Needs and Problems of Older Drivers: Survey Results and Recommendations
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 268 324 CE 044 198 AUTHOR Malfetti, James L., Ed. TITLE 55+ Drivers: Needs and Problems of Older Drivers: Survey Results and Recommendations. Proceedings of the Older Driver Colloquium (Orlando, Florida, February 4-7, 1985). INSTITUTION AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Falls Church, Va. PUB DATE Feb 85 NOTE 144p. AVAILABLE FROMAAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2990 Telestar Court, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA 22042 (1 copy free, multiple copies $2.00). PUB TYPE Collected Works Conference Proceedings (021) Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Aging (Individuals); *Driver Education; Gerontology; Insurance; Middle Aged Adults; Motor Vehicles; *Older Adults; *Pedestrian Traffic; Surveys; *Traffic Accidents; *Traffic Safety ABSTRACT These proceedings include 11 background papers that were presented by a panel of authorities in traffic safety and/or gerontology who were professionally concerned with older drivers and pedestrians. Papers focus on the needs and problems of older drivers and on what can and should be done to deal with them. Recommendations to improve safety for older--and all--drivers are provided first in three categories: driver, vehicle, and highway. The papers are "Vision of the Older Driver: Implications for Vehicle and Highway Design and for Driver Testing" (Merrill J. Allen), "Safer Cars for Seniors" (Roy C. Haeusler), "Licensing the Chronometrically Impaired Driver" (Newman W. Jackson), "Auto Insurance: Needs and Problems of Drivers 55 and Over" (Edward R. Klamm), "The Driving Situation and Drivers 55-Plus: Comments by a Long-Interested Retired Traffic Engineer" (Burton W. Marsh), "Training and Retraining the Older Driver" (Adele M. Milone), "Impressions: An Amateur Looks at Senior Drivers" (Clifford C. Nelson), "The Older Driver and Highway Design" (David Solomon), "Musculo-Skeletal System Impairment Related to Safety and Comfort of Drivers 55+" (John D. States), "Learning and Motivational Characteristics of Older People Pertaining to Traffic Safety" (Darlene J. Winter), and "Interaction of Older Drivers with Pedestrians in Traffic" (Sam Yaksich, Jr.). Other contents include results of a survey to assess mobility and safety of older drivers in a report entitled "A Survey of the Traffic Safety Needs and Problems of Drivers Age 55 and Over" (Darlene Yee) and editor's comments. (YLB) ********k*********************************************************:**** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION N TIONAI. INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCETHIS CATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION E MATERIAL IN MICROFICHEONLY CENTER (ERIC) HAS BEEN GRANTED BY This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Li Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated on this docu TO THE DUCATIONAL RE ment do not mcesaanly represent °Most NIE OURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." position or policy 55 + agiiii, aldialeD o igesilthile NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF OLDER DRIVERS: SURVEY RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS PROCEEDINGS OF THE OLDER DRIVER COLLOQUTT1M, ORLANDO, FLORIDA February 4-7, 1985 James L Malfetti, Editor 3 55 + Foreword Population trends show that the proportion of older drivers will continue to increase. Approximately 33 million drivers age 55 and over constitute 22 percent of all drivers today. By the year 2000 they will represent 28 percent of the driving population-39 percent by the year 2050. "Being able to get around" is an important factor in the independence and good mental health of older people. Survey after survey reveals that driving theirow cars is far and away the most preferred way to maintain transportation mobility. Just about everyone seriously concerned with traffic safety wants to keep older drivers on the highways as long as they can dr "e safely, and almost no one wants to takeage as the sole indicator of driving ability. In fact, drivers 55 years of age and over represent a wide range of ability. It follows therefore that no individual in that age group should have his/her license jeopardized solely because of age. However, there is convincing evidence that the skillsnecessary for safe dnving begin to deteriorate at age 55 or thereabouts, perhaps dramaticallyso after 75. To help the aging driver cope with decreasing ability, thereare driver- onented programs which should be implemented, and design changes in automobiles and highways which should be made. The older-driver study (yielding these Proceedingsamong other products) was created to develop recommendations toward these ends A panel was formed of 14 authorities (see list of panel members) in traffic safety and/or gerontology who were professionally concerned with older drivers and pedestrian& Members included an orthopedic surgeon, optometrist, licensing examiner, insurance specialist, automt :Jae design engineer, as well as driver trainers and educators, traffic and highway engineers, gerontologists and traffic safety specialists. Panel members prepared background papers in their respective areas, focusing on the needs and problems of older drivers, and on whatcan and should be done to deal with them. Over a one-year period, they shared with one another, with the aim of arriving at a consensus of recommendations and priorities. During the same one-year period, panel members helped to createan in-depth, 128- item survey form which was administered to a representative sample of 500 drivers 55 and over throughout the United States. The results of the surveywere analyzed and presented to panel members at a three-day colloquium. Discussions of background papers and survey results yielded recommendations for improving the safety of older dnvers and for the most part, all other highway usersas well Recommendations, background papers, survey results and editor's comments constitute theProceedings James L Malfetti 4 ii 55 + Contents iv List of Panel Members v Recommendations Driver Vehicle Highway General Statement 1 Bar' -mound Papers 1 Vi;-,n of the Older Driver: Implications for Mernll J Allen Vehicle and Highway Design and for Driver Testing 8 Safer Cars for Seniors Roy C. Haeusler 16 Licensing the Chronometrically Newman W. Jackson Impaired Driver 21 Auto Insurance: Needs and Problems of Edward R. Klamm Drivers 55 and Over 32 The Driving Situation and Drivers 55-Plus: Burton W. Marsh Comments by a Long-Interested Retired Traffic Engineer 38 Training and Retraining the Older Driver Adele M Milone 45 Impressions: An Amateur Looks at Clifford C. Nelson Senior Drivers 55 The Older Driver and Highway Design David Solomon 63 Musculo-Skeletal System Impairment Related John D. States to Safety and Comfort of Drivers 55+ 77 Learning and Motivational Characteristics Darlene J. Winter of Older People Pertaining to Traffic Safety 87 Interaction of Older Drivers with Sam Yaksich, Jr Pedestrians in Traffic 96 A Survey of the Traffic Safety Needs and Darlene Yee Problems of Drivers Age 55 and Over 129 Colloquium Recorder Amos E. Neyhart 130 Editor's Comments James L Malfetti iii 5 55 . + List of Panel Members* DR MERRILL J ALLEN Professor r' Optometry, Indiana University MR ROY C HAEUSLER Former Chief Engineer for Automotive S-fety and Securiiy, Chrysler Corporation MR NEWMAN W. JACKSON Former Assistant Chief. Diver's License Division, Texas Department of Public Safety MR EDWARD R KLAMM Consultant, Former Traffic Safety Specialist, Al Ista,_ Insurance Company DR JAMES L MALFETTI Professor of Education and Director of the Safety Research and Education Project, Teachers College, Columbia University MR BURTON W. MARSH Former Director, Traffic Engineering and Safety Department, American Automobile Association MS ADELE M. MILONE National Coordinator of the Safety. Driver Improvement and Tax-Aide Programs, American Association of Retired Persons MR CLIFFORD C. NELSON Former President of the American Assembly, Columbia University PROFESSOR AMOS E NEYHART Director Emeritus, Institute of Public Safety, Pennsylvania State University MR DAVID SOLOMOI Transportation Cons,mant. Former Research Engineer for the Federal Highway Administration DR JOHN D. STATES Chief of Orthopaedic St rvice, Rochester General Hospital. and Professor of Orthopaedics, Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry DR DARLENE J. WINTER Gerontologist; Former Social Science Program Specialist, National Highway Traffic Safet; Administration MR SAM YAKSICH, JR Executive Director, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety DR DARLENE YEE Gerontologist; Research Assistant, Safety Research and Education Project, Teachers College. Columbia University 'Additional biographical information accompanies the paper prepared by each person, or appears elsewhere in theProceethngs. fi 55 V + Recommendations The papers included in this volume were presented at the colloqu..:ni. Each presentation was followed '.,y discussion. At the final session, papers and discussions were used by panel members as the basis for recommendations. The colloquium produced many recommendations. Those reported here do not necessarily represent unaiimity or suggest that every panel .nember supported all of them with equal enthusiasm. Rather, the recommendations represent consensus based in part on how panel members ranked them for relative importance. 1 nerefore some particular favorites were screened out of this reporting. Most, however,