Georgia Older Driver Task Force
Mission Statement- Georgians: Getting Older, Getting Wiser, Getting Mobile
Goal: To maintain the mobility and safety of older drivers, while making the roadways safer for all road users. The task force meets monthly to discuss older driver related issues, with efforts to decrease injuries and fatalities among them. The task force will implement activities such as legislative proposals, alternative transportation, physician awareness, and CarFit geared towards education, engineering, and evaluation.
Legislative Proposal
Goal: To propose legislation that will address the cognitive and physical abilities, and balance the needs of older drivers with the safety of other road users for Georgia. Our plan is to research other states rules and regulations at their department of motor vehicles, and their legislative outcomes. The task force will list the top recommendations for legislative proposal and address them to appropriate officials.
Alternative Transportation
Goal: Our goal for alternative transportation is to address older adult’s mobility issues and improve access to mobility options in Georgia. This goal includes researching other states and their progress with alternative transportation. The group has implemented an Alternative Transportation Focus group, subgroup of Older Driver Task Force, which will collaborate with existing transportation service committees towards expanding and improving alternate transportation options throughout Georgia.
Older Driver Reporting and Evaluation Form
Goal: In Georgia, law enforcements are not trained on how to handle situations involving older drivers who endanger themselves and others when driving on the roads. The group suggests developing an evaluation and reporting form for law enforcements to use. The form will properly report drivers who show signs of impairment due to taking medication, vision problems, cognitive thinking, and physical handicap. Our goal is to develop a focus group consisting of law enforcements and other stakeholders. The focus group will meet several times during the year to develop the form. Once the form has been developed, the form will require approval from Department of Driver’s Services.
Physician’s Awareness
Goal: Many physicians are not trained to assess and evaluate an older driver ability to continue to drive or have their license taken away. Our goal is to have a physician to develop PowerPoint presentation training about this concern. The Physician Awareness will be an educational PowerPoint CD which will train physicians on how to assess and evaluate older drivers. Additionally, the CD will help the family members cope with the possible decision of their loved ones needing to retire from driving.
Older Driver Safety (Train-the-Trainer) Workshop
Goal: To address the knowledge gaps among traffic engineers and highway designers.
Pilot Intervention
Goal: The pilot project will involve collaboration with GDOT engineers, assessing environmental design features aimed at maintaining the safety of older adults who drive, walk, or take alternative transportation.
CarFit program
Goal: To educate drivers, especially seniors on how to fit correctly and safely in their car seat while driving. The program does not take the keys from the driver. Instead, it is a free educational program offered by Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute in Georgia to train individuals to be certified CarFit Technicians and/or Event Coordinators. Once certified, CarFit events are voluntarily hosted at churches, senior community’s centers, and grocery store parking lots. The event lasts approximately 4 hours. |
