Why Older Pedestrians Fare Worse in Car Crashes
People age 65 and up are more likely than other age groups to die after being hit by a vehicle.
In August 2021, Meredith Melville, a 73-year-old retired teacher, was crossing Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, California, when a Toyota sedan struck her as she was halfway through the crosswalk. Despite being treated for multiple fractures, including a replaced right hip and repaired elbow, Melville faced a long journey to recovery, enduring back and knee pain and losing her active lifestyle of hiking and backpacking.
While the number of pedestrians aged 65 and older injured in car crashes isn't rising, they are more likely to die from such incidents, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Older pedestrians' reduced speed, impaired senses, slower reaction times, and frail bodies make them more vulnerable to collisions.
Despite a decline in pedestrian deaths among all age groups from 1975 to the mid-2000s, improvements for older pedestrians have stalled for nearly two decades. The increasing popularity of large SUVs, heavier e-bikes, and the use of alcohol before crossing streets contribute to the higher fatality rate for older pedestrians.
Written by urgent.news from KFF Health News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
