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Title	Designing roadways to safely accommodate the increasingly mobile older driver : a plan to allow older Americans to maintain their independence
Record ID	23604
Corporate Creator	Road Information Program
Publisher	The Road Information Program
Publication Date	20030700
Abstract	With the graying of the Baby Boom generation, the number of older drivers on the road and the amount of driving they do continues to increase. However, along with this increase in the number of older drivers and their level of driving has come a sharp increase in the number of fatalities involving older drivers. Traffic safety improvements designed to make it easier for older drivers to navigate traffic are becoming increasingly important, as the largest generation in American history ages and seeks to maintain a level of mobility that matches their active lifestyles. Roadway improvements can help make driving safer for older Americans, as well as for the population at large. Older drivers are defined in this study as persons aged 70 or older, based on the age when most people start to experience some diminished physical capabilities associated with driving, such as vision, hearing, reaction times and flexibility. Statistics show that the number of older drivers being killed in motor vehicle crashes is increasing. Recent trends indicate that older Americans are more mobile than ever. This study finds certain driving situations are especially challenging or hazardous to elderly drivers. Based primarily on its analysis of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) report, Older Driver Highway Design Handbook, The Road Information Program (TRIP) recommends a comprehensive set of safety improvements for improving older driver safety. 3 Charts, 16 p. Appendix A, a comparison of the number of older drivers killed by state in 1991 and 2001 can be found at http://www.tripnet.org/OlderDriverAppxAJuly03.pdf. Appendix B, the number of older drivers involved in fatal crashes, can be found at http://www.tripnet.org/OlderDriverAppxBJuly03.pdf. Appendix C, fatalities where older drivers are involved in the crash, can be found at http://www.tripnet.org/OlderDriverAppxCJuly03.pdf.
TRT Terms	Aged drivers ; Highway safety ; Highway design ; Traffic control devices
General Subjects	Elder Roadway User Program (Florida)
Classification	NTL - HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION - Design; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety; NTL - OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS - Traffic Control Devices; AGR - OTHER TOPICS - Tourism
Geographical Coverage	United States
Resource type	Research Paper
URL	http://www.tripnet.org/OlderDrivers2003Study.PDF
Format	PDF
Language:	English
Database	Other Transportation Web Sites