Elderly pedestrians and users of public transport have above average accident rates, and elderly drivers have a high accident rate per mile driven, though not per person per year. The potential of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to improve the safety of elderly and disabled travellers is examined, as a step towards developing a Canadian research program. For car drivers, Advanced Transportation Information Systems (ATIS), Advanced Vehicle Control and Safety Systems (AVCSS) and Emergency Management (EM) should make driving easier, less stressful and safer. Public transport users should be helped by better information before and while travelling and by smart cards. Pedestrians with visual impairments can be helped by hand-held guidance equipment and by talking signposts; road-crossing facilities can be improved to benefit everybody. Long-term trials of ITS equipment and the development of ergonomic guidelines in Canada are suggested.
Samenvatting