Although alcohol, speeding, and distracted driving are the major sources of injuries and fatalities on the road, being able to see well cannot be underestimated. As drivers age, the occurrence of cataracts increases, and they can be a significant barrier to safe driving. A new study examines how cataract surgery decreases crash rates.
older drivers
Transportation, Mobility, and Older Adults in Rural Michigan (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Behavioral Sciences Group, 2012)
This report explores issues related to transportation and mobility in rural areas generally, and in rural areas of Michigan specifically. The information from this report is intended to assist Michigan in meeting the transportation needs of its rural older adult population.
Community Design and the Incidence of Crashes Involving Pedestrians and Motorists Aged 75 and Older (Texas Transportation Institute, 2012)
Community design and transportation infrastructure can be problematic for both younger and older community residents. This study examines how community design specifically affects drivers and pedestrians aged 75 and older.
Keeping Seniors Safe and Mobile: An Evaluation of a Local Drive Test Option (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2012)
The current study evaluated the safety and mobility consequences of one of these initiatives: the offering of local drive tests.
Why “forgiving roadways” are not the solution in urban areas
Roadway designers since the 1960’s have used the concept of “forgiving highways.” Due to its success in reducing fatal crashes on high speed access controlled roadways, engineers have been applying this methodology to urban streets in built up areas as well. However, this approach might actually make certain roads deadlier for motorists, as it encourages drivers to drive faster and less cautiously, and it has been shown to lessen pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
A less mobile future for America’s baby boomers
A new report by Transportation for America, Aging in Place, Stuck without Options: Fixing the Mobility Crisis Threatening the Baby Boom Generation, investigates the growing problem of senior citizens who, having lived in car-dependent communities …
What will this tell us about boomer drivers?
Researchers at MIT have developed a suit – an actual garment – that mimics the effect of aging on the body. As described in “A Graying Population Spells Business Opportunity”: “The age-empathy suit comes from the …
Older driver program five-year strategic plan
With more than 32 million drivers currently over 65 years old, a number which is expected to grow to 40 million by 2020, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to enhance its ongoing …