The study was undertaken in 1983 and 1984 by an international group of oecd experts in co-operation with who. The report is a first international comprehensive assessment of the traffic safety problem of elderly road user. It is subdivided into nine chapters. The introductory chapter examines the public health and socio-economic aspects; the proportion of the elderly age group is increasing in oecd member countries leading to higher traffic participation and a higher proportion of accidents involving this age group. Chapter 2 reviews demographic data and the socio-economic characteristics of the elderly; the analysis of these factors indicates that focused road safety measures can be taken as a function of the specific characteristics of this road user group. Chapter 3 attempts to identify the particular traffic and trip patterns of the elderly, comparing them with those of other road user groups and thus highlighting the specific road safety needs of the elderly. Chapter 4 examines the psychological and psycho-physical changes due to age and how they affect, directly or indirectly, the performance of the elderly and condition forms and limitations of adaptive driving. Chapter 5 contains an analysis of traffic accident data; it describes the methodological difficulties in assessing accident data as a function of transport mode and highlights the need of developing appropriate evaluation procedures for accident consequences aiming at the elderly road user. Chapter 6 reviews the various safety measures as related to the environment and examines their interface with the behaviour and aptitudes of the elderly with the aim of defining key elements of road safety actions for this age group. Chapter 7 summarises studies, surveys and experiments conducted in member countries with the purpose of identifying and selecting educational, publicity and training messages that aim at enhancing the elderlys' road safety in an effective way and ensure a high degree of acceptance of the measures taken. Chapter 8 discusses legislative measures and controls that are likely to increase the safety of the elderly without imposing restrictions or restraints. The conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter 9 provide policy-makers and road safety engineers with an up-to-date evaluation of the accident problem of the elderly and identify the key elements that should be considered in road safety improvements for this age group. (a) this report has been published in french under the title: " la securite des personnes agees dans la circulation routiere".
Samenvatting