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July 21, 2014. Improving Mature Driver Safety. RAC High Value Research “Sweet Sixteen” Presentation 2014 Research Advisory Committee Meeting Madison, Wisconsin. Problem Statement. Pennsylvania has nearly 1.5 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older (almost 17% of drivers)
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July 21, 2014 Improving Mature Driver Safety RAC High Value Research “Sweet Sixteen” Presentation 2014 Research Advisory Committee Meeting Madison, Wisconsin
Problem Statement • Pennsylvania has nearly 1.5 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older (almost 17% of drivers) • Pennsylvanians 65 and older will increase 21% from 2010 to 2020 • 95% of older people do not use public transportation -- staying independent means continuing to drive • What can we learn about helping mature drivers drive safely -- or otherwise meet their transportation needs?
Task 2. Survey of Policies & PracticesHow are PA mature driver issues and needs currently addressed? Are best practices elsewhere applicable to PA? Task 1. Literature ReviewWhat does published research say about mature driver issues? Research Performed Tasks 4. Mature Driver Symposium What actionable evidence-based recommendations could improve safety and mobility for older Pennsylvanians? Task 3. Analyses of PennDOT Data(Crashes, Violations, Medical Conditions) What can we learn about mature driver issues? Tasks 5. Report with Recommendations Evidence-based recommendations and implementation plan How can new knowledge contribute to improvements in mature driver policies & practices? 3
Research Recommendations • Ten recommendations targeted five major areas: • Mature driver mobility needs and options • Medical condition reporting and driving skills assessment • Mature driver policies and practices • Engineering safety countermeasures • Data and metrics • Recommendations addressed both mobility issues and roadway safety for all • Recommendations reinforced and built on PennDOT’s current practices
Research Project Benefits To Date • More competent mature drivers who: • Are increasingly more medically qualified to drive • Have broader opportunities to maintain driving skills • Are better physically able to drive • More trust with the medical community and more accurate reporting of medical conditions • Stronger partnerships with law enforcement enable new tools to be used with on-road situations • Proven engineering safety countermeasures reduce older driver crashes
Researcher Acknowledgments Vance & Renz, LLC Robert J. Vance Michael S. Renz Hiller Consulting Group, LLC Nathan J. Hiller Cornell University John P. Hausknecht Pennoni Associates, Inc. Larry I. Bankert, Jr. Mark M. Hood Pennsylvania State University Nilam Ram B. T. Harder, Inc. Barbara T. Harder
Presenter Michael R. Bonini mbonini@pa.gov | Manager, Research Division Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Bureau of Planning & Research | Research Division 400 North Street - 6th Floor | Harrisburg, PA 17120 Phone: 717.772.4664 | Fax: 717.783.9152