Empower Older Adult Drivers
Thirty-two states across the country have special regulations for license renewals based on age. In Illinois, individuals 75 and older must pass a road test to renew their license and in Washington, D.C. a physician’s approval is required to renew (Tortorello, 2017). However, older adults are among the safest drivers and many are already self-regulating.
According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Crash Reports, in 2016 those over age 66 accounted for approximately 8% of crashes while individuals age 15-20 accounted for approximately 11% of crashes.
Self-regulation of driving is the avoidance of particular driving situations such as driving at night, driving to unfamiliar locations, driving on interstates, during rush hour, etc. Self-regulation can be a precursor to driving cessation. According to a study by Gwyther and Holland (2012) individuals are over-regulating due to anxiety. In order to extend mobility, some drivers are giving up driving or cutting back. The study concluded that reducing anxiety may lead to encouraging safe regulation and extending mobility.
According to the Model of Driving Self-Regulation the most common variables to driving self-regulation are perceptions of health-related difficulties, feedback about driving and driving confidence (Conlon, Rahaley & Davis, 2017). Gender differences have been identified with men self-regulating for cognitive or physical health reasons. Women, on the other hand, are primarily self-regulating due to negative attitudes towards driving. This leads to poorer driving confidence.
Encouraging programs such as Virginia GrandDriver as an educational program designed to provide Virginians with information and resources to stay safe and mobile. Virginia GrandDriver provides trainings, assessments, safety tips and CarFit. CarFit is a program designed to fit the driver to the car to maximize comfort and safety (Virginia GrandDriver, 2017). AARP also has a driver safety program that includes assessments, tips, events, volunteer opportunities, etc. (American Association of Retired Persons, 2017).
In addition, our built environment could require some safety updates such as adding large print road signs, grooved lane dividers, dedicated left turn lanes, complete sidewalks and extended walk times at crosswalks. Essentially, transportation organizations must change their approaches to community roads by creating complete streets. Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders. Each complete street will enable individuals to choose the mode of transportation best fitting their needs without sacrificing safety.
Age Wave also recommends the following road improvements that make driving personal vehicles more safe for everyone on the road:
According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Crash Reports, in 2016 those over age 66 accounted for approximately 8% of crashes while individuals age 15-20 accounted for approximately 11% of crashes.
Self-regulation of driving is the avoidance of particular driving situations such as driving at night, driving to unfamiliar locations, driving on interstates, during rush hour, etc. Self-regulation can be a precursor to driving cessation. According to a study by Gwyther and Holland (2012) individuals are over-regulating due to anxiety. In order to extend mobility, some drivers are giving up driving or cutting back. The study concluded that reducing anxiety may lead to encouraging safe regulation and extending mobility.
According to the Model of Driving Self-Regulation the most common variables to driving self-regulation are perceptions of health-related difficulties, feedback about driving and driving confidence (Conlon, Rahaley & Davis, 2017). Gender differences have been identified with men self-regulating for cognitive or physical health reasons. Women, on the other hand, are primarily self-regulating due to negative attitudes towards driving. This leads to poorer driving confidence.
Encouraging programs such as Virginia GrandDriver as an educational program designed to provide Virginians with information and resources to stay safe and mobile. Virginia GrandDriver provides trainings, assessments, safety tips and CarFit. CarFit is a program designed to fit the driver to the car to maximize comfort and safety (Virginia GrandDriver, 2017). AARP also has a driver safety program that includes assessments, tips, events, volunteer opportunities, etc. (American Association of Retired Persons, 2017).
In addition, our built environment could require some safety updates such as adding large print road signs, grooved lane dividers, dedicated left turn lanes, complete sidewalks and extended walk times at crosswalks. Essentially, transportation organizations must change their approaches to community roads by creating complete streets. Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders. Each complete street will enable individuals to choose the mode of transportation best fitting their needs without sacrificing safety.
Age Wave also recommends the following road improvements that make driving personal vehicles more safe for everyone on the road:
- More frequent repainting of pavement markings
- Increased use of reflective pavement markings
- Increased use of roadway lighting, particularly at intersections
- Retroreflective laminates which make highway signs brighter and more visible from greater distances
