Resources for
Law Enforcement
Older drivers want to drive safely and
are not opposed to fair and unbiased evaluations. The
majority of older drivers are not problem drivers; they
are merely people who need basic transportation. Elder
citizens trust police officers, and officers can help a
driver steer clear of harm’s way on the road by:
- Providing a referral to a local assistance
agency that coaches and counsels older citizens on
safe vehicle operation, or makes recommendations for
other mobility options;
- Encouraging self-assessment;
- Offering driver refresher courses;
- Citing drivers who violate traffic laws; and
- Making referrals to the licensing agency.
Interventions with the family, partner, or friends:
- Acting as a trusted authority in evaluating
driving safety;
- Supporting legal efforts to appropriately
restrict or remove driving privileges; and
- Seeking information and assistance on the health
and mobility situation of the older driver from
loved ones.
Interventions with other community agencies:
- Offering the assistance of the law enforcement
community in conducting safety programs.

The NHTSA publication, "Cues For Law Enforcement",
provides information on ways to assist older drivers and
can accessed at this link:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/lawcues.html
The AMA Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older
Drivers can be accessed at this link:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/10791.html
Review of medical conditions that may impact driving
ability can be found at this link:
www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/433/chapter9.pdf
Read more about how aging affects driving ability on
the
Driving Skills web page.
NHTSA has developed a training course for law
enforcement officers that include information on the
aging process, how to conduct a traffic stop with an
older driver, making referrals, and conducting an older
driver community relations problem. The training can be
scheduled by contacting the NHTSA regional office for
Florida through this web site:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/whatis/regions/Region04/index.html
Other NHTSA resources on older driver safety issues
can be accessed at this link:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/ menuitem.31176b9b03647a189ca8e410dba046a0
DHSMV's Florida GrandDriver Program has
educational Information for law
enforcement and judicial officials, and it can be accessed at
this link:
http://www.floridagranddriver.com
Training on enforcement of bicycle and pedestrian
laws can be found at this link:
http://www.walkinginfo.org/enforcement/training.cfm
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