Why are older pedestrians at more risk than younger ones from road traffic?

Older pedestrians are at greater risk in traffic because aging often leads to reduced vision and hearing, making it harder to detect approaching vehicles accurately. Their reaction times tend to be slower, and physical mobility can be limited, which means they may take longer to cross streets or respond to sudden dangers. Additionally, it is common for older people to misjudge the speed of oncoming vehicles, increasing the chance of making unsafe decisions when crossing or walking near traffic. These combined factors make it important for drivers to be especially cautious and attentive around older pedestrians.