Traffic Tech #205: Safe Mobility for Older People Notebook Outlines Programs

SAFE MOBILITY FOR OLDER PEOPLE NOTEBOOK OUTLINES PROGRAMS

The population over age 65 will grow by 60 percent in the next 20 years, and during the decade of 2020 to 2030, more than one in five Americans will be over the age of 65. People age 85 and older are emerging as the fastest growing segment of our driving population. With a decline in a wide range of functional capabilities that is normally associated with aging, there will be an inevitable impact on highway safety unless the most at-risk individuals can be identified. Developing screening procedures that are fair, accurate, and easily administered by licensing agencies, health care professionals, and social service agencies are important parts of a comprehensive Model Driver Program for each community.

Loss of mobility is a serious health and quality of life issue for older people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored a study by The Scientex Corporation in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania, to identify ways to preserve or extend mobility while assuring that safety concerns are met. There are three major components of a model driver program: identifying physical and mental conditions that have the potential for remediation, providing therapy and counseling for those facing licensing restrictions or cessation of driving, and access to safe, convenient, and low cost transportation alternatives.

The Safe Mobility for Older People Notebook is part of the larger field test of a model driver program. The Notebook is a resource of current knowledge and practices for jurisdictions interested in developing programs at the community or state and provincial level.

Safe Mobility for Older People
Notebook Topics

• Medical conditions and functional ability deficits linked to increased crash risk
• Test procedures for screening drivers for functional deficits
• Procedures for family and friends, DMVs, health and social service agencies, law enforcement, and older drivers themselves to identify and assess an older person's risk of crash involvement
• Rehabilitation and education programs to keep drivers safely on the road longer
• Counseling or support groups for drivers who are restricting or giving up driving
• Licensing restrictions
• Alternative mobility solutions
• Aids to coping without driving, such as Meals on Wheels programs, or internet access to goods and services.

Each topic presents a summary of relevant research studies and outcomes from implementation efforts, preliminary recommendations for a Model Driver Program, references and resources.

HOW TO ORDER

For a copy of the Safe Mobility for Older People Notebook, Volume I (470 pages), write to the Office of Research and Traffic Records, NHTSA, NTS-31, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or send a fax to (202) 366-7096. John Eberhard, Ph.D., and Essie Wagner were the contract managers.

U.S. Department
of Transportation
National Highway
Traffic Safety
Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W. NTS-31
Washington, DC 20590

Traffic Tech is a publication to disseminate
information about traffic safety programs,
including evaluations, innovative programs,
and new publications. Feel free to copy it as you wish.
If you would like to receive a copy contact:
Linda Cosgrove, Ph.D., Editor, Evaluation Staff
Traffic Safety Programs
(202) 366-2759, fax (202) 366-7096
mailto:lcosgrove@nhtsa.dot.gov