Road User

Older drivers are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.  Not only will there be more drivers, but these drivers will also drive more miles per year than previous generations, and will drive at older ages.  Older drivers currently make up 10 percent of all drivers.  By the year 2020, one of four Florida residents will be over age 64, and half of them will be 75 or older. 

Studies suggest that many older adults in the U.S. will outlive their ability to drive.  Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists share the road with drivers and this site will provide links to resources to make these driving alternatives safer for all road users. 

Read more about Florida's aging population in the following reports:

Florida's Aging Population from the Pepper Institute (http://www.pepperinstitute.org).

Older Adult Drivers: Fact Sheet from the Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov).

Florida Department of Elder Affairs State of Aging in Florida Report.

Mobility Means Independence

For older adults now and in the future, driving represents the ability to maintain connections, contribute to the community, and participate in meaningful activities.  Studies suggest that many older adults in the U.S. will outlive their ability to drive. Cessation of driving does not have to mean loss of mobility!  Information on transportation alternatives can be found on the Alternative Transportation web page.
 

Resources

Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging includes information on the eleven Area Agencies on Aging in Florida which offer a wide range of services designed to address the needs of their senior constituencies.  A listing of the agencies is available at http://www.f4a.org/contact.html or through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) (http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us) which oversees spending of Federal and state monies.

Safe and Mobile

Safe driving is about an individual's functional ability to perform the complicated task of driving.  It is not about age. 

Age alone is not a valid predictor of driving ability, but it may be an indicator of possible risk factors.

See the information on the Driving Skills web page for age-related issues affecting driving, and some things mature drivers can do to stay mobile longer on the Driver Wellness web page.

Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Older adults account for 18 percent of all pedestrian fatalities and 2 percent of all pedestrian injuries.  The fatality rate for older pedestrians is higher than for any other age group.

The FDOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Program serves as a clearinghouse for information concerning safety, design, and touring and their Web site can be accessed at this link: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/Safety/ped_bike/ped_bike.shtm

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center provides safety information as well as tools to help you determine how safe your neighborhood is for walking, and offers opportunities to get involved with the promotion of walkable communities. Their Web site can be accessed at this link:  http://www.walkinginfo.org/

Bicycling safety information and other bicycle information that can be accessed at this link:  http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/bikemore/safely.cfm

FDOT has developed Countdown Pedestrian Signal tip cards that can be accessed at this link:  http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/pdf/Florida_Safe_Mobility_Ped_Card.pdf.

NHTSA's Web site, Mature Adults: Be Healthy, Walk Safely is designed to help you maintain your safety while walking - whether you are walking for exercise or to run errands and can be accessed at this link: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/SteppingOut/index.html
 

Motorcyclists

Florida’s warm climate permits year-round motorcycling, which places Florida’s motorcyclists more at risk than those in many other states.  Florida Department of Transportation reports that 80% of reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death. For automobiles, it is only 20%. To read more about motorcycle safety on the FDOT Safety Office Web site access this link:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/Safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram/hsgp/HSGPAreas_Motorcycle.shtm

Florida's crashes including motorcycle incidents, can be accessed at this link:  http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/reports/crash_facts.html.

Proper understanding of safety practices for motorcycles is essential for all. A motorcyclist should attend a rider training course in order to learn how to safely operate his/her vehicle and to obtain the required license to operate a motorcycle in Florida. Other drivers should allow a motorcycle a full lane width and signal your intentions, to avoid a motorcycle being in your blind spot. Allow a longer following distance from a motorcycle than with other vehicles. Motorcycle drivers should follow the rules of the road, be alert to other drivers and wear protective gear.  More motorcycle safety information can be found at these links:

http://www.abateflorida.com/safety_msap.php
http://www.motorcycles.hsmv.state.fl.us
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/CTST/PDF/
motorcyclesafetymonth2007factsheet.pdf
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedimot/motorcycle/motosafety.html
http://www.floridasafety.org/coursetext.asp?class=3
 

National Statistics on Mature Drivers

According to NHTSA, in 2006, 202,000 older individuals were injured in traffic crashes, accounting for 8 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. These older individuals made up 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, 14 percent of all vehicle occupant fatalities, and 19 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. You can read more safety facts on the older population in the NHTSA publication at this link:  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.31176b9b03647a189ca8e410dba046a0/

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