Guidelines And Recommendations To Accommodate Older Drivers And Pedestrians

This report incorporates new research findings & technical developments & extensive feedback from State, county, & municipal engineers who reviewed & applied recommendations. Guidance on how & when to implement the included recommendations is included, as well as codes that indicate at a glance the relationship of each recommendation to standard design manuals. Included recommendations are directed toward new construction, reconstruction, scheduled maintenance, & spot treatmentsÓ to ameliorate demonstrated safety problems, emphasizing countermeasures with modest additional cost during installation & the potential for cost savings over the life cycle. Illustrated.

Developed guidelines for changes in the geometric design & operations at intersections to aid in their use by older drivers & pedestrians. A lit. review identified age-related diminished capabilities that affect performance at intersections, & examined current design standards & their adequacy for older road users. A set of problem identification studies were conducted to better define older persons' difficulties in intersection use, & an expert panel met to prioritize variables for more extensive lab. & field studies. These studies subsequently focused on age & the effects of opposite left-turn geometry, right-turn channelization & curb radius, & varying median pedestrian refuge island configurations, using both objective & subjective measures.

As people age, their physical, visual, & cognitive abilities may decline, making it more difficult for them to drive safely. Older drivers are also more likely to suffer injuries or die in crashes than drivers in other age groups. These safety issues will increase in significance because older adults represent the fastest-growing U.S. population segment. This report examined: (1) what the fed. gov¿t. has done to promote practices to make roads safer for older drivers & the extent to which states have implemented those practices; (2) the extent to which states assess the fitness of older drivers & what support the fed. gov¿t. has provided; & (3) what initiatives selected states have implemented to improve the safety of older drivers. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.

"Recommended."--CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries "Coughlin and DíAmbrosioís edited volume is a welcome contribution to highlighting this issue for gerontologists. The collection is an informative and useful reference for students, researchers, practitioners, planners, and policy analysts"--The Gerontologist This solution-focused volume fills a gap in the literature by addressing the key issues around mobility and transportation for the aging Baby Boomer generation--issues that will be significantly different than those of previous generations of older adults. This new generation, many of whom will continue to work past the traditional retirement age and expect to pursue an active lifestyle, may have to confront new transportation technology, the need to use public transportation, and ways to continue driving safely as their eyesight fades and reaction time slows down. This volume examines many of the issues faced by policymakers, transportation officials, vehicle manufacturers, health and human services professionals, and aging adults themselves as the largest generation prepares to enter late adulthood. The volume's editors are both at the MIT AgeLab, whose multi-disciplinary team designs, develops and deploys innovations to enhance quality of life for aging populations. Through the contributions of a diverse group of theorists and practitioners, including recommendations from the National Older Driver Safety Advisory Council, a collaboration between AARP's Driver Safety Program and the MIT AgeLab, the book discusses several key topics pertinent to Aging America and transportation. Among them are the changing demographics of the population, how this generation's lifestyle choices affect mobility, technology trends in private vehicles, changes in the infrastructure and transportation system, the "new" older driver, and issues of safety and education among older drivers. This book also explores practical solutions and strategies, such as new transportation options and innovations that will significantly impact the future of mobility for older adults, for keeping these seniors active and mobile well into their later years. Key Features: Focuses on the unique mobility needs of the aging Baby Boomer generation Provides practical solutions and strategies for policy changes to enhance the mobility of older adults Examines issues faced by policymakers, transportation officials, vehicle manufacturers, health and human services professionals, and aging adults Discusses strategies for updating the infrastructure and transportation system, driving safety education for older drivers, and trends in private vehicle innovations