TRB Human Factors Workshop

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TRB Human Factors Workshop

• Educational Programs and the Older Driver

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Lifelong Safe Mobility

• A Priority Issue for the AAA and CAA

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About the AAA

• Not-for-profit federation of 77 independent clubs
  in US and Canada
• Founded in 1902 to advocate on behalf of members
  for better and safer roads
• Service is integral to organization (and a
  requirement for AAA clubs)
• 46 Million Members (25 U.S. households)

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The Canary in the Mine

• OLDER DRIVERS ON TODAYS ROADS

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Older Drivers Increasing
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Overall Crash Rates Relatively Low
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Crash Rates for Licensed and Able Drivers
Rate per 1000 drivers
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Higher Crash rate per Miles Driven
Rate per 1,000,000 miles
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Older Drivers More Likely to Die
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What Else do we Know About Older Drivers?

• Licensing
• Many were given or simply bought license
• Awareness Education
• Many received no education or training
• Driver Improvement
• Many have had no further driver education
• Cultural issues around driving
• Many resist the notion of further driver
  education

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Older Drivers - Wiser Drivers

• Less likely to speed
• Less likely to drive during risky times
• Less likely to drive in risky locations
• Less likely to drive in bad weather
• Less likely to drink and drive
• More likely to wear seatbelts

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What Can we do for Older Drivers?

• Advocacy
• Club AAA/CAA National policy development
• Awareness
• Club publications and materials
• Education
• Club courses and educational materials
• Assessment/Testing
• On-road or clinical performance assessments
• Screening
• Self assessment

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(No Transcript)
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What is AAA doing?
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Older Driver Materials - Brochures
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Older Driver Materials - Books
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Older Driver Materials - Booklets
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Older Driver Screening Tool

• CD-ROM or On-line
• Screens functional capacities for driving
• Can be used at home

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AAA Driver Safety Courses

• Safe Driving for Mature Operators course
  (classroom course) in 60 clubs
• Driver Improvement Program (behind-the-wheel
  course) with Mature Driving component in 3 clubs
• 35 states provide an insurance discount to
  drivers over 55 years old for taking the AAA
  Driver Improvement Program

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AAA Club Publications
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AAA Foundation Web Site
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AMA Comprehensive Club Program for Older Drivers

• staying on the road as long and as safe as
  possible

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Policy Advocacy

• Comprehensive Graduated Licensing
• Graduated De-licensing
• THE AMA SUPPORTS A COMPREHENSIVE GRADUATED DRIVER
  LICENCING SYSTEM FOR ALL DRIVERS WHICH PROVIDES
  FOR GRADUAL ENTRY TO AND EXIT FROM FULL DRIVING
  PRIVILEGES.

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Awareness Education

• Promoting Distributing materials
• Drivers 55 Educational seminar
• MISSION POSSIBLE _at_ Home

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Older Driver Assessments

• On as-needed basis for DMV in cases not
  appropriate for examiners
• Looking for safe driving behaviour, not ability
  to pass road test
• For AMA insurance for older insureds
• Identify if older driver is safe or teachable

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CAA Alberta Older Drivers

• Advocacy
• Awareness Activities
• MVD Assessments
• Older Driver Seminars
• Insurance Assessments
• Presentations

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CAA Alberta Older Drivers

• Advocacy
• Awareness Activities
• MVD Assessments
• Older Driver Seminars
• Insurance Assessments
• Presentations

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Older Driver Seminars

• Called Drivers 55
• Based on AAA Mature Driver Improvement Program
  and
• AAA Foundation materials and self assessment
  tools
• Revised in early 90s to increase treatment of
  Older Driver issues
• Four 2.5 hour seminars
• Insurance company support

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Drivers 55

• General info about older driver issues
• Defensive driving principles and crash avoidance
• Confidentiality emphasized
• Security of license stressed
• Importance of shared experiences
• Built around adult education principles
• Male/Female ratio lower initially
• Average age around 70

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Drivers 55 . . . 2003

• After 10 years, an update
• Topics / Issues
• Changing nature of Driving
• Issues of seniors and older drivers
• Pros Cons of older drivers
• Process of aging and impact on driving
• Assessing attitude, habits knowledge
• Older driver crashes
• Time to hang them up?

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Drivers 55 . . . 2003

• Greater use of research data
• Self assessment tools
• Static Dynamic visual acuity
• Peripheral vision
• Near/far accommodation
• Contrast sensitivity
• Reaction time

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Drivers 55 . . . 2003

• Greater focus on self discovery
• Eye conditions
• glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration
• Attention
• selective, divided, sustained
• More emphasis on how to compensate
• How to deal with the need for change
• Reduce/change driving or
• hang up keys

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Club Insurance Issues

• More Adult Older Driver policies
• Older drivers are desired policies
• When seniors crash, results are serious, costs
  are high
• Need to prevent or reduce losses
• Those insured are also club members
• An assessment would help older driver and
  insurance company

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Insurance Assessment

• Consists of
• vision test,
• an informal interview
• and an on-road driving assessment by experienced
  AMA driving assessor
• post-drive feedback

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Before the Assessment

• Vision test
• Scan of vehicle
• Discussion with insured
• Discussion with family members (if possible)
• Review of license/abstract (if possible)

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The Assessment

• Face Validity (not out to get them)
• Familiar routes
• Familiar vehicle
• Reasonable duration
• Comfortable with assessor
• Familiar/appropriate time of day
• Reasonable weather
• No distractions (at least initially)

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Possible Outcomes

• Refuse assessment, avoid assessment
• Not driving or deceased
• Good, cautious driver
• Okay, but need updating and/or practice
• Marginal driver, physiological issues
• Poor driver, high risk driving
• Time to quit?
• Further assessment?

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Follow-up Measures

• Courses (education)
• Courses (physiological)
• Coaching/training
• Re-assessment (AMA, DriveAble)
• Supports (equipment, spouse)
• Alternate transportation

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Assessment Outcomes - 2002

• Total assessments 256
• Passes 233
• Failures 13
• Refusals 12
• No longer driving
• Medical 6
• Other 12
• Failed eye exam 19
• Deceased 3

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The Future . . . .

• Optional on-road assessment coaching available
  post-seminar
• Evaluation of outcomes
• Seminar
• On-road assessment
• Expansion of Family Based activities
• _at_ Home awareness information
• _at_ Home self assessments