Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
65 NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM Project 20-5, Topic 35-10 IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF OLDER ROAD USERS STATE DOT SURVEY The growing number of older road users, combined with their risk of injury and death in roadway crashes, are pressing soci- etal concerns. This survey is being sponsored by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program to help identify strate- gies for improving the safety of older road users. Separate surveys are being sent to motor vehicle departments (DMVs), gov- ernorâs highway safety offices, and state agencies on aging. The focus of the survey is on older road users, and in particular older drivers and pedestrians. We are seeking information on planned or implemented programs, activities, policies, and/or legislation aimed at improving the safety of older road users. This synthesis will NOT address programs intended primarily to provide transportation to those who cannot drive. The questions below address the areas of planning and engineering. Given the broad scope of the survey, it is likely that more than one person will be involved in its completion. In the space below, please provide names and contact information for those contributing to the survey. Please return the completed survey and any supporting materials or documentation by (date) to: Dr. Jane Stutts University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center 730 Airport Road, Campus Box 3430 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3430 A return address label has been enclosed for your convenience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Stutts by telephone at (919) 962-8717, or by e-mail at jane_stutts@unc.edu. Respondent Information APPENDIX A State DOT Survey Name: Title / Department Phone: E-mail
66 PLANNING 1. Does your state have a comprehensive strategic highway safety plan? Yes No If yes, 1a. Does the plan address older road user safety and mobility? Yes No If yes, 1b. Please list below any goals or objectives included in the plan that specifically address older road users. (Alternatively, attach paper copy with your completed survey or provide a web-based reference.) ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 1c. Did your department collaborate with any other agencies or organizations in developing these goals and objectives? Yes No If yes, please identify key agencies below: ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Has your department engaged in any other long-range planning activities to address issues of older road user (including pedestrian) safety and mobility? Yes No If yes, 2a. Please describe this effort and list below any goals or objectives developed as part of the plan. (Alternatively, attach paper copy with your completed survey or provide a web-based reference.) ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 2b. When did this activity take place? ____________________________________________________ 2c. Did your department collaborate with any other agencies or organizations in this planning activity? Yes No If yes, please identify key agencies below: ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
67 3. Are there (other) occasions where your department has collaborated with other state agencies on older road user safety issues? Yes No If yes, please describe below: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Has your department collaborated with public or private sector organizations (e.g., AARP, medical society, etc.) in addressing older road user safety issues? Yes No If yes, please describe below: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Does your department have any formal or informal liaison with your state office on aging? No Yes, informal Yes, formal 6. Some states have formed coalitions, task forces, etc., to address safe mobility for older citizens in a more comprehensive way. Are you aware of any such effort in your state, current or past? Yes No If yes, please describe, indicating who is taking (or took) the lead in this effort: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 7. To what extent do metropolitan planning organizations in your state address older road user safety and mobility issues in their long-range planning? Most or all MPOs do this Some MPOs do this Few or no MPOs do this Uncertain/do not know 8. To what extent do metropolitan planning organizations in your state involve area agencies on aging in the development of their local transportation improvement program or other long-range planning? Most or all MPOs do this Some MPOs do this Few or no MPOs do this Uncertain/do not know ENGINEERING 9. Is your department familiar with the FHWA Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians, and its companion Guidelines and Recommendations to Accommodate Older Drivers and Pedestrians? Yes No If no, skip to Question 15.
68 10. Has your department participated in one or more Older Driver Highway Design workshops sponsored by FHWA? Yes No 11. How knowledgeable would you say key personnel at the state level are with the recommendations contained in the FHWA Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians or its companion Guidelines and Recommendations to Accommodate Older Drivers and Pedestrians? Very knowledgeable Somewhat knowledgeable Not very knowledgeable 12. And, how knowledgeable would you say key personnel at the county or local levels are with the recommendations contained in the Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians or its companion Guidelines and Recommendations to Accommodate Older Drivers and Pedestrians? Very knowledgeable Somewhat knowledgeable Not very knowledgeable 13. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 represents none of the recommendations being followed and 10 represents all of the recommendations being followed, to what extent is your department following the recommendations contained in the Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Donât know/uncertain None All 14. In your opinion, what are the three greatest barriers to implementing the recommendations contained in the Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians? (Please number in order of importance, with â1â being most important.) ___ Actual or perceived lack of importance of the issue ___ Lack of adequate standards in place to accommodate changes ___ Lack of education and training at state DOT level ___ Lack of education and training at local level ___ Lack of resources for implementing the recommended changes ___ Threat of liability for any deviation from current standard practice ___ Other (please describe): ____________________________________________________
69 15. Please indicate whether your department has modified its guidelines or standards for each of the following engineering treatments to better accommodate the needs and capabilities of older road users. If yes, please describe the change(s) made. Modified? Engineering Treatment Yes No Description or Comment a. Changes to street name signing (larger letter height, advance signing, etc.) b. Sign retroreflectivity and/or lighting requirements c. Use of upper- and lowercase letters on overhead signs d. Use of Clearview font on signs e. Use of protected-only operations at signalized intersections f. Use of all-red clearance intervals at signalized intersections g. Use of advanced warning signs (signal ahead, horizontal curve, etc.) h. Signal timing adjustments to accommodate older pedestriansâ slower walking speeds i. Letter size requirements for freeway entrance/exit signing j. Lane striping or edgeline width k. Improvements to pavement making contrast l. Use of raised pavement markings to supplement standard centerline markings m. Use of post-mounted delineation devices as a supplement to chevron alignment signs on horizontal curves n. Other changes? Please describe. THANK YOU! Please use the space below to provide any additional comments or information, and be sure to include copies of relevant materials with your completed survey.
