Road Safety Authorities and non-governmental organisations place much focus on road safety and the younger generation – but often neglect the older road users.

According to Arrive Alive, the group of elderly road users is getting increasingly larger and our road safety strategies should pay more attention to the possibilities and limitations of this group of road users.

“In the coming decades, the number of elderly road users will increase considerably and so too their fatality rate in traffic. When involved in traffic crashes the risk of severe injury is considerably higher because of their physical vulnerability,” said Arrive Alive.

Here Arrive Alive provides some road safety measures aimed at improving safety:

Family involvement:

• Family members and physicians should be proactive in ensuring the safety of their loved ones on the road, especially if they are afflicted or impaired with a condition that may hinder driving abilities.
• Friends should flag a friend who might be driving unsafely and pose a risk to other road users.
• Family members might be in the best position to convince the elderly to go for a medical assessment and check on the important physical abilities required for driving.

Road Infrastructure:

• Authorities must provide public transport alternatives and general infrastructure improvements to serve the mobility needs of the senior citizens.
• New development should allow the elderly to use their experience and existing automatisms.
• This could allow complex tasks to be performed in parts (e.g. crossing the road in phases), in which the elderly can repeatedly view the situation from a safe place and themselves can determine how to deal with time pressure
• Important infrastructure features stand out by means of good lighting and markings rich in contrast.
• Improvements could include better pedestrian crossing facilities, signals and markings – provision of longer walk phases, provision of tactile paving, provision of good quality surfaces and avoidance of abrupt changes in level and steep inclines, the introduction of a leading pedestrian interval, unambiguous ‘WALK’ and ‘DON’T WALK’ signs etc.
• Barrier fencing, guardrails or other aesthetic restrictions in shopping areas where there is high conflict between vehicles and pedestrians should allow access to the road only at formal crossing points etc.
• Car-free pedestrian zones and traffic calming treatments could be designed to re-direct or slow traffic in residential areas and in town centres where there is high pedestrian activity.

Vehicle Manufacturers:

• Car manufacturers are developing vehicles with a focus on older drivers’ limitations, physical vulnerability and requirements.
• Protection devices such as helmets for cyclists and (light-)moped riders, and seatbelts and (side) airbags for motorists, can limit injury severity.
• Technical adaptations available include servo-assisted steering, an automatic gearbox, and adjustments of the power needed to press down the brake and/or acceleration pedal.
• These are systems that offer specific support for motor functional limitations, such as the decline in muscular strength.
• More Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are becoming available which can assist the elderly motorist with functional limitations of vision, attention, and information processing. Examples are systems that warn about other vehicles simultaneously approaching an intersection, systems that help when merging or changing lane, and systems that project the relevant traffic signs and warnings.

Compiled by Justine Fortuin