(April 13, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — An Edmunds.com analysis of driver fatality data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finds that the death rate of male drivers age 51 to 65 has increased in the last decade, even as traffic deaths in all other male and female age groups decreased over that period.

According to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the number of annual traffic fatalities for men 51-65 rose by almost one-quarter from 2000 to 2009 (the last year for which data is available). In comparison, annual fatality figures for all male drivers during that time declined more than 20 percent.

Fatality figures for female drivers also declined 20 percent during the 10-year period.

Most alarming for the 51 to 65 age group, Edmunds.com found, is its rise in drunk driving fatalities — for both men and women — since 2000. The number of annual drunk driving fatalities for this group rose 37 percent from 2000 to 2009, while overall drunk driving fatalities among all drivers fell almost seven percent.

"We spend a lot of worthwhile energy teaching younger generations about the virtues of staying safe on the road — especially when it comes to the dangers of drinking and driving — and based on the stats, it looks like they're getting that message," said Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl.

"But the baby boomer generation is not heeding the same advice they're giving to their children. There needs to be a longer look at why there are more traffic deaths within this age group while all others are seeing fewer."

Other fascinating traffic fatality insights gathered by Edmunds.com's analysis of FARS data include:

    • Men are twice as likely to be intoxicated when getting into a fatal accident as women.
    • Drivers ages 26-35 are more likely to be intoxicated when getting into fatal accidents than any other age group.
    • Male drivers are 30 percent more likely not to be wearing seatbelts at the time of a fatal accident as female drivers.

These are just some of many insights pulled from the FARS database in preparation for Edmunds.com's car safety conference next month in Washington, DC. The conference is expected to facilitate a constructive discourse that will influence car safety policy and product development, and will examine ways to make our roads safer.

A wealth of insights on car safety from some of the top experts can be found at Edmunds.com's exclusive Safety Library.  

Another recent analysis of FARS data by Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl found that the gradual decline in traffic fatality rates over the last 100 years could not be attributed to any one law or technology. See more his analysis and commentary.