Thus, as explained in the above summaries, it is evident that the number of elderly participants is increasing significantly. Next, we examine whether these participants are drivers or passengers. Available traffic statistics did not contain records of uninjured passengers. To examine the above question then, Fig. 14 took the rate of automobile occupant casualties (consisting of fatalities and injured) that were passengers to obtain a "passenger rate", while the same data is indexed to 1996 in Fig. 15.
As in Fig. 14, the passenger rate in the 65-74 and 24 and lower age groups is high, reflecting that many of these people do not have a driver's license. The trends index in Fig. 15 shows a significant lowering of the passenger rate for the elderly group, which confirms the shift to driving in the elderly group. On the other hand, the 24 and lower group has a growing passenger rate, presumably influenced by the peaking of the license holder rate in this group.
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