1

Survey of International Best Practices to Accommodate

Older Road UsersMarch 2008

Sue Chrysler, Ph.D.Human Factors GroupCenter for Transportation Safety, TTI

Presentation Overview

Scan sponsors, team, and purpose Older Road User Issues in the U.S. Scan itinerary and countries visited General Findings Recommendations and next steps

Scan Sponsors

U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT)

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)

Elizabeth Alicandri, Co-Chair FHWA Office of Safety

Pamela Hutton, Co-ChairColorado State DOT

Susan ChryslerTexas Transportation Institute

Leanna DepueMissouri State DOT

David Harkey, University of North Carolina

Howard Glassman, Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council

Thomas Granda, FHWA Research Cntr.

Tom Smith, FHWA West Virginia Division Office

Barry Warhoftig, West Virginia State DOT

Who are we ?

Warhoftig Granda Smith Glassman HarkeyChrysler Hutton Depue Alicandri

0

1

23

4

5

6

78

9

10

16 17 18 19 20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

Fatality Rate by Age per 100 M VMTWhat is the Problem ?

1960

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6

0-4

Graying of the US populationMales Females

Age Brackets (5 year increments)

2020

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6

65-69

Males Females

What is the Problem ?

What has the U.S. done for older road users? 1988 - TRB Transportation in an Aging

Society 1997 - FHWA Older Driver Highway Design

Handbook & Guidelines 1999 - FHWA Older Road User Workshops 2000 & 2003 - Revised Highway Standards

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices AASHTO Green Book

What has the U.S. done for older road users? 2001 – Revised FHWA Handbook 2003 - AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety

Plan Implementation 2003 – Safe Mobility for Maturing Society –

Challenges and Opportunities 2004 - Travel Better, Travel Longer Pocket

Guide 2004 – A Guide for Reducing Collisions

Involving Older Drivers

Where did we go ?

Australia Sydney Melbourne Brisbane

Japan TokyoMarch 1 -

4

March 5 -8

March 12 - 16March 8 - 12

Why Australia and Japan ? Similar demographic age distribution

Percent of population over age 65 in 2030 US: 19.7 % Australia: 21.5 % Japan: 30 %

Better safety record than USTraffic fatality rates per 100,000 population

US: 14.24 Australia: 9.3 Japan: 6.7

Scan Team Pedestrian Safety in Left-Side Drive Countries

What did we hope to learn?

Strategies to plan for increases in older road users

Innovations in infrastructure design to assist older road users

Research topics specific to older road users issues

Headliners Aging of society is a global issue Safety must be emphasized at highest levels of

government Local Government involvement in implementing

safety plans is critical Systems approach Data are used for planning, policy, and evaluation Improving safety for Older Road Users improves

safety for all and vice versa

Headliners

Removing driving privileges prematurely has unintended consequences

Infrastructure and operational changes hold great promise for improving safety for older road users

Mobility options are critical for continued quality of life

General Road Safety Initiatives

Systems Approach to Safety through Strategic Plans

Focus on reducing crash severity Speed Enforcement Speed Zones during times of high pedestrian activity Pedestrian fencing

Innovative partnerships with local governments, community groups, and automobile clubs

Example of Systems Approach: Strategic Planning

Victoria’s Arrive Alive initiatives include: Road users

Education & enforcement Alcohol Speed Fatigue Drugs Inexperience

Road and roadsides Infrastructure

Vehicle Safety

Slide 22

Example of Systems Approach: Speed Reduction Speed Zoning

In high pedestrian areasAt times of high pedestrian activity

Public Education Automated Enforcement

School Zone in Sydney Suburb

Entertainment Zone in Brisbane

Speed Zoning in High Pedestrian Areas

Automated Enforcement

Policy and Planning Issues

Safety is critical issue at highest levels of government

Aspirational and practical goals Integrated data from multiple sources

used for:Policy developmentPlanning decisionsProgram evaluation

Infrastructure Improvements for Older Road Users

Intersections Left turn signals exclusive phase Dedicated turn lanes Geometric Design

Intersection Improvements

Turn Signal Phasing to eliminate go / no-go decision

Changes to intersection geometric design to accommodate limited range of motion of older drivers

Minimum receiving lane width for rural unsignalised intersectionsSource: Vic Roads

Intersection Improvements

Traffic Control Devices

Pavement marking brightness and width

Sign brightness Sign letter size Barrier treatments for horizontal

curavature (Japan)

Pavement and Barrier Markings Reflective chevrons on barrier wall Wider lines to indicate start of exit lane

Speed Control

Traffic calming Speed zoning by district Backed up by automated

enforcement

Traffic Calming Speed Humps Raised Pedestrian Crosswalks Reduced Residential Area Speeds

Colored pavements Lane Prohibition Curve Warnings Positive Guidance in coordination with color-

coded diagrammatic signs

Highlighting Bike Lane at Intersection, Sydney Marking Prohibition to Entry

to Bus Lane, Melbourne

Transit Improvements Accessible tram stops Median transfer points to

reduce pedestrian activity in street

Improvements for Pedestrians

Roadway lighting Median refuge islands Hand rails at signal posts to assist curb

step-off Extended pedestrian phase signal time Separation of pedestrians and other

vehicles, including bikes

Improvements for Pedestrians

Median refuge islands

Sydney

Improvements for Pedestrians

Extended pedestrian phase signal time Actuated signals

Improvements for Pedestrians

Separation of pedestrians and other vehicles, including bikes

Improvements for Pedestrians

Pedestrian Fencing Directs pedestrians to

marked or signalized crosswalks

Prevents jay-walking

Driving Reduction and Cessation Policies vary from mandatory

re-testing after age 75 to no age-based testing

Emphasis in all states is education, self-assessment, and self-regulation

Addressing Mobility

Peer-to-peer training – use of transit, para-transit, home delivery services

Mobility Advisor – training home health care workers

Community-based alternative transportation services – creative use of available vehicles

Future Trends

Aging in place increased transit demand more older pedestrians transit-oriented development

Rising number of older motorcycle riders Increased use of mobility scooters Increased use of recreational vehicles

Motorcycle Safety Education

Mandatory Helmet Law Partnerships with

Motorcycle club for riders over age of 50

Reconsideration of license endorsement testing requirements

Slide 44

Mobility Scooters

Recreational Vehicles Rural areas

Road Trains Narrow paved surfaces

Research Activities

Older Driver Naturalistic Driving Study Age-related Eye Disease Medication Interactions Older Recreational Vehicle Drivers Enhanced Nighttime Pedestrian

Identification through Bio-motion markers

Queensland University of Technology Test Track and Instrumented Vehicle

Implementation Topics

Enhancement of U.S. Roadway Design and Operations Practice

Outreach to Non-Traditional Partners Targeted Research Program Establish Land Use and Development

Guidelines Training for Transportation Providers

Enhancement of U.S. Roadway Design and Operations Practice Coordinate with revision to FHWA Older Road

User Design Handbook, Spring 2009 Update one-day training course related to

Handbook Develop executive level summary presentation Develop case study on Older Road Users and

Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Outreach to Non-Traditional Partners Coordinate with TRB Committee on Safe

Mobility of Older Persons Review list of non-traditional partners Develop common messages Identify opportunities to reach partners Identify communications venues

Prepare short article for use in organization newsletters

Targeted Research Program

Flag list of research items Strategic Research Plan NCHRP Problem Statement on Colored

Pavement

Establish Land Use and Development Guidelines Prepare development guidelines on land

use and transportation for use by local governments

Develop a project review checklist Identify national organizations to prepare

and disseminate guidelines and checklist

Training for Transportation Providers Review existing training materials for

transportation providers Professional transit agencies Community-based volunteer organizations

Determine implementation status Develop recommendations if appropriate

Questions