AAA Lifelong Safe Mobility

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AAA Lifelong Safe Mobility

• Dannielle Sherrets
• Manager, Traffic Safety Research Analysis
• AAA National

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About AAA

• AAA is a not-for-profit organization of 60 motor
  clubs serving over 50 million members in the U.S.
  and Canada.
• During more than 100 years of public service, AAA
  has been dedicated to promoting traffic safety
  through education, advocacy, and research.
• Safety topics focus on the vulnerable populations
  and high-risk driving children, teens, seniors,
  alcohol, distracted driving

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Lifelong Safe Mobility

• Launched in mid-2003
• Recognition of growing population and tremendous
  public health impact
• Goal to keep seniors safe and mobile

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3 Elements of Traffic Safety
Driver (training, screening, supplemental
transportation)
Road (senior-friendly road design)
Vehicle (better crash protection, seat belt
design, add-ons)
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The Road Senior-Friendly Road Design

• Over-represented in intersection crashes,
  left-hand turns problematic
• Safety-oriented road design shown to greatly
  reduce death and injury to our aging population
• intersection improvements better signage,
  lighting, and road markings and protected
  left-turn lanes
• AAA highlighted such road improvements as a
  primary component of our advocacy plan for the
  transportation reauthorization.

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The Driver

• AAA Roadwise Review A Tool to Help Seniors Drive
  Safely Longer
• State-of-the-Art Screening Tool
• CD-ROM
• Screens the basic functional
• capabilities associated with increased
• crash risk among seniors
• Developed with TransAnalytics

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Screening Measures

• Visual Acuity high and low contrast
• Visual Information Processing Speed (UFOV)
• Working Memory
• Visual Search
• Visualization of Missing Information
• Lower Limb Strength and Mobility
• Head-Neck Flexibility
• Based on Driving Health Inventory

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The Vehicle CarFit
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CarFit Helping Mature Drivers FindTheir Perfect
Fit

• Collaborative effort among four nationally
  recognized organizations
• American Occupational Therapy Association
• American Society on Aging
• AARP
• AAA

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CarFit Helping Mature Drivers Find Their Perfect
Fit

• CarFit is a community-based program whose
  purpose is three-fold
• Offers the opportunity for drivers to see how
  well their car fits them.
• Provides a low-risk opportunity to open a
  dialogue with a senior motorist about safety
  issues for the aging driver.
• Raises awareness local resources to keep drivers
  driving safer longer.

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The CarFit Checklist

• Safety Belt Use
• Steering Wheel Tilt
• Head Restraint Setting
• Positioning to Air Bag
• Line of Sight Over Steering Wheel
• Positioning to gas/brake pedals
• Mirror Adjustments
• Operation of Parking
• Brake/Ignition Key
• Operation of Other
• Vehicle Controls

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Evaluation of CarFit

• 300 seniors across 10 cities in 2005
• ...over one-third (37) had at least one critical
  safety issue needing addressed
• ...one in ten (10) were seated too close to the
  steering wheel
• ...approximately 20 did not have a line of sight
  at least 3" over the steering wheel

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Smart Features for Mature Drivers

• Partnership between AAA and University of
  Floridas National Older Driver Research and
  Transportation Center
• Multi-Disciplinary Program
• Public Health Professionals
• Automotive Experts
• Researchers
• Occupational Therapists

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Criteria

• Criteria developed in collaboration with UF (Q3
  2006-Q2 2007)
• Subjective
• Ergonomics (design and adaptability of vehicle)
• Comfort
• Objective
• Safety
• Value (cost of ownership data)

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Evaluation

• Conduct 2008 vehicle evaluations
• Recognize not a single Winner, but vehicles
  exemplifying the best features for seniors
• Short Stature
• Limited lower body mobility/strength
• Arthritic hands
• Limited upper body range of motion
• Diminished vision

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Short Stature

• Six-way adjustable seats
• Tilt and Telescoping Steering Wheel
• Adjustable foot pedals
• Vehicles exemplifying all features
• Chrysler 300
• Dodge Charger
• Honda Odyssey
• Hyundai Veracruz
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Pontiac G6

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Limited Lower Body Strength

• Seat Height
• Mid-thigh to lower buttocks
• At least six-way adjustable seats
• Lower door threshold or sill
• Vehicle examples
• Ford Edge/Escape/Explorer
• Honda CR-V
• Subaru Tribeca
• Toyota 4-Runner/Highlander/Rav-4/Sienna

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Arthritic Hands

• Four door models
• Thick steering wheel
• Keyless entry
• Keyless ignition
• Power mirrors
• Power seats
• Controls with buttons or large knobs
• Vehicle examples
• Acura RL
• Cadillac STS
• Hyundai Veracruz
• Mazda CX-9
• Nissan Altima
• VW Passat

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Limited Upper Body ROM

• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
• Large, wide angle mirrors
• Comfortable seats with lumbar support
• Heated seats
• Adjustable seat belts
• Vehicle examples
• Acura/Audi/BMW
• Dodge Charger
• Ford Edge/Fusion
• Honda Accord/Odyssey

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Diminished Vision

• Visors and extendable visors
• Large audio climate controls with contrasting
  text
• Vehicle Examples
• Hyundai Sonata
• Jeep Patriot
• Kia
• Mitsubishi Eclipse
• Toyota Corolla

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Final Thoughts.

• Seniors should choose a vehicle based upon
  individual needs.
• All seniors will benefit from safety features
  such as proven crashworthiness, dual-threshold
  airbags, ABS, brake assist, etc.
• What is best for seniors is best for everyone!!

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• Questions?