The number of older drivers on the road and the amount of driving they do continues to increase. However, along with this increase in the number of older drivers and their level of driving has come a sharp increase in the number of fatalities involving older drivers. Traffic safety improvements designed to make it easier for older drivers to navigate traffic are becoming increasingly important, as the largest generation in American history ages and seeks to maintain a level of mobility that matches their active lifestyles. Roadway improvements can help make driving safer for older Americans, as well as for the population at large. Older drivers are defined in this study as persons aged 70 or older, based on the age when most people start to experience some diminished physical capabilities associated with driving, such as vision, hearing, reaction times and flexibility. The major findings of this report are: * Statistics show that the number of older drivers being killed in motor vehicle crashes is increasing. * The number of Americans aged 70 and older killed in traffic crashes increased by 27 percent between 1991 and 2001 -- from 2,494 fatalities to 3,164. By comparison, the number of overall motor vehicle fatalities increased only 2 percent during the same time. * Florida led the nation in the number of older drivers killed in traffic accidents in 2001, with 268 older drivers killed. * In 2001, crashes involving at least one older driver caused 5,113 fatalities nationwide. This is up from 4,261 persons killed in crashes involving an older driver in 1991 -- a 20 percent increase. * From 1991 to 2001, the number of licensed drivers age 70 and older increased 32 percent, from 14.5 million to 19.1 million. Approximately 10 percent of all drivers are 70 and older, compared to 8.6 percent a decade ago. * The number of older Americans who continue to drive is increasing. In 2001, 75 percent of Americans 70 and older still drove -- an increase from 73 percent in 1995. * The 2001 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) found that the average American aged 70 or older spends approximately 37 minutes daily driving a private vehicle. This level of driving is a 28 percent increase since 1995, when the average person aged 70 or above drove an average of approximately 29 minutes daily. * The average person aged 70 or above drives 15.3 miles per day according to the 2001 NHTS -- a 20 percent increase from 1995 when the average older person in the U.S. drove an average of 12.7 miles daily. The increase in older drivers killed in traffic accidents is occurring as older Americans form a greater portion of the overall population. * The older segment of the population (those 65 and older) grew nearly twice as fast as the total population between 1990 to 2000, according to the Census Bureau. * The number of older Americans will only increase, as baby boomers will start to turn 65 in 2011. Estimates show that one in five people will be aged 65 or older by 2020. * The latest Census Bureau data also shows that Florida, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Iowa and North Dakota have the highest proportion of their populations aged 65 or older. * According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 50 percent of all older driver fatalities in 2001 occurred at intersections, while only 23 percent of younger driver fatalities (those 69 and under) occur at intersections. * Left hand turns are also more problematic for older drivers, as they must make speed, distance, and gap judgements in a limited amount of time in order to enter or cross the through roadway. * Small or complex signage may be misunderstood or not seen quickly enough to alert older motorists about upcoming exits, obstacles, or changes in traffic patterns. Based primarily on its analysis of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) report, "Older Driver Highway Design Handbook," The Road Information Program (TRIP) recommends the following comprehensive set of safety improvements for improving older driver safety: * Signage and lighting: 1) clearer and less complex signage that is easier to follow; 2) larger lettering on signs and larger pavement markings; 3) better street lighting, particularly at intersections; and 4) higher-performing retroreflective material in signs and pavement markings for better night-time visibility. * Intersections: 1) bright, luminous lane markings and directional signals; 2) overhead indicators for turning lanes; 3) overhead street-name signs; and 4) adding or widening left-turn lanes. * Streets and Highways: 1) wider lanes and shoulders to reduce the consequences of driving mistakes; 2) longer merge and exit lanes; 3) rumble strips to warn motorists when they are running off roads; 4) curves that are not as sharp; 5) Improvements to pedestrian features at intersections; 6) Improved intersection design; and 7) Improved standards for acceptable stopping and reaction sight distances. (Author/publisher)
Abstract