Affiliation
Centre for Ageing, Neuroscience and the Humanities, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, , Dublin, Ireland. alanmartin@physicians.ieIssue Date
2012-02-01T10:50:22ZMeSH
Accidents, Traffic/*mortality/prevention & control/*statistics & numerical dataAdolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Environment Design
Humans
Ireland/epidemiology
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Walking
Weather
Wounds and Injuries/*epidemiology
Young Adult
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Show full item recordCitation
Gerontology. 2010;56(3):266-71. Epub 2009 Nov 11.Journal
GerontologyDOI
10.1159/000258052PubMed ID
19907137Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been established internationally that road traffic accidents (RTAs) involving older drivers follow clearly different patterns of timing, location and outcomes from those of younger age groups. Older pedestrians are also a vulnerable group and fewer analyses have been undertaken of the phenomenology of their injuries and fatalities. We studied the pattern of pedestrian RTAs in Ireland over a five-year period with the aim of identifying differences between older pedestrians (aged 65 or older) and younger adults. METHODS: We examined the datasets of the Irish National Road Authority (now the Road Safety Authority) from 1998-2002. We analysed patterns of crashes involving older pedestrians (aged 65) and compared them with younger adults (aged 18-64). RESULTS: Older people represented 36% (n = 134) of pedestrian fatalities and 23% of serious injuries while they only account for 19% of total RTAs. Mortality in RTA is more than doubled for older pedestrians compared to younger adults (RR 2.30). Most accidents involving older pedestrians happen in daylight with good visibility (56%) and in good weather conditions (77%). CONCLUSIONS: Older pedestrians are particularly vulnerable in RTAs. These occur more frequently during daylight hours and in good weather conditions. This may point to a need for prevention strategies that are targeted at the traffic environment and other road users rather than at older people.Language
engISSN
1423-0003 (Electronic)0304-324X (Linking)
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1159/000258052
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