There has been tremendous growth in the elderly population in the United States (US) in the past few decades and this trend is expected to continue. By 2030, one out of every five Americans will be over the age of 65, resulting in an elderly population of more than 70 million people. Although many people drive less as they get older, elderly drivers are more likely to be involved in a crash for every mile they drive than any other age group except the youngest drivers. They are also at increased risk of injury, given a crash. The increased crash risk of elderly drivers is likely due to declines in visual, cognitive, and psychomotor abilities related to driving. The increased injury risk is likely due to the fact that as people age, they tend to become more frail. Yet, most Americans consider driving to be essential to their independence and quality of life. Probably in no other country is mobility so closely linked to the personal automobile, and this is just as true for older drivers as for young people starting out their driving careers. In part, this is due to the values and traditions that have shaped our country and in part, it has been due to the absence of acceptable alternatives. As elderly drivers have come under increased scrutiny, it has become apparent that it is not age, per se, that leads to problems with driving. It is the declines in driving-related abilities that often accompany ageing or arise from medical conditions that make driving more dangerous. And because not all drivers experience these declines in the same way, or even experience them at all, there is widespread agreement that the focus of traffic safety efforts should be on helping older drivers who are able to continue driving safely, do so, rather than on restricting all older drivers, regardless of their ability to drive. The federal government has for many years supported an ambitious program of research to better understand age-related declines in abilities and the driving problems that can result. Clearly, the more we know about the effects of ageing on driving, the better able we will be to develop and put into place effective strategies for enhancing the mobility of older people. The research on older drivers makes it clear that the issue of elderly mobility requires our attention. What is less clear is how communities can best respond and take effective action to enhance elderly mobility. How can communities decide what programs and practices will work for them? What are the necessary steps for planning successful efforts and carrying them out? What are the barriers communities might encounter and how can they be overcome? The guide presented here was originally conceived of as way to update the efforts of the task force. However, it became apparent that by expanding the scope of the guide to include programs and practices beyond the state, and by organising the guide around several of the general areas that show promise for successful intervention, the effectiveness of the guide could be enhanced. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting