# Traffic Environment Surrounding the Elderly

## The situation in which fatal accidents occur for the elderly

When examining the number of fatalities by age group during 2009, elderly persons above the age of 65 (49.9% component rate) are the most prevalent. Even when observing the transition of the number of fatalities in the recent 10 years, the depreciation of age group over 75 years old are very slow according to Figure 1, and when compared to 10 years before, the reduction among people above the age of 75 stops at 108 people (6.6%) in relation to the 4,092 person (45.4%) reduction in the overall number of fatalities.

In addition, when comparing the number of fatalities per population of 100 thousand people, the number of fatalities increases with age with the average of 6.09 people among ages 65-74 and 11.63 people among ages over 75 in relation to the average of all ages being 3.85 during 2009.

Figure 1 Transition of the Number of Fatalities by Age Group

## ○ Enhancement of traffic safety education for the elderly

In order for people to understand that the decline of bodily functions that accompanies aging affects one's behavior, the prefectural police are implementing participatory/revelatory/hands-on traffic safety education that actively employs every form of educational materials for elderly people. For elderly persons who do not have a full comprehension of traffic rules due to the slim opportunities to receive traffic safety education, safety education is being implemented with content that allows for understanding in regard to the manners of pedestrians and bicycle users.

In the implementation of traffic safety education for elderly people, the effort is being made to build a community support system for the acquisition of necessary knowledge for everyday living working together with welfare participants such as social workers who have many opportunities to come in contact with elderly people, regional related organizations and groups, and home guidance of elderly residences. Furthermore, in order to enhance safety awareness based on mutual edification among the elderly, and encouraging volunteer activities related to traffic safety through the elderly themselves, efforts are being made for the Senior citizens' club to fulfill the leading role in regional traffic safety activities by setting up traffic safety divisions in seniors' clubs and retirement homes, and promoting the training of elderly traffic safety instructors (silver leaders).

## The situation in which an elderly is the central player in a fatal accident

When examining the number of fatal accident during 2009 based on drivers (central player) including mopeds by age group, the largest age group is that of over 65 years old (20.3% composition rate). Even when the transition over the recent 10 years is observed as shown in Figure 2, the involvement of persons over 75 years old is increasing against a largely decreasing number of fatalities among young age groups. In comparison with the data of 10 years before, the overall number of fatal accidents has decreased by 3,565 (44.8%), against which the age group over 75 years old increased by 145 fatalities (53.5%).

Additionally, in comparison to the number of fatal accidents per 100 thousand licensed drivers, the all-ages average during 2009 was 5.4 fatalities, while the average among persons aged over 65 and 75 years old is growing respectively at 7.1 and 12.8.