Maintaining Safe Mobility in an Aging Society

This book addresses the complexities surrounding the rapidly expanding number of aging drivers and practical solutions for sustaining their safe transportation. In addition to discussing how age impacts both the risk and severity of crashes and the link between mobility and well-being, this book discusses means to achieve safer mobility, including roadway design and community transportation options. Authored by driver safety and awareness experts, it covers psychological and physical changes associated with age (both normal and pathological), including an important but rarely explored aspect of dementia known as wandering behavior. It also addresses the role of emerging technology. The 13 chapters are categorized into four parts. The first part presents an overview of aging and mobility issues, including discussions of how society is aging, traffic crash risks, age-related declines in functional abilities, and the driving skills needed for safe driving. A framework is presented for the issues related to aging and safe mobility. The second part discusses the current knowledge on the effects of medical conditions and medications on driving and crash risk. The third part discusses the issues and practices of driver screening and assessment and concludes with a discussion of driver licensing policy. The final part covers topics related to maintaining safe mobility in older adulthood including education and rehabilitation, vehicles and advanced technology, roadway design, driving retirement, and other community mobility options.