Older Road Users

Educate older drivers on vehicle safety and available resources. Educate medical professionals and law enforcement on issues regarding aging drivers, and encourage them to initiate discussions with those drivers.

1. Identify resources, such as agencies and websites that educate older drivers and their caregivers. Create handouts and flyers about topics such as My Car Does What?; CarFit; warning signs (limitations associated with age); self-assessment tools; and fact sheets with statistics, common mistakes, and challenges older drivers face.
2. Put together a packet of information (from step 1) that can be disseminated to:
   • Dealerships and salespeople:
     • Encourage training about vehicle technology by having salespeople demonstrate it to buyers.
     • Raise awareness of vehicle characteristics that may benefit older drivers.
     • Provide CarFit training and implementation.
     • Provide packets for dissemination.
     • Develop a recognition program for those serving older drivers, such as “This dealership certified on older driver vehicle education.”
   • The medical community:
     • Identify resources for educating older road users from Florida and California departments of transportation and others.
     • Provide packets for dissemination.
     • Offer training on the resources available.
     • Conduct workshops at medical conferences.
     • Hold lunch-n-learn events for medical offices.
   • Law enforcement:
     • Provide packets for dissemination.
     • Check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other states to seek available resources.
     • Offer training.
     • Work with the Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) to develop a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement credit class on older drivers.
   • The general public:
     • Provide packets for dissemination to active senior communities, DMVs, tax offices, car service agencies (e.g., oil change locations, insurance companies, post offices, and senior centers).
     • Create a system for drivers to report anonymously by sending in cards when an older driver is seen making poor driving choices.
     • Send packets to drivers participating in the Mature Driver Program.
     • Work with DMV or DPS (Texas KidSafe Program with Baylor Scott & White Health) to identify addresses.

DMV, DPS, outreach organizations, TMPA, and TxDOT

• Who will champion this movement?
• Support for an aging road user summit or a statewide coalition.
• Stakeholder buy-in (lack of time and resources).
• Dissemination methods.