Abstract

Driving safety in the United States has substantially improved during the past 4 decades. The annual rate of traffic fatalities has decreased from 7.59 per 100 million miles driven in 1950 to 2.15 by 1990.<sup>1</sup>This greater than 3-fold reduction has largely been attributable to the twin strategies of improving vehicle safety, such as better occupant crash protection systems, and reducing behavioral risk factors, such as alcohol use. However, it now may be time for a paradigm shift in safety policy, given the looming collision between what appears to be an irresistible force and an immovable object. The irresistible force is the rapid growth in the number of older drivers,<sup>2</sup>who are more likely to have age-related functional impairments that may compromise driving safety. The immovable object is the nearly universal reliance on driving for mobility in the United States. One can foresee growing ranks of older persons

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.