Older Tennessee drivers have relatively higher incidences of crashes precipitated by drivers’ medical emergencies when compared to young and middle-age drivers. Drivers in crashes precipitated by medical emergencies were more likely than other drivers to be severely injured or to die as a result of the crash.

Reference a recent accident in Kingston Tennessee that occurred when a driver, who was having a seizure, plowed his van into a busy beauty salon seriously injuring at least 10 people.

As with most driving problems, education is the key to preventing fatal crashes. Patient education by health care providers on early warning signs of a health crisis, such as warning signs before seizure attacks diabetic or hypoglycemic comas and potential side effects of medications are recommended as the most effective countermeasure.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile traffic accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

Older Driver Safety Statistics

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer I try to keep up with studies and trends in highway safety. On of the major players in highway safety research is the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety.  As the Baby-Boomer generation gets ready to explode onto the scene I thought you would find this study somewhat interesting.

Previous research has found that older driver fatal crash involvement rates per licensed driver declined substantially in the United States during 1997-2006 and declined much faster than the rate for middle-age drivers. The current study examined whether the larger-than-expected decline for older drivers extended to nonfatal crashes and whether the decline in fatal crash risk reflects lower likelihood of crashing or an improvement in survivability of the crashes that occur.

Results: Fatal crash involvement rates declined for older and middle-age drivers during 1997-2008 (1997-2005 for the 13 state subsample), but the decline for drivers 70 and older far exceeded the decline for drivers ages 35-54 (37 versus 23 percent, nationally; 22 versus 1 percent, 13 states). Nonfatal injury crash involvement rates showed similarly larger-than-expected declines for older drivers in the 13 state subsample, but the differences were smaller and not statistically significant (27 percent reduction for older drivers versus 16 percent for middle-age drivers). Property-damage-only crash involvement rates declined for older drivers (10 percent) but increased for middle-age drivers (1 percent). In 1997, older drivers were 3.5 times more likely than middle-age drivers to die in police-reported crashes (6.2 versus 1.8 deaths per 1,000 crashes), but this difference was reduced during the 9-year study period to 2.9 times, as the rate of older drivers dying in a crash declined (5.5 deaths per 1,000 crashes in 2005) and the death risk remained relatively stable for middle-age drivers.

If you or a loved on is injured or killed in a Tennessee motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent driver, contact the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation.

It Can't Hurt To Brush Up

You have been driving for 50-years, why not take a Driver Safety Course? Cars have changed. So have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver’s licenses, but even the most experienced can benefit from brushing up on their driving skills.

The AARP Driver Safety Program offers experienced drivers a refresher course to brush up on their skills and, as a bonus, you might just get a discount on your car insurance. You can expect to learn current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. You’ll learn adjustments to accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. After completing the course, you will have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and of how you can avoid potential collisions and injuries to yourself and others. And don’t worry, there is not a test to pass.

The classroom course costs only $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. The cost for the online course is $15.95 for AARP members and $19.95 for nonmembers.  Course times, dates and locations will be listed along with a phone number to call to register for the course. Or call, toll-free, 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669). To register for the online course, visit www.aarpdriversafety.org.

The experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates highly recommend this course. We see all too many Nashville auto accidents that might have been prevented with a little care. If you have teen drivers in your family it might save their lives and the lives of others if you have them join you as you take the online course.

Older Driver Crash Projections

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney I have watched with interest as the accident rate among older drivers has continued to drop. Since 1997 the trend has been on a downward slide. I asked myself, “…why is this happening?” One would think that older drivers would have more problems as they aged.  With that in mind I wondered out loud to several of my colleagues, “Wha tis going to happen to this trend in the next six to ten years when the older population, the “Boomers”, grows?”

My search took me to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation’s highways. In a recent study the Institute answered my question. Instead of interpreting the study for you I have reprinted the introduction below.

TRENDS IN OLDER DRIVER CRASH INVOLVEMENTS

The US population is expected to experience a major shift such that older people will become a much larger proportion of the population. According to the US Census Bureau (2008a), people 70 and older were 8.5 percent of the population in 1990, compared with 9.1 percent in 2008. The increase in the older population is expected to accelerate sharply starting in 2016. The population 70 and older is expected to rise from 27 million in 2008 to 67 million in 2050, representing a 145 percent increase. The population 85 and older is expected to more than triple, from 6.4 million in 2008 to 19 million in 2050. By 2050, people 70 and older are expected to compose 15.3 percent of the population (US Census Bureau, 2008b).

As older people become a larger part of the population, they are driving more as well. The number of licensed drivers 70 and older is expected to continue to increase, and there are indications that older drivers are logging more miles. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the total annual miles traveled by drivers 70 and older increased by 26 percent between 1995-96 and 2001-02, from 92 to 116 billion miles, and their average annual miles traveled increased by 48 percent from about 6,064 to 9,000 miles (FHWA, 1995, 2001).

There is concern about the potential effect on traffic safety associated with these trends. For example, Lyman et al. (2002) predicted a 155 percent increase in fatal crash involvements and a 178 percent increase in all police-reported crash involvements of drivers 65 and older during 1999-2030.

The role of aging in crash risk is complex. As people age, deterioration of visual, cognitive, perceptual, and physical functions may increase their likelihood to be involved in traffic crashes (Dewar, 2002; Goode et al., 1998; McDowd and Shaw, 2000; Owsley et al., 1998; Stutts et al., 1998; Sims et al., 2001). Age-related increases in fragility mean that when older drivers are involved in crashes, they are more likely to be seriously injured or killed from their injuries (Evans, 1991; Li et al., 2003; Meuleners et al., 2006; Zhou et al., 1996). In 2008, 63 percent of the deaths in the fatal crashes of drivers 70 and older were the older drivers themselves; another 12 percent were older passengers of the older drivers.

The increased driving among older people in the United States, coupled with their fragility, suggests that older driver crash involvements, including those involving fatality or serious injury, should have increased in recent years. However, Cheung et al. (2008) reported that passenger vehicle fatal crash involvements among people 70 and older declined during 1997-2006. Further, relative to drivers aged 35-54, the fatal crash rate per population and per licensed driver declined at a significantly faster pace for drivers 70 and older; the largest decline was experienced by drivers 80 and older. According to the authors, the reasons for the steep decline in older driver fatal crash rates were not clear.

Using a series of empirical models to estimate the probability of an older driver’s decision to drive, annual average number of miles driven, and crash risk, Hu et al. (2000) projected that older driver fatal crash risk per miles traveled would decrease during 2000-25. The authors attributed this prediction to a projected increase in seat belt use and greater affluence among older drivers, allowing them to drive safer vehicles.

In seeking to understand the stronger decline in fatal crash rates among older drivers relative to middle-age drivers, one possibility is that older drivers are less likely to be involved in crashes. Another is that they are better able to survive crashes. The current study explores these possibilities by looking more closely at recent trends in crashes of all severities. Specifically, first the study by Cheung et al. (2008) was updated by examining national trends in fatal crash involvement rates per licensed driver for drivers 70 and older, relative to those for drivers age 35-54, for the period 1997-2008. Next, trends in involvement rates for crashes of all severities were examined for older and middle-age drivers using police-reported crash data from 13 states for the period 1997-2005. Finally, changes in the odds that a crash-involved older driver would sustain a fatal injury were examined relative to the odds for a middle-age driver. Analyses began with 1997 because crash deaths of older people in the United States peaked in 1997 after trending generally upward since 1975.

If you or a loved is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by an elderly driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

Adapting Vehicle For Older Drivers

New and existing adaptive technologies continue to broaden opportunities for older drivers to drive comfortably and safely — and enjoy the freedom of driving for as long as possible. Some of these adaptive technologies are as simple as swivel seats for more convenient access. Others, such as hand controls, may be necessary for a driver to safely operate a vehicle. All drivers who are facing, or may soon face, age related driving challenges should become familiar with the technologies available to support any special driving needs.

For more information to help you understand the who, what, why, when and how of employing this technology to allow you to continue driving check out the website of the National Highway Transportation Administration and review their study “Adapting Motor Vehicles for Older Drivers.”

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a serious Tennessee car accident due to somebody else’s negligence, then you may be feeling angry, frightened, or even alone in your suffering.

There is no reason for you to bear your burden alone.  The experience of a Tennessee auto accident is traumatic enough and your recovery will bring its own challenges.  You don’t need the added stress of worrying about who will pay for the medical care you need, how your car will be repaired, and if the individuals responsible for your suffering will be brought to justice.  This is the time to call Phillip Miller & Associates, the law firm of local Tennessee attorneys and staff who for the past 25 years have dedicated their lives to protecting the rights of injured men, women, and children in Tennessee.

Incidences of drivers who had crashes precipitated by their medical emergencies while driving are relatively rare and account for only 1.3 percent of all road fatalities. Older drivers have relatively higher incidences of crashes precipitated by drivers’ medical emergencies when compared to young and middle-age drivers. Drivers in crashes precipitated by medical emergencies were more likely than other drivers to be severely injured or to die as a result of the crash.

Patient education by health care providers on early warning signs of a health crisis, such as warning signs before seizure attacks, diabetic or hypoglycemic comas and potential side effects of medications are recommended as the most effective countermeasure.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile traffic accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

According to the study, since 1900, the percentage of Americans 65 and older has tripled, from 4.1% in 1900 to 12.4% in 2004. The older population itself is getting older. In 2004, the 65-74 age group (18.5 million) was over eight times larger than in 1900, but the 75-84 group (13.0 million) was 17 times larger and the 85 and older group (4.9 million) was 39.8 times larger. What this means is that it is becoming more and more likely that more and more Americans will outlive their ability to drive safely. According to the American Medical Association, older drivers (also referred to as mature drivers) have a higher risk of traffic fatalities

Older drivers have higher fatalities for two reasons: First, drivers aged 75 and older are involved in significantly more motor vehicle crashes per mile driven than middle-aged drivers. Second, mature drivers are considerably more fragile than their younger counterparts, and are therefore more likely to suffer a fatal injury in the event of a crash.

A AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study in 2004 found that drivers over the age of 65 are almost twice as likely to die in car crashes as drivers aged 55 to 64. The report also revealed that drivers over 75 were over two-and-a-half times as likely to die in a car crash and drivers over 85 were almost four times as likely to die when compared to drivers aged 55 to 64.

If you or a loved one is involved in a Tennessee automobile accident involving an elderly driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and learn about your rights and remedies.

Reduce Road Fatalities

Last week Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely joined representatives from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, Department of Safety, Department of Health, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AARP, AAA Auto Club South, and a number of other highway safety partners to sign a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan for Tennessee on Wednesday, September 30. The goal of the new plan is to reduce the number of fatalities in Tennessee by 10% by 2012.

Citing the success of the 2006- 2008 Strategic Highway  Safety Plan, Kendell Poole, Director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Office said, “The good news is the number of deadly crashes in Tennessee dropped nearly 14% between 2007 and 2008. The bad news is there were still more than 1,000 people who died in crashes in our state last year. We want to see that number decline even more and are pledging today to reduce fatal crashes by another 10% by 2012.”

The new Strategic Highway Safety Plan again focuses on the four “E’s”: Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Emergency Response, with a goal of having fewer than 900 fatalities on Tennessee highways by 2012. The new plan also includes a new program designed to educate senior drivers. When crash and fatality rates are calculated, older drivers, much like teen drivers, are over-represented.

“All drivers, whether it’s teens just learning to drive or seniors who’ve been driving for decades, need to be consistently reminded about safe driving practices and updated on new traffic laws,” said Department of Safety Deputy Commissioner Greta Dajani.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fact sheet on older drivers focuses on the older population in the United States which includes all people age 65 and older. In 2007, 13 percent of the total U.S. resident population (38 million) were people age 65 and older. There were 30 million older licensed drivers in 2006 – an 18-percent increase from 1996. In contrast, the total number of licensed drivers increased by only 13 percent from 1996 to 2006. Older drivers made up 15 percent of all licensed drivers in 2006, compared with 14 percent in 1996.

In 2007, 196,000 older individuals were injured in traffic crashes, accounting for 8 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. These older individuals made up 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, 14 percent of all vehicle occupant fatalities, and 19 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. Most traffic fatalities involving older drivers in 2007 occurred during the daytime (79%), occurred on weekdays (72%), and involved other vehicles 71%.

The new Senior Driver Safety Education Program aims to give seniors the information they need to stay up to date on new traffic laws and other safety measures they can take to improve their driving skills. You and I, as individuals, can help make this happen if you commit to reviewing the Tennessee Rules of the Road and make a good faith effort to follow the law and become safer drivers.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Nashville car accident involving a teen or an older driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

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