Details:

Alternative Title:
WisDOT Policy Research Program : addressing elderly mobility issues in Wisconsin
Creators:
Bittner, Jason ; Fuchs, Patrick ; Baird, Tim ; Smith, Adam
Bittner, Jason ; Fuchs, Patrick ; Baird, Tim ; Smith, Adam Less -
Corporate Creators:
National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (U.S.)
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Adults Aged Aged Drivers DMV Older Drivers Older People Public Transit Research Hub Senior Citizens WisDOT
Publication/ Report Number:
CFIRE 0405
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Wisconsin ; United States
Wisconsin ; United States Less -
OCLC Number:
773697287
Edition:
Final Report ; July 10, 2010-Sept. 6, 2011.
Corporate Publisher:
Wisconsin. Dept. of Transportation
NTL Classification:
NTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-Transit Planning and Policy;NTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION;NTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-Transit Planning and Policy;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human Factors;
Abstract:
The aging of baby boomers poses significant challenges to Wisconsin’s existing transportation infrastructure and specialized transit programs. From 2010 to 2035, the number of elderly Wisconsinites is projected to grow by 90 percent, an increase of 702,760 persons. By 2035, residents age 65 and over will comprise nearly a quarter of the population of Wisconsin, as every county in the state will experience growth in the elderly share of their population over the next 25 years. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2003 National Household Travel Survey found that personally-owned vehicles account for over 90 percent of trips taken by elderly residents; the extrapolation of this data suggests an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin’s future elderly residents will be accustomed to driving. Because elderly persons are vulnerable to a decline in visual, cognitive, and psychomotor skills, a dramatic increase in the number of elderly drivers has serious safety implications for the state. Elderly drivers are more likely to have crashes on a per-mile basis, more likely to be at fault in a multicar crash, and more likely to be killed or injured than are younger people in a crash of comparable magnitude. When elderly drivers are forced to stop driving or self-regulate in response to declining abilities and safety concerns, they face increased isolation from social, family, and civic activities and decreased access to medical services. These safety and social ramifications demand an examination of the state’s current driver licensing and education practices, infrastructure design protocols, and specialized and public transit efforts. This report provides analysis of Wisconsin’s existing services, coordinated by the DOT and other State agencies, collects information from elderly residents, and reviews national and international best practices to allow the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to better manage approaching demographic challenges. Recommendations are provided that include changes in internal structure to address older residents’ mobility concerns, education and outreach opportunities, and development of incentives to provide off prime hour services.
Format:
PDF
Funding:
T002688
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection University Transportation Centers
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:1b863fda51de2e6915c164d9cf251ef51aa104866d8775691d72e72a578ed846
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/23785/dot_23785_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

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