Scot found this in Vox:
Once seniors are too old to drive, our transportation system totally fails them
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Sprawl forces seniors to drive (even when it’s not safe)
Anyone who lives long enough will likely lose the ability to safely operate a car. But most states don’t require driving tests for elderly drivers renewing their licenses.
Many keep driving for longer than they should — and that can be seen in data on fatal crashes:
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Drivers are way more likely to be involved in fatal crashes past the age of 75. And for those 85-plus, the data is even worse than it is for teens.
This is mostly because in the event of a crash, older drivers are more likely to die from injuries than younger ones. But it’s partly because older drivers have deteriorating vision and reaction time, which leads to more crashes overall.
This doesn’t mean we should blame senior citizens for wanting to drive — it’s an overlooked cost of a system that gives them no choice. …
Once seniors stop driving, those who remain in suburban homes are marooned in an environment designed to be traversed by car. The most obvious problem, says Stephen Golant, a gerontologist at the University of Florida, is access to goods and services.
But seniors who are isolated also have worse health outcomes and lower life expectancies, even after adjusting for preexisting health conditions and other factors. This may be because they’re less likely to get health advice and monitoring from family and friends and also because they miss the emotional benefits of regular human contact. …
In surveys, more than 90 percent of senior citizens say they want to stay in their current homes as long as possible. Right now, if they want to avoid isolation, they’re often forced to give that up. …
… for those who live in sprawling suburbs not designed to be serviced by public transit, trying to use paratransit can be difficult — if not impossible. …
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New solutions to senior transportation
The good news is that some communities and organizations are experimenting with new approaches.
Some are attempts to change development patterns in areas where seniors live. …
Other experts are optimistic that new technologies can help fill in the gap. “I think the Uber model is increasingly going to be important,” says Golant. “All kinds of products and services will increasingly be at the fingertips of all people, including seniors.”
He suggests that cities might start subsidizing Uber or Lyft rides for people who qualify for paratransit, as a more efficient way of allocating transit money. As an alternative, Stafford envisions nonprofit ride-sharing apps specifically tailored to seniors — and perhaps delivery of groceries and other goods as well.
More than anything else, self-driving cars could revolutionize seniors’ transportation options. Widespread self-driving technology is still years away, but Google has programmed cars that can safely navigate a heavily mapped area in Northern California.
Some experts are skeptical that they’ll ever be functional in real-world driving conditions across the country. But if they do, they could provide an easy means of getting around for people who can no longer drive — allowing millions of seniors to remain in their homes without becoming isolated.
This is a little misleading. Seniors drive a a lot fewer miles, so their number of crashes is not as dramatic as it appears. Funny too that folks are all to willing to restrict senior driving, but not willing to restrict teenage drivers. What’s with that? From: Price Tags To: jacobsen.peter@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 2:32 PM Subject: [New post] The Daily Scot: Seniors, Sprawl and Solutions #yiv7445472479 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv7445472479 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv7445472479 a.yiv7445472479primaryactionlink:link, #yiv7445472479 a.yiv7445472479primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv7445472479 a.yiv7445472479primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv7445472479 a.yiv7445472479primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv7445472479 WordPress.com | pricetags posted: “Scot found this in Vox:Once seniors are too old to drive, our transportation system totally fails them.Sprawl forces seniors to drive (even when it’s not safe)Anyone who lives long enough will likely lose the ability to safely operate a car. But” | |
Not misleading when you read the Y-axis. It’s per 100-million miles driven, so it takes seniors a few more trips to catch up and surpass every other cohort on the crash rate table, but they eventually do. Young people take a lot more risks on the road, but they are not physically impaired like older drivers, who across the board have slower reaction times and poorer eyesight. Those are pretty good reasons to restrict senior driving.
The graduated licensing program is a response to teenage inexperience and risk taking. Laws against distracted and intoxicated driving, and the associated social taboos (some strong, some seemingly non-existent) are attempts to stop young people from dulling their judgement and reaction times.
Which makes this region’s lack of investment in HandyDart even more disgraceful
Absolutely agree. They can be very inconvenient but are so necessary in today’s road-dominated urbanism.
It can be lonely not having personal mobility and after decades of independence, to have to rely on others to get around is a drag.
It’s good to have a selection of choices for transportation.
I’m liking those small buses. They add so much to the regular transit system that wouldn’t be worth it for the big buses.
Tricycles are good if someone has balance issues. Most are poorly designed but some are good and efficient.
In the Netherlands they have these tiny “cars” which are basically mobility scooters with an enclosure. They are allowed on the cycle paths. They can be gas or electric and have a speed limiter in them. Since the country has a complete nation-wide cycling network, seniors (and anybody with mobility issues) can get all over the place independently. I’ve seen a couple of them in Vancouver.
Our cycling network here is only just starting but someday hopefully it’ll be extensive and so if someone is at an age where driving is starting to be scary or a lot of hassle, they’ll have other ways.
If the province and municipalities could approve UBER this would help seniors a lot.
Ummmm, a very interesting conversation as I conclude none of the contributing correspondents are seniors.
I am eight-six years old, obviously a senior, and have not owned, or driven, an automobile since 1980.
Stephen I have occasionally used HandyDart and found it to be, errrr, not very convenient: indeed my preferred mode of transportation is 95% walking, the remaining 05% BC Transit and family. (BTW HandyDart fare is C$3.50 compared to C$2.00 BCT, which is no imposition on my budget but may be on some less ambulatory!)
I lived in Mexico City 1997-8 were public transportation makes many of the more sophisticated claims of developed countries look pale: Toronto, Montreal, London, New York, Buenos Aires.
Metro en La Ciudad, at rush hour, segregates males and females for obvious reasons.
The last time I had need to use the London Tube was February 2004. Arriving at Victoria station from Heath Row we headed for Kings Cross. Not surprisingly the tube was down and after waiting in a very long queue eventually took a cab.
The vote for a regional transit system is imminent. I suspect many PT contributors will be hoping for a YES along with Gord or host.
Ummmm, not smart! Curitiba, Brasil, a city +/- about the same size as Vancouver, (but much more sophisticated), is another exemplary transportation system without a subway system.
Curitiba has a very sophisticated interlocking colour coded bus network that, in my limited experience, works very well and I was into my late seventies when I used it!
PS Brasilians spell it with an S!
There needs to be more creative advocacy when promoting the development / improvement of communities to be walkable, cycling friendly (which means 15-20 min. walk one way to key services, park, shops and transit) to always include aging in place.
The problem is a lot of people tune out when seniors are mentioned or just even the concept of aging is even mentioned…especially they themselves are still young and healthy.
Just how many of us here, will voluntarily give up driving after ie. 75 or 80 yrs. old? Or at least sell our car long before we become disabled/incapable? It’s a big admission for most people to do this, while they are still very healthy and mobile on foot. And most people will not face this reality.
For those who choose to buy their final home/near final home out in the burbs, do most buyers even think about non-car mobility options when they are approaching soon, the final 2 decades of life?
My thinking most car-loving people won’t think of reality until they crash their car, fall down the stairs, etc.