Emergency Departments and Older Adult Motor Vehicle Collisions

In 2009 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 33 million licensed drivers 65 years and older in the U.S. This represents a 23 percent increase from 1999, a number that is predicted to double by 2030. Although motor vehicle collisions related to emergency department visits for older adults are lower per capita than for younger adults, the older-adults MVCs require more resources, such as additional diagnostic imaging and increased odds of admission. Addressing the specific needs of older adults could lead to better outcomes, yet not enough research exists. It is important to continue training emergency physicians to treat the increasing older-patient population, but it is also imperative that we increase our injury prevention and screening methodology. We review research findings from the article “Emergency Department Visits by Older Adults for Motor Vehicle Collisions: A Five-Year National Study,” with commentary on current recommendations and policies for the growing older-adult driving population.