As the baby boomer generation moves into their twilight years, both families and governments alike have to put into place plans and actions to keep the growing number of elderly drivers, and the pedestrians and traffic around them, safe.
A series of articles written by Dale Buss explore the difficult conversations that have to occur between family members and also what infrastructure that the government can install and provide to make roadways more elderly-friendly.
Driving, especially in the United States, comes with so much baggage. From the time that teenagers become old enough to get their license, driving equals freedom. Most cities and towns are built on car cultures and losing the privilege to drive equals losing independence. But the truth is, many older citizens become unable to drive safely. Removing them from behind the wheel can become a small battle for the people who love them.
Walking may still be a possibility, but many suburban and rural people are not used to walking to appointments, and even if they are, walking long distances becomes an impossibility. Even if the distance is not so great to, say, the local grocery or medical center, walking may still be out of the question. So people are left with mass transit, which many communities just do not have. The other option is asking others for rides. This option is difficult if the senior has few friends and family members. Senior service providers sometimes have van systems to aid with senior. A good example of this is the Omnibus Program in Littleton, CO, a suburb of Denver.
Dale Buss’s articles explore how to make advance plans on giving up the keys to the car. Just like any of us, if a senior comes up with the plan themselves, then they are more likely to stick with it once the circumstances point to unsafe driving.
Other topics explored are infrastructure planning. In communities with high numbers of elderly drivers, making changes to street signs and intersections can decrease the accident rate as well as reduce confusion for the elderly driver. Because it is true that there isn’t a date when a person loses the ability to drive; it is different for each person.
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