CDC: Traffic-Related Pedestrian Death Rates Highest Among Elderly - East Idaho News
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CDC: Traffic-Related Pedestrian Death Rates Highest Among Elderly

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136519424?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1366344803083iStockphoto/Thinkstock(ATLANTA) — A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is highlighting the growing number of pedestrian deaths from motor vehicles, and they’ve found that older pedestrians, over age 75, make up the most traffic-related deaths.

“People ages 75 and older had higher pedestrian death rates than people in the younger ages,” says Laurie Berk of the CDC.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 2000 through 2010 and looked at deaths by age, race and ethnicity and gender.
 
While elderly pedestrians had the highest death rates among age groups, Berk says the study found that American Indians and Alaskan Natives had the highest traffic-related pedestrian death rates compared to other races and ethnicities.
 
Its unclear what causes the rates to be higher for specific groups, but Berk says there are measures that can be taken to make the streets safer for all pedestrians.
 
“Roadway engineering improvements, slowing vehicle speeds, enforcing traffic laws such as speeding, alcohol-impaired driving and pedestrian right-of-way laws” can all help to save more pedestrian lives, Berk says.
 
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