Promoting Driver Safety & Mobility Options in Livable, Senior-Friendly Communities

Promoting Driver Safety & Mobility Options

in Livable, Senior-Friendly Communities

North Carolina Conference on AgingSeptember 11, 2007

Fran Carlin-Rogers, Carlin Rogers Consulting, Orlando, FloridaSuzanne LaFollette-Black, North Carolina AARP

Jane Stutts, UNC Highway Safety Research CenterPhyllis Bridgeman, NC Division of Aging & Adult Services

Goals of Today’s Workshop

Have a basic understanding of how promoting driver safety and mobility issues are integral to advancing livable, senior friendly communities

Become familiar with the array of safe driving and mobility programs, resources and options available to older adults in their communities

White House Conference on Aging 2005 Select Top Ranked Recommendations

# 3 Transportation Options:“ Ensure that Older Americans have transportation options to

retain their mobility and independence”

# 47 Capacity for Safe Driving:“ Support Older Drivers to Retain Mobility and Independence

through Strategies to Continue Safe Driving”

Source: www.whcoa.gov

More older peopleMore of them will be drivingDriving more miles than ever beforeDriving at older ages than ever beforeMore women drivingFew real alternatives to driving

National Overview

The Issue…

Consider This…

As a group, older drivers are safe Self-regulation & necessary reductions in driving

work for most Still, due to increased frailty, older adults are

more likely to die when involved in car crashes Increased frequency of medical conditions at

about age 55 Increased frailties of age put elder @ greater

risk for serious injury or death

2001 National Household Transportation Survey 90% of all trips taken in automobile For individuals who stop driving, 1% use public

transportation 1-2% of all seniors use of public transportation Bus use increases for long distance trips

(1% for 25-54 y.o to 6% for 75+) 9% of Americans walk to their destinations Non drivers take far fewer & shorter trips

Important Issues

Most radical increase of at risk crashes comes with medical conditions which impact cognitive skills

Identification of drivers who are medically at risk

Testing should be focused on ability, not age!

It’s Not The Years….. It’s The Mileage!

Many diseases & conditions may

impair driving skill: Medication use Effects of anesthesia & surgery Vision (cataract, macular degeneration, glaucoma) Cardiovascular (arrhythmias, CHF,Vavular HD) Cerebrovascular (stroke, TIA, etc) Neurologic (Brain tumor, Dementia,Migraine, Head

injury, Parkinson’s,MS, sleep disorders,seizures,etc) Metabolic ( diabetes, hyper/hypothyroidism) Respiratory (COPD, respiratory failure)

Source: NHTSA

Drivers with Cognitive Decline

May not restrict driving as others doLack of recognition of traffic situationsConfusion about environmentDriving environment is more complexCrash risk is 7.6 times higher than healthy

drivers ( age matched)Loss of appropriate reactions

Why a focus on driving?

At least two reasons:

Older adults (like everyone else) are highly dependent on cars for meeting their transportation needs

The safety of older drivers presents special challenges.

Mode of Travel by Age

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+

Pe

rce

nt

of

Tri

ps

Driver Passenger Other

Source: 2001 NPTS, Unpublished Data

Older Drivers Have Fewer Crashes

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

Driver Age

Cra

shes

per

100

, 000

dri

vers

(Source NCSA, 2000)

Fatalities per 100 Crashes

Source: Li, Braver and Chen, 2003

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

16-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

Projections of Fatal Crash Involvements by Age of Driver

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000

1999

2010

2020

2030

16-64 65+

Source: Lyman et al., 2002

13.7%

14.8%

20.0%

24.9%

Projected Growth in NC Population Age 65+

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2004 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

65-74 75-84 85+Population X1000

Safety of NC Older Drivers

Drivers age 65+ are 8% of all drivers in crashes, but 18% of those killed in crashes.

Over 27,000 older drivers are involved in crashes each year in NC.

On average, 150+ older drivers are killed in crashes each year.

These numbers have remained fairly stable over the past several years – but this may be changing.

(2001-2004 NC Crash Data)

Statewide: 28.6

What we want

Enable older drivers to make appropriate driving choices that:

• Maximize personal and community safety

• Utilize community options, when needed, to maintain mobility

Our Goals

Keep older adults driving as long as they can do so safely.

Maximize personal and community safety.

Provide transportation options , when needed, to maintain mobility.

Most older adults modify driving behavior voluntarily, but…..

• Some not soon enough

• Some too soon

• Some in the wrong way

Today’s Situation

Why is this important?

If they give up driving earlier they may create MOBILITY problems

If they continue to drive when they shouldn’t they will create SAFETY problems

What Can Be Done?

Roadway improvementsVehicle safety and designDriver licensingDriver education and awarenessPublic awarenessAlternative transportationLand use planning

Thank You!

Jane [email protected]

NC Senior Driver Safety Coalition

Initiated by the UNC-CH Highway Safety Research Center under a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program

Initial partners in 2004 [AARP and the Division of Aging and Adult Services] soon became 20 partners


NC DOT traffic engineers

NC DMV, Medical Evaluation Branch

Physicians and Occupational Therapists

NC Assistive Technology Program

NC MS Society

AAA Carolinas

University researchers

Law enforcement


September 2005 – new role for the Coalition

NC Executive Committee for Highway Safety, Older Driver Working Group

Examples of other issue groups:

Aggressive driving

Unlicensed drivers

Inattentive drivers

Speeding


Identification of needs and ways a coalition might respond

Mission and membership

Sharing of current programs & activities


Immediate focus on roadway improvements and community awareness

Promoting safer roadways for older drivers, especially signage

Raising general awareness among not only older drivers and families, but also planners, engineers, doctors, and other health care professionals


Roadway improvements Identification of locations where older drivers

were over-involved in crashes 5 sites selected for greater examination Characteristics of crashes to identify common

factors for older drivers Identifiable “fixes”?


Raising community awareness Toolkit of resources and information

Broad array of information useful to many different audiences

Community forumsDMV license examiner officesSenior centers


Raising community awareness - 5 community forums across NC in 2006

Wilmington

Greensboro

Waynesville

RTP

Southern Pines


Strategies of the Older Driver Working Group currently in process

Signage

Roadway and driving environment

Hazardous intersections for older drivers

Senior driver safety website for NC

Law enforcement capacity building


Accomplishments to date Community forums in five pilot locations and

development of community toolkits CarFit events Training for DOT engineers on federal

guidelines for highway design for older drivers and pedestrians

Identification of hazardous intersections to serve as pilot for systematic upgrading to improve safety

Law enforcement training


Future work Working with health care professionals to

identify and assist high-risk drivers

Public education through a web site, DMV materials, and adaptations of tool kit for special audiences

Assistance to communities in forming local coalitions

GAO Report: Older Driver Safety07-413 April, 2007

“Older Driver Safety: Knowledge Sharing Should Help States Prepare for Increase in Older Driver Population”

www.gao.gov/new.items/d7413.pdf

The title says it all! Risk will increase with ↑ population;↑ ages; ↑ mileage Drivers with dementia is a particular concern States should be allowed to share information & best

practices Coalition & partnership strategies

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d7413.pdf

Monash University Elderly & Mobility: Literature Review

Recommend: Coordinated

approach Innovative strategies Mobility management

initiatives

Target Areas: Safe (r) road users:

Mgmt of at risk drivers Licensing procedures Education & training

Safe (r) vehicles: ↑crashworthiness Occupant protection ITS technology

Safe (r) roads: Alternative

transportation options

Varying Approaches to Action…

Florida Community Center

model Summits Training Community events Legislative change

California Coalition Pilot of 3 tier testing

Missouri Coalition team Saturation strategy Outcome measurement

North Carolina Coalition Proactive Summit Community events

PrivateAutomobile

Driver orpassenger

Pedestrian/Bicycle

For ProfitTransit

Providers

InnovationModels

MedicalTransportation

PublicTransit

Paratransit

Friends&

Family

VolunteerTransportation

Programs

Transportation Resource Types:Lifetime Choices

IndividualResources

Shared Cost Programs:Public and Individual

CommunityBased

PublicOnly

Community Transportation Critical Success Factors

Customer Satisfaction Safety Access Affordability Choices Best Practices Sustainability

Outcomes: Right Time Right Places Right Price

Coordination Accountability Partnerships

It is Time for Your Community To Take Action!

Gather key stakeholders Create partnerships Coordinate efforts Don’t reinvent the wheel! Identify your community’s

critical success factors Create sustainability Measure the outcomes

of your efforts

Driver Safety Education Programs

AARP- on-line and classroom- 8 hoursAAA- Roadwise on-line and classroom-8

hoursAARP “We Need to Talk”-30-60 minute

seminar on family conversations about older drivers

Carfit-12 point assessment checklist of how driver fits in own car

DriveWell- community education

Resources Available

Driver education brochures from AARP/AAA/DMV and others

Medical Transportation Toolkit and best practices

Inventory of older adult resourcesLivable Communities Evaluation GuideAARP Mobility Toolkit/packet-forum

planning, riding the bus and pedestrian guide, publications

What can you do in your community?

Provide driver safety education and programs in your community

Advocate to expand and enhance federal, state and local laws about mobility options.

Implement “best practices” to engage community partners to improve options

Use the Livable Communities Evaluation Guide to assess mobility, drivability and walking accessibility

Next Steps…Outcomes

Transportation options are expanded/integrated Offer a wide range of mobility options Enhance and expand mobility policy options

through Federal, state, and local laws. Inform and engage the public in understanding

and acting on the need for mobility options. Older drivers can drive safely as long as

possible with lessoned concern about the lack of mobility options when they cease driving.

Under development – a senior driver website for North Carolina

The Keys to Safe Driving for Older Drivers and Drivers with Disabilities

Being over 40, but not over the hillExercises for mobility

Refresh your driving skills

A lifetime of safe drivingHow does aging affect driving?

Trip planningDoes your car still fit? Vehicle adaptations



Being medically at risk Medications

Health problemsMental changes

Driver Rehabilitation SpecialistsPhysician guidelines

Giving up the keysSigns that it’s time

Steering without fearing: Self-tests



Taking the keysTelling someone you love, “We need to talk. . . .”

Referring an unsafe driver to DMV’s medical evaluation program

Retiring the keysTransportation options and driving alternatives



Drivable, walkable, livable communitiesHow does your community rate?

Get involved! Sponsor aDriveWell program

CarFit programNCDOT initiatives for accommodating older drivers and pedestrians

Mobility Options

If your car broke down, how would you get around?

If you couldn’t drive or didn’t have access to a car, what would you do?

Mobility Options

Fran Carlin-Rogers, Carlin Rogers Consulting, Orlando, Florida

407-422-0991, [email protected]

Suzanne LaFollette-Black, North Carolina AARP


Jane Stutts, University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center

[email protected]

Phyllis Bridgeman, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services


Documents

Promoting Driver Safety & Mobility Options in Livable, Senior-Friendly Communities