Identifying Countermeasure Strategies to Increase Safety of Older Pedestrians [Traffic Tech]

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15258492013PDFBriefUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesAgedCountermeasuresFatalitiesMobilityPedestrian safetyPedestrian accidentsPedestriansTraffic safetyWalkingDOT HS 811 799DTNH22-06-D-00033Pedestrian deaths accounted for 13% of all traffic fatalities in 2010. While adults 65 and older made up 13% of the U.S. population, they accounted for 19% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2010. This age group is rapidly expanding in size and is expected to almost double by 2030 as the last of the \u201cBaby Boomers\u201d reach retirement age, which means there will be a substantial increase in older pedestrian fatalities if the fatality rate remains constant. The objective of the study reviewed in this edition of "Traffic Tech" was to identify intervention strategies targeted toward the prevention of crashes involving older pedestrians, defined in this study as those people 65 and older. A review of literature was conducted identifying countermeasures that have been used to educate or change the behavior of older adults in a variety of areas. This included studies that looked at age ranges other than 65 and older, but whose findings help to inform the older-pedestrian issues explored. In addition, interviews were conducted with people having expertise in the fields of aging, occupational therapy, transportation safety, traffic engineering, aging and ophthalmology, gerontology, and older pedestrian safety. Detailed results from evaluation of specific programs are contained in the study report. A general summary of the findings is presented below.129