NHTSA: Older Driver Safety

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Mission Statement for Older Road Users

Older road users include drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. NHTSA's mission with respect to older road users is to keep them safely mobile through programs directed toward reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities among older people. Through research and outreach activities, NHTSA's programs help aging individuals recognize their changing abilities and adapt their transportation practices appropriately. Whether driving, walking or cycling, if unsafe choices are made, family, friends, physicians, other health-care providers, and licensing officials can be pivotal in providing older persons with options for maintaining safe mobility. These individuals can also identify drivers with functional limitations that impair driving performance and direct older drivers to safer transportation alternatives

What's new in Older Road Users?

This product was developed in partnership with the American Optometric Association to help drivers who have specific medical conditions and the families of those drivers, especially when making decisions about driving ability, risk, and safety. This brochure is intended to be a discussion tool between patients and their eye doctors.

From the Field : Four Communities Implement Active Aging Programs (posted 10/13/04)
Four Communities Implement Active Aging Programs This manual is intended for local community urban and strategic planners, individuals or agencies involved in programs for older adults, and community activists. It was developed to illustrate four successful local efforts to promote active aging through walking and biking.

Program Evaluation: Measuring the Value of Active Aging (posting 10/07/04)
Measuring the Value of Active Aging This manual is intended for local community urban and strategic planners, individuals or agencies involved in programs for older adults, and community activists. It identifies steps for program evaluation and provides strategies for addressing challenges in program assessment. It is a companion to Creating Communities for Active Aging.

Physician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers (posted 09/30/04)

Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers .pdf version (posted 07/28/04)
This step by step guide was designed for physicians who treat older drivers. It includes information about screening, referrals to rehabilitation specialists, as well as how different diseases may affect driving. The guide also includes suggestions on counseling drivers who must retire from driving.

Driving When You Have Had a Stroke (posted 05/02/04)
For most people, driving represents freedom, control and competence. Driving enables most people to get to the places they want to go and to see the people they want to see when they want.

Driving When You Have Arthritis (posted 3-17-04)
This brochure was developed with Arthritis Foundation and is intended to facilitate discussion for patients, families, and doctors. It assists in making decisions about driving safety and is relevant for older drivers seeking to maintain mobility. It is meant to be distributed by partners, in medical and aging service organizations.

A Compendium of Law Enforcement Older Driver Programs (posted 1-15-04)
This compendium lists law enforcement programs on older drivers that were active in 2003.  These programs included training for officers, training for older drivers, and community relations programs that promote safety.  Although many programs are unique, contact information is provided so that agencies that wish to learn more can directly contact the program operators.

Driving When You Have Parkinson's Disease (posted 12-29-03)
This brochure includes information about symptoms of Parkinson's disease and how this condition may affect driving, suggested steps drivers could take to increase their driving safety if they have this condition, and relevant resources for such drivers. The brochure was developed in partnership with the American Parkinson Disease Association and The National Parkinson Foundation.

Driving When You Have Sleep Apnea (posted 11-19-03)
This brochure includes information about symptoms of Sleep Apnea and how this condition may affect driving, suggested steps drivers could take to increase their driving safety if they have this condition, and relevant resources for such drivers

Driving When You Have Diabetes (posted 11-19-03)
This brochure includes information about symptoms of Diabetes and how this condition may affect driving, suggested steps drivers could take to increase their driving safety if they have this condition, and relevant resources for such drivers

Driving When You Have Had Seizures (posted 11-19-03)
Also available in .pdf
This brochure includes information about symptoms of Seizures and how this condition may affect driving, suggested steps drivers could take to increase their driving safety if they have this condition, and relevant resources for such drivers

Safe Driving for Older Adults posted (posted 10-06-03)
This four-color brochure is designed to help older adults determine if physical and mental changes have affected their driving skills. The brochure, which is based on NHTSA's "Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully" brochure, is written with a larger type font, and provides helpful tips about what senior citizens can do to remain safe drivers for as long as possible. Child safety seat and seat belt guidelines are also included for older adults who drive with children or young adults.