Improving The Safety Of Older Road Users

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 348: Improving the Safety of Older Road Users examines programs and policies in place across the country to improve the safety and mobility of older road users. The report documents a range of strategies and related programs under way in roadway engineering, driver licensing, public information and education, and enforcement and adjudication.

"This synthesis provides an overview of the state of the practice regarding the interoperability between state and local safety data and highlights agency practices that support a data-driven safety program on all public roads. Results of this synthesis found that in term of interoperability between state and local agencies, agencies are more advanced for crash data than roadway or traffic data." -- Preface.

"Age-related declines in vision, cognition, and physical ability affect how older road users drive and use other transportation modes. The Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and National Cooperative Highway Research Program sponsored a scanning study to assess infrastructure improvements designed to aid older road users in Australia and Japan. The scan team found that using a systems approach provides for integration of safety of older roads users and that enhancing safety for older road users improves safety for all. The team also observed engineering, policy, and educational programs that can improve the safety and mobility of older road users. Team recommendations for U.S. implementation include integrating information from the scan on infrastructure improvements benefiting older road users into relevant U.S. documents, encouraging partnerships between government and nongovernment organizations to address older road users' needs, and developing a research program on policies and interventions targeted to older road users"--Technical report documentation page.

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.