The Future is Now: Mobility & Seniors
by Hannah Twaddell

Transportation planner Hannah Twaddell focuses on mobility concerns facing our aging population.

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Living in our old family farmhouse, I have an easy 10-minute drive to the grocery store, a 20-minute commute to work, and travel less than half an hour to see friends or dine out. It's heavenly. But how would I cope if I couldn't drive?

Like other baby boomers, I still have a few years to figure out my options. But this is a concern many of our parents -- and some of you reading this -- already face. According to a recent report from the Surface Transportation Policy Project, more than one in five Americans age 65 and older do not drive because of declining abilities, concern over safety, or lack of access to a car. And more than half of this group (some 3.6 million people) stay home on any given day, in large part because they lack transportation options.

Seniors who have access to public transportation regularly use it; they made some 310 million transit trips in 2001. But half of all adults -- many in rural areas and small towns -- have no bus service.

Elderly Americans who don't drive make 15 percent fewer trips to the doctor and 59 percent fewer shopping and restaurant trips than those who use a car. While drivers go out for social purposes about eight times per week, non-drivers only go out about three times a week. And a recent survey of older adults found that many are self-conscious about asking for rides, citing feelings of dependency and concerns about imposing on others. The resulting social isolation erodes emotional well-being, which in turn contributes to physical malaise.

We know that moderate exercise provides significant health benefits for the elderly, so it's encouraging to hear that more than half of America's seniors walk regularly. But again, the difference between city and country dwellers is striking: one in three older non-drivers who live in dense areas walk on any given day, compared to one of every fourteen in low-density places. Given the growing national cost of senior health care, these are important statistics.

What about those four out of five seniors who do still drive? The American Automobile Association says there are about 19 million licensed drivers aged 64 and older in the U.S., a 32-percent increase from a decade ago. By 2020, there will be more than 50 million Americans over 65, almost all of them licensed to drive.

Are they safe? Yes and no. Although seniors account for fewer than three percent of all crashes, partly because they drive fewer daily miles after retirement, their risk of severe injuries and death grows with age. The fatality rate among drivers aged 85+ is nine times higher than for drivers aged 25 to 69.

The AAA notes that 90 percent of driving skill is vision-related, a serious concern for drivers with cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. Decreased strength and flexibility can slow down reaction times and make it hard to check blind spots. And even a slight slowdown in cognitive abilities can make a difference in the split-second decisions we have to make when driving. These factors help explain why older drivers are much more likely than other drivers to be involved in crashes at intersections, especially when making left turns.

Organizations like AAA and state DMV's are making many efforts to help older drivers assess their skills and learn safe driving techniques. What can planners and public officials do to make driving conditions safer for seniors, and to make it easier to for them live a good life without needing a car of their own? Three key solutions include better public transit, safer street design for drivers and pedestrians, and coordinated planning with those who understand the needs of the elderly. ...

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