Seniorproof road design means that the infrastructure is tailored to older road users. Seniors may have functional limitations compared to younger road users, which means they need more time to see things properly, decide and then act. It is important to take this into account in the design of a road. It is also important to design traffic situations in such a way that they match the experience-based expectations of older road users. These conditions broadly correspond to the Sustainable Safety principles for safe road design. However, certain types of design sometimes require better adaptation to older road users. This includes, for example, that:
- new designs are consistent with existing principles so that older road users can make use of their experience and existing automatisms;
- complex tasks can be performed in steps (e.g., crossing in stages), each time allowing the older road users to review the situation at a safe spot and determine their own time constraints;
- important features of the infrastructure are prominent, for example by proper lighting and high-contrast markings.
For more information on seniorproof road design, see CROW's design guidelines [26] a brochure issued by partnership Blijf Veilg Mobiel (Stay Safely Mobile) [27] and SWOV fact sheet Older road users.
