Transcript Mature Population - University of Alabama at Birmingham

National Safety Council
Driver Improvement Programs
Your Safety & Health Leader
For 90 Years
Founded by large industrial corporations in
1913 to educate workers on safe practices
Declared the premier safety organization of the
nation by Charter of United States Congress in
1953
Who We Are
Employer of approximately 300 full-time people throughout the
U.S.
A private, not-for-profit membership organization that provides
programs, products and services to approximately 40,000
companies, organizations and Training Centers
The first to develop a defensive driving course
50 Chapters nationwide
A network of roughly 2,500 Defensive Driving Course Training
Centers and 12,000 instructors nationwide
The Leader in Driver
Improvement Programs
NSC’s largest program activity
It represents almost 25% of our
total program activity
DDC Historical Highlights
Today
40 years of experience
1.5 million drivers trained annually
Worldwide network of Training Centers
More than 30 different programs customized for
specific industries including:
 Utilities
 Public Works
 Trucking
 School
 Public Transportation
 Traffic Violators
Mature Population
There are more than 26 million people age 70 years and older in the
United States.
In 2002, this age group made up 9% of the total U.S. resident
population.
From 1992 to 2002, the growth rate of this older segment of the
population was 27% higher than the growth rate of the total
population.
In 2000, there were about 35.0 million people age 65 and over, in 2020
this age group is estimated to be over 53.7 million, by 2030 this age
group will exceed 70.3 million, and by 2050 this age group will exceed
82.0 million (20.3% of the population).
Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2002 – Older Population, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Older Americans in
2000: Key Indicators of Well-Being, Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics at http://agingstats.gov/
accessed January 7, 2004.
Number of Person 65+, 1900 – 2050
(numbers in millions)
Source: Administration on Aging, Profile of Older Americans: 2000, February 9, 2001.
Mature Driver Population
Older drivers made up 10% of all licensed drivers
in 2001.
In 2002, 154,000 older individuals were injured in
traffic crashes.
Older individuals made up:
 12% of all traffic fatalities
 12% of all vehicle occupant fatalities
 17% of all pedestrian fatalities
Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2002 – Older Population, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Driver Fatality Rates by Age, 1996
The fatality rate for drivers 85 and older is
9 times as high as the rate for drivers 25
through 69 years old.
Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2000 – Older Population, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Importance of Driving
The automobile is the primary mode of transportation in
the U.S.
Persons over age 65 make more than 90% of their trips by
private vehicles, either as a driver or passenger.
In 2000, about 50% of of older persons lived in suburban
areas, 27% lived in central cities, and 23% in
nonmetropolitan areas.
Most suburbs are designed so that residents must drive.
The lack of public transportation in rural areas has further
increased reliance on the automobile.
Source: A Profile of Older Americans: 2002, American Association of Retired Persons Research Center at http://research.aarp.org
accessed January 7, 2004.
Greater Risk for Mature Drivers
Aging Process:
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Vision
Hearing
Sensation
Range of Motion
Motor Skills
Cognitive Skills
Prescription Medicine
Environmental Barriers
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Design and Location of Roadways
Traffic Signs
Modern Instrument Panels
Airbags
Source: American Association of Retired Persons Research Center.
Topical Areas For Education & Awareness
Importance of Safety Belts
Maintaining a Cushion of Safety
Compensating for the Effects of Aging
Effects of Medications on Driving
Signage: New Signs, Signals, markings, and Technical Innovations
Weather Conditions
Intersections
Highway, Rural, and Urban driving Scenarios
Regulating Driving Behavior
Adopting Different Travel Patterns
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Driving Shorter Distances
Driving Less At night
Avoiding Rush Hours
 Traditional Classroom Program
 Taught by Certified DDC Instructors
 Six or Eight Hours in Length
Course Materials
Teaching Kit: includes the Instructor Guide with transparencies, and a
video featuring Changes and The Mature Driver.
Driver Response Book: features a self-appraisal, question analysis, and
personal health and safety audit. Includes a certificate of completion.
Course Content
Session I: Introduction, Self Appraisal and Safety Belts & Air Bags
Session II: Physical Changes and Cushion of Safety
Session III: Multiple-Lane Highway Driving
Session IV: City Driving
Session V: Pedestrian Safety
Session VI: Driving on Rural Roads
Session VII: Special Considerations
Session VIII: Self-Appraisal Review