From Young-to older-elderly: shifting casualty patterns in traffic accidents within a motorcycle-oriented transport environment

As Taiwan transitions into a super-aged society, elderly road users face increasing risks of traffic accidents due to age-related physiological and cognitive decline. This study compared traffic accident characteristics between young-elderly (65-74 years) and older-elderly (≥75 years) road users in Taiwan, where motorcycles dominate the transportation environment. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied to examine differences in accident characteristics, injury and fatality proportions, and urbanization areas, while logistic regression were used to assess the age-related differences in injury and fatality outcomes. The results showed that motor accidents were prevalent among the elderly. Compared with the young-elderly, the older-elderly had higher injury and fatality proportions, with lower proportion of car accidents but higher proportions of bicycle and pedestrian accidents. In addition, drunk driving was more prevalent among the young-elderly across all vehicle types, whereas unlicensed motor vehicle driving was more common among the older-elderly. These findings reveal distinct risk patterns between elderly subgroups and underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance traffic safety in both aging populations and motorcycle-dependent societies.