvement Rates for Older Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Age Group and
Gender 2012
30
Driver Involvement Rate per 100,000 Population
Females
25
Males
20
15
10
5
0
65–69
70–74
75–79
Driver Age (Years)
80–84
85+
Driver Involvement by State and Age Group
Table 5 shows driver involvement in fatal traffic crashes by State and driver age
group. Among all States, driver involvement in 2012 ranged from highest (4,564) to
lowest (20) depending on the size and population of the State. Driver involvement
in fatal crashes was highest in Texas (4,564), followed by California (3,811) and
Florida (3,412), and lowest in the District of Columbia (20). Driver involvement in
fatal crashes in 2012 among driver (65+) ranged from 474 (highest) to 0 (lowest).
Driver involvement in fatal crashes in the 65+ age group was highest in Florida
(474), followed by California (410) and Texas (393), and lowest in the District of
Columbia (0).
Fatalities by State and Age Group
Table 6 shows fatalities in Traffic Crashes by State and Age Group. Among all
States, fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2012 ranged from highest (3,398)
to lowest (15) depending on the size and population of the State. Fatalities in motor
vehicle traffic crashes were highest in Texas (3,398), followed by California (2,857)
and Florida (2,424), and lowest in the District of Columbia (15). Fatalities in the
65+ age group were highest in Florida (450), followed by California (443) and Texas
(401), and lowest in the District of Columbia (1).
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
7
Table 5
Driver Involvement in Fatal Traffic Crashes by State and Age Group, 2012
State
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Dist of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
U.S. Total
Puerto Rico
Total*
1,214
83
1,088
734
3,811
630
332
146
20
3,412
1,676
175
244
1,322
1,107
491
527
1,023
944
215
702
449
1,325
537
684
1,096
250
284
355
147
816
471
1,569
1,732
218
1,573
939
426
1,797
87
1,153
174
1,365
4,564
295
96
1,026
596
450
806
161
45,337
432
Age 65+
152
12
121
100
410
74
50
22
0
474
205
18
37
156
153
65
92
136
101
40
80
69
196
78
103
137
28
37
48
23
118
65
219
220
23
224
117
65
266
13
130
22
185
393
29
15
147
69
62
125
20
5,744
39
Percentage
of Total
12.5
14.5
11.1
13.6
10.8
11.7
15.1
15.1
0.0
13.9
12.2
10.3
15.2
11.8
13.8
13.2
17.5
13.3
10.7
18.6
11.4
15.4
14.8
14.5
15.1
12.5
11.2
13.0
13.5
15.6
14.5
13.8
14.0
12.7
10.6
14.2
12.5
15.3
14.8
14.9
11.3
12.6
13.6
8.6
9.8
15.6
14.3
11.6
13.8
15.5
12.4
12.7
9.0
<16
3
0
1
4
1
3
0
0
1
9
4
0
1
3
3
3
2
3
0
1
1
0
4
0
4
5
4
4
0
0
0
1
1
8
4
3
4
1
2
0
8
3
3
12
2
0
0
0
2
3
0
121
0
16–20
136
7
98
64
323
63
21
15
0
290
154
10
16
115
127
46
66
85
99
20
56
42
133
47
60
124
24
34
35
14
67
43
137
162
19
147
76
38
192
4
118
16
141
432
31
7
96
41
30
78
12
4,211
43
21–34
374
30
314
216
1,235
180
110
45
7
1,048
522
44
67
435
304
130
139
295
319
62
234
132
378
151
204
316
78
82
110
32
245
128
443
504
59
443
299
101
524
26
327
46
393
1,562
99
28
292
185
120
222
49
13,688
181
Age Group (Years)
35–54
55–69
70–74
366
222
47
22
16
2
363
192
29
246
136
29
1,237
634
79
198
123
14
100
60
14
48
22
2
6
3
0
1,059
554
127
549
291
51
77
34
2
87
51
6
420
202
29
360
181
42
157
101
14
160
87
19
372
179
35
307
138
26
65
36
10
233
109
19
139
81
10
407
249
50
170
115
13
229
121
23
388
165
27
77
49
11
89
46
12
109
68
15
53
33
6
270
133
27
170
64
19
519
251
55
587
307
52
80
40
7
542
266
53
316
167
34
141
96
18
576
312
53
36
10
4
401
192
32
61
34
6
463
242
41
1,504
678
112
93
43
9
30
19
7
341
184
34
214
108
16
159
93
18
269
150
23
47
39
2
14,912
7,726
1,385
111
51
17
75–79
22
2
16
14
72
10
7
5
0
95
36
3
2
26
29
13
14
25
19
11
15
11
27
10
18
23
3
2
8
3
24
14
31
44
6
39
18
8
47
3
27
4
29
63
8
0
25
8
8
23
4
974
4
80–84
16
2
15
15
65
13
9
2
0
70
31
1
6
27
21
15
22
12
13
3
14
12
31
9
15
20
1
7
5
3
20
12
41
32
0
26
11
15
36
3
13
3
24
51
4
3
28
6
13
21
3
840
4
85+
15
2
17
7
49
12
6
3
0
70
19
1
8
29
24
9
16
13
4
7
6
15
24
20
9
17
1
7
2
3
15
7
42
23
3
41
6
3
33
1
16
1
23
34
2
1
13
14
6
16
3
718
1
*Includes drivers of unknown age. The United States had 762 drivers of unknown age.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
8
Table 6
Fatalities in Traffic Crashes by State and Age Group, 2012
State
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Dist of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
U.S. Total
Puerto Rico
Total*
865
59
825
552
2,857
472
236
114
15
2,424
1,192
126
184
956
779
365
405
746
722
164
505
349
938
395
582
826
205
212
258
108
589
365
1,168
1,292
170
1,123
708
336
1,310
64
863
133
1,014
3,398
217
77
777
444
339
615
123
33,561
347
Age 65+
133
8
116
88
443
76
45
20
1
450
191
18
37
162
139
67
84
117
96
35
74
83
167
81
100
125
22
34
54
23
120
63
256
204
20
209
110
65
254
10
118
19
175
401
24
14
136
74
62
121
16
5,560
58
Percentage
of Total
15.4
13.6
14.1
15.9
15.5
16.1
19.1
17.5
6.7
18.6
16.0
14.3
20.1
16.9
17.8
18.4
20.7
15.7
13.3
21.3
14.7
23.8
17.8
20.5
17.2
15.1
10.7
16.0
20.9
21.3
20.4
17.3
21.9
15.8
11.8
18.6
15.5
19.3
19.4
15.6
13.7
14.3
17.3
11.8
11.1
18.2
17.5
16.7
18.3
19.7
13.0
16.6
16.7
<16
34
3
48
29
102
16
5
3
1
66
50
4
9
41
31
14
26
33
42
4
18
8
39
16
37
29
11
17
9
2
19
12
46
63
9
33
15
9
43
2
28
11
29
206
15
2
23
15
13
18
5
1,363
9
16–20
100
6
82
47
264
47
15
9
3
207
100
16
17
91
88
31
46
69
70
21
56
39
95
46
50
84
20
32
26
13
50
29
95
112
19
111
59
25
146
5
87
13
103
329
21
4
80
42
24
69
11
3,224
32
21–34
237
20
235
156
861
131
71
37
4
647
334
35
44
295
214
93
97
203
209
46
145
91
274
105
169
236
64
57
61
21
168
90
302
331
47
279
215
79
363
16
242
34
252
1,059
59
24
197
114
91
146
38
9,338
102
Age Group (Years)
35–54
55–69
70–74
237
162
38
13
11
2
231
142
19
155
102
18
809
498
69
134
88
16
61
48
10
37
13
1
4
2
0
715
424
109
363
208
39
35
27
2
56
28
9
251
154
26
208
128
32
103
71
13
111
61
15
231
127
28
224
113
20
42
21
7
143
85
17
85
64
7
236
177
34
104
66
13
166
92
21
263
125
24
58
35
11
52
24
11
57
71
19
32
23
6
154
108
21
129
54
18
322
192
60
413
223
57
56
24
6
350
193
48
214
124
32
86
90
18
358
219
44
26
7
3
271
150
21
40
22
5
313
198
37
994
518
105
68
32
7
18
16
5
230
144
31
139
78
13
103
63
17
190
101
24
28
32
3
9,718
5,778
1,211
86
61
19
75–79
23
1
18
16
86
9
8
6
0
95
33
3
2
28
31
14
13
25
23
9
15
15
22
8
20
27
1
4
5
4
29
13
31
43
6
36
19
7
41
2
27
5
30
57
5
1
25
8
6
21
3
979
11
80–84
16
1
24
19
89
16
10
4
0
69
31
1
10
35
21
16
17
14
13
4
15
20
33
8
15
19
1
9
6
4
21
9
53
25
1
24
15
15
43
2
16
2
23
69
4
4
29
15
13
24
1
948
7
85+
17
2
22
10
75
15
7
4
1
88
28
3
9
35
24
10
19
16
6
10
8
20
28
29
11
19
4
6
4
3
17
9
59
24
2
49
15
7
53
1
18
1
29
47
6
3
17
18
9
22
2
941
4
*Total includes fatalities of unknown age. The United States had 61 fatalities of unknown age.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
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