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Davenport among cities in a study of elderly drivers
By
Molly Laas Quad-City
Times, June 17, 2003 Elderly
drivers in Davenport will join those from four other cities in a
nationwide program to research and promote their safety as well as provide
more transportation choices for older adults. The 10-month
study will focus on driver education, a public-awareness campaign and
recommendations on the national level about how to deal with the issue. Locally, the
Generations Area Agency on Aging in Davenport will spearhead the program.
The organization was awarded $8,000 by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, or NHTSA, for its part in the program. Davenport was
chosen for the study along with Chicago, Syracuse, N.Y., San Mateo,
Calif., and Tampa, Fla. Iowa and Florida lead the nation with the most
licensed drivers older than 65. In fact, 17 percent, or 335,955, of
Iowa’s licensed drivers are in that age category. One reason
for the study is that people older than 70 comprise 9 percent of the
population, but they account for 14 percent of traffic fatalities, NHTSA
statistics show. As the baby boomer generation ages, the number of elderly
drivers is expected to increase dramatically. “Iowa has
been addressing older drivers and their issues for quite some time,”
project director Debra Van Den Berghe of Generations said, adding that
Iowa has a high accident rate for older drivers. She cited
Iowa’s unusual position of lacking public transportation, leaving many
older drivers without alternate means of getting around. If they lose
their license, they lose their independence, so many stay on the road, she
added. Van Den
Berghe said the project will consist primarily of research and education
for elderly drivers so they know when it is safe to drive and when it is
not. For some
older drivers, the adjustments may be as simple as avoiding driving at
dusk or on busy highways. The study
also may result in proposed improvements to city streets, such as improved
lighting at intersections and bright, iridescent markings on highways and
streets. Generations
will survey elderly people to understand how much they know about the
services available to help them stay mobile. At the end of the study, the Quad-City agency will present its findings at a conference in Washington, D.C., Van Den Berghe said. The agency also will share the information with its local partners, which include the Iowa Department of Transportation and the AARP “55 Alive” driving program. Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |
