Tri-state region pedestrians aged 60 years and older are disproportionately at risk of being killed in collisions with vehicles while walking, according to a new study by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

From 2003 through 2012, 1,492 pedestrians aged 60 years and older were killed on Connecticut, New Jersey and downstate New York roads, according to Older Pedestrians at Risk: A Ten Year Survey and Look Ahead, released today. The report found that:

• Those 60 and older comprised only 18 percent of the region’s population, but accounted for 35 percent of pedestrian fatalities during the 10-year period
• Those aged 75 years and older represent 6 percent of the tri-state region’s population, but 16.5 percent of pedestrian deaths.
• The pedestrian fatality rate for the region’s residents 60 and older is 2.5 times higher than that of residents under 60.
• For residents 75 and older, the pedestrian fatality rate is more than three times that of those under 60.

Tri-State Average Pedestrian Fatality Rate by Age Group (2003-2012)

According to AARP, decreased bone density exacerbates injuries sustained by seniors. Coupled with mobility issues that hinder their ability to cross a road quickly, this age group is particularly prone to critical injuries from car collisions. However, simple roadway improvements – clearly marked crosswalks, longer crossing signals and wider pedestrian islands – make walking safer and easier for older residents and younger residents alike.

Tri-State’s analysis also found that the tri-state region is far more dangerous for older pedestrians than the rest of the country. The pedestrian fatality rate for people 60 years and older living in Connecticut, New Jersey and downstate New York was 54.5 percent higher than for the rest of the country, and those 75 years and older suffered a fatality rate that was 60.1 percent higher.

In 10 years, the share of the region’s residents 60 and older increased from 17 percent of the population to 19.4 percent— 2.4 percentage points.

Tri-State’s research showed that Manhattan had the highest average older pedestrian fatality rate of all tri-state counties. Of Manhattan’s 364 pedestrian fatalities, 155 were pedestrians 60 or over. Nassau County on Long Island, Brooklyn and Atlantic County in New Jersey also had particularly high older pedestrian fatality rates. The chart below ranks the 41 tri-state counties by older pedestrian fatality rates:

*Fatality rates are calculated according to the population of the relevant age group (i.e., population aged 60 years and older, population under 60 years).

Communities across the region are making it easier and safer for older adults to walk. However, more can and should be done. In addition to the report’s state-specific recommendations (CT, NJ, NY), the report calls for state departments of transportation to adopt the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ (NACTO) Urban Street Design Guide, which provides guidance on street designs that safely accommodate all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. Currently, the Federal Highway Administration, 37 cities (including New York City), and six states have adopted NACTO standards, but New York State, New Jersey and Connecticut are yet to follow suit.