Safe Mobility for Life Strategic Plan Development Discussion Group Gail Holley Florida Department of Transportation State Traffic Engineering and Operations.

Safe Mobility for Life

Strategic Plan Development Discussion Group

Gail Holley

Florida Department of Transportation

State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office

Safe Mobility for Life Program Manager

2009 Florida Statistics (65+ age group)

17.5 percent of our total population

17.7 percent of our fatalities and serious injuries from crashes

18.6 percent of all licensed drivers

National Projections (65+)

2000 State

2000 Percent

2000 Rank

2010 State

2010 Percent

2010 Rank

2030 State

2030 Percent

2030Rank

U.S 12.4 N/A U.S. 13.0 N/A U.S. 19.7 N/A

Florida 17.6 1 Florida 17.8 1 Florida 27.1 1

Penn. 15.6 2 WestVirginia

16.0 2 Maine 26.5 2

WestVirginia

15.3 3 Maine 15.6 3 Wyoming 26.5 3

Iowa 14.9 4 Penn. 15.5 4 NewMexico

26.4 4

NorthDakota

14.7 5 NorthDakota

15.3 5 Montana 25.8 5

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Good News: We Are Preparing for the Changes

FDOT’s Safe Mobility for Life Program Mission: To improve the safety, access, and mobility of

Florida’s aging populationBusiness Plan approved April 2007Collaborative effort with program partners

• Lead partners: Dept of Hwy Safety Motor Vehicles and Dept of Elder Affairs

• Work together to address issue from the perspectives of driver, roadway, and community within our agency roles

Developed and put in place key transportation safety and mobility resources

Safe Mobility for Life Program

Transportation Safety and Mobility Resources

State: New/Revised standards and policiesCountdown Pedestrian SignalsReflectorized Backplates on Traffic SignalsAdvance Street Name Signs

• Use of Sign Plaques on Intersection Warning Signs

LocalFlorida Greenbook: Chapter 18 (Signs and Markings)

FederalRevision to the Hwy Design Handbook for Older Drivers

and Pedestrians – late 2010 releaseMUTCD 2009 – Incorporates older driver/ped issues

Roadway Improvements

Improvements supported by researchAging Driver and Pedestrian Safety: Human Factors Studies

– Dr. Neil Charness, FSU• Effective word order for message signs• Role of headlight beam setting on sign perception by older drivers• Effectiveness of pedestal traffic signals• Effectiveness of internally illuminated overhead street name signs vs.

highly reflective sheeting• Effectiveness of pedestrian confirmation button vs. no confirmation

Improvements enhanced with educational safety materialsTip Cards (Countdown Pedestrian Signal, Roundabout)Drivers Handbook

Roadway Improvements (cont’d)

“Planning and Designing for our Aging Population”Curriculum benefits Planners, Engineers, and Safety

personnel, local and state government, both transportation and aging professionals

Developed by FDOT and taught by UF’s T2 Center for the past two years

Currently working on transferring into a computer based training course

Training Course for Planners and Engineers

www.SafeandMobileSeniors.org

Senior Safety Event

A community based program developed by AAA, AARP, American Occupational Therapy Assoc. and the American Society on Aging

Adapted in Florida using 402 safety fundsFocuses on driver comfort and safety within their

own vehicleConfidential and EducationalConvey safety informationCarfit is not:

An evaluation of driver skills No pass/fail messagesSource: Carlin Rogers Consulting

Transportation Alternatives Database

Direct access to local transportation optionsSafety grant given to UF to update their Florida

Senior Safety Resource Center database and be a connected resource to our website

www.SafeandMobileSeniors.org/FindaRide.htm or http://fssrc.phhp.ufl.edu/

United We Guide: A Mobility Manager Program

Concept: Each county has a Community Transportation

Coordinator (CTC) - What if we trained them to be a true

mobility manager?Piloted in Putnam and St. Johns Counties

Trained mobility manager on available statewide tools and resources

Promoted One Call Number Developed Transportation Guide Books specific to each county

Currently working on: Phase 2 in St Johns through their Council on Aging Implementing a regional pilot (Leon-Wakulla-Gadsden-Jefferson

counties) with StarMetro

Safe Mobility for Life Coalition

Next Step for Program

Member Organizations

AAA Auto Club South AARP

Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. Carlin Rogers Consulting

Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged

CTST Coalition

Department of Community Affairs Department of Elder Affairs

Department of Health Department of Hwy Safety and Motor Vehicles

Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

Florida Area Agency on Aging Association Florida Association of Senior Centers

Florida Highway Patrol Florida State University

Florida's Strategic Highway Safety Plan Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council

Tallahassee Senior Center University of Central Florida

University of Florida Florida International University

Safe Mobility for Life Coalition

Mission: To improve the safety, access and mobility of Florida’s aging road users

Develop a comprehensive strategic plan to reduce injuries and crashes among this vulnerable population

Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy Assisting in the administration of the Coalition and

the development of the Strategic PlanFinalize our statewide Aging Road User Strategic Plan

by September 30, 2011

Statewide Aging Road User Strategic Plan

Aging Road User Strategic Plan

Conduct 3 statewide discussion groupsImportant this is not a “Tallahassee” planImportant to include transportation, safety, and mobility issues

from the local perspectiveOrlando (MPOAC), DeFuniak Springs, and Ft Lauderdale

Contains emphasis areas that address all issues concerning aging road userCoalition has met and proposed some emphasis areas

Now we want to hear from you what needs to be included in our Aging Road User Strategic Plan….