There are currently about 35 million adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. and this number is projected to double by 2030 (U.S. Census Bureau). Medical and health impairments associated with this population raise concern about the impaired person’s ability to drive and remain mobile. This report uses data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics Transportation Availability and Use Survey (2002) to examine travel patterns of older U.S. residents with disabilities and compares these patterns to those of older residents without disabilities as well as to younger people with disabilities. Findings indicate that elderly persons with disabilities remain mobile. There is a heavy reliance on the use of the private motor vehicle (PMV) for both local and long distance travel. Although many of the elderly persons without disabilities are driving, many of the elderly with disabilities are riding as passengers in PMVs. (Author/publisher)
Abstract