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AAA
Launches Program to Help Older Drivers Drive Safely
Texas one of first
state groups to take action
June 24, 2003 - Citing a new study
suggesting baby-boomers and older drivers tend to be the most
vulnerable in driving on low-lit roads and busy intersections because
of their diminished vision and slower reaction time, AAA has announced
a national program to help older drivers.
“We have launched a nationwide
initiative called ‘Lifelong Safe Mobility’ and it will address three
important elements of traffic safety: the road, the vehicle and the
driver,” said Dr. Dinh-Zarr. “Because the crash rates for older
drivers will continue to climb because existing road hazards and aging
do not mix well, targeting road improvements makes sound safety
sense.”
More than 24,000 Americans died between
1998 and 2001 in car crashes in which neither driver error nor
impairment were cited as factors, suggesting that the roads themselves
contributed to the crashes, according to a new study released today.
More than one-third of these deaths
occurred at intersections, where confusing lanes, blind spots or
inadequate signage contribute to crashes. According to the analysis,
when the road was the major contributing factor in a crash, the
majority of these crashes occurred at intersections (35 percent) and
in dark conditions (31.7 percent). Overall, 44 percent of all crashes
occur at intersections.
These findings are the result of an
analysis by Reader’s Digest Magazine of crash data from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To ensure these
problems are addressed and adequate funding is provided by Congress to
make America’s roads safer, AAA has developed a
list of 10 ways government can improve roads and intersections.
AAA Texas is one of the first state
groups to act on the new senior driver initiative, "Lifelong Safe
Mobility," designed to call attention to the largely ignored mobility
issues affecting people over the age of 65. Nationally, there will be
more than 40 million licensed drivers over the age of 65 by 2020.
"The AAA believes that people should be
able to keep driving as long as they want to -- if they can do so
safely. We need to move past the myth that an older driver is
automatically an unsafe driver; it's not true," said Rose Rougeau,
spokesperson for AAA Texas.
Among the efforts that AAA Texas will be
promoting to help senior drivers are:
-- Creating educational materials,
programs and services for older drivers and their adult children.
-- Helping older drivers become aware of
their options.
-- Finding more effective ways to
identify driving problems so they can be addressed before they create
difficulties on the road.
-- Advising auto makers of
vehicle-design options that are helpful for older drivers.
-- In conjunction with our national
organization, supporting funding for traffic-safety improvements such
as larger letters on road signs and more visible pavement markings.
"Improving mobility for seniors is a
two-pronged effort," Rougeau added. "While helping to keep senior
drivers on the road, we also have to provide options for those who
choose not to drive. That's why it is important to develop mobility
alternatives that include safe and convenient public transportation."
To help motorists learn more about the
natural process of aging and how it affects driving, selected AAA
Texas offices will display the Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity Chart
(Fog Chart). The Fog Chart looks like a traditional eye chart, but it
is designed to check vision in progressively dimmer lighting
conditions. The chart has 12 letters on each of 8 lines. Each letter
is progressively fainter than the one preceding. A person standing six
feet from the Fog Chart should be able to read at least two letters on
the sixth line. If they can't read two letters on the sixth line, they
should have their vision checked.
AAA Texas locations for the Fog Chart
through July:
-- Dallas Central
-- Dallas North
-- Houston Galleria
-- Houston Memorial
-- Houston - The Woodlands
-- Fort Worth
-- Austin North
-- San Antonio West
“We have a tremendous opportunity to
prevent crashes if we look at improving our roads,” said Bella
Dinh-Zarr, Ph.D., AAA National Director of Traffic Safety Policy.
“Simple changes such as larger signs, protected turn lanes, and better
lighting are especially helpful to us as we age, but in fact, these
improvements help make the roads safer for people of all ages.”
This fall, Congress is scheduled to
reauthorize the surface transportation funding act, which allocates
money for roads, public transportation, as well as traffic safety
programs. AAA will focus Congress’ attention on its Ten Ways to Make
Road Safer and this list is based on real world data from AAA
Michigan’s intersection safety program called the Road Improvement
Demonstration Project as well as guidelines from the Federal Highway
Administration. The
exclusive report appears in the July issue of Reader’s Digest.
AAA urges citizens to write their
Congressman and Senators telling them to make road improvements like
intersection safety a priority in the transportation bill so that
funds can be directed for road improvements, especially at
intersections. For more information or to find out more about what you
can do to help make America’s roads safer, go to www.rd.com or
www.aaapublicaffairs.com.
As North America’s largest motoring and
leisure-travel organization, AAA provides its 46 million members with
travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since
its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully-tax-paying AAA has
been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all
travelers.
Reader’s Digest reaches 45 million
American readers each month. The magazine celebrates ordinary people
doing extraordinary things, and delivers a compelling mix of humor,
personal service and other human-interest stories. Reader’s Digest is
published in 19 languages and 48 editions worldwide.
Read the article in Reader's Digest |
