Senior Drivers MN/DOT May 6, 2010 Roseville MN

Trauma kills more people between the ages of 1 and 44 than any disease or illness. Nearly 100,000 people of all ages in the U.S. die from trauma each year; roughly half of them in automobile crashes

In Minnesota… 429 fatal crashes in 2009 (preliminary) 163 alcohol related deaths in of the 325 vehicle occupant deaths were unbelted in motorcyclist deaths In multiple-vehicle crashes Driver Inattention/Distraction is #1 contributing factor

Senior Population Nationally, by 2030, 18.9% vehicle miles driven will be by those 65 and older As boomer generation ages, the senior population will continue to grow By 2030 in Minnesota, the population of those over 65 will grow to 1.2 million

Senior Drivers… Drivers over 65 make up 16% of the driving population But they only account for 7% of the crashes In 2008 accounted for 19% of traffic fatalities Therefore, when a senior is involved in a crash, it is more likely to end in death Illegal/Unsafe speed, Failure to yield, and Distraction are main contributing factors in these crashes

Toward Zero Deaths Initiative

The TZD Initiative at Work… TZD Leadership Team TZD Program Team TZD Annual Conference Minnesota Partnership for Senior Mobility “Love of Car” video kit

Minnesota Partnership for Senior Mobility Collaborative of public, nonprofit, and educational experts Charge is to influence policy, create initiatives, and promote research to improve safety and mobility of our aging population Goal is to reduce death of older Minnesotan’s on our roadways

“Love of Car: Transportation As We Age” Major sponsors: AAA, MN/DOT, MN DPS, and Senior LinkAge Line Strategies for driving longer How to assess driving skills Using alternative transportation Website:

TZD Regional Coalitions Established in the South West and South East Regions of the State Conduct collaborative projects across the region Looking to expand the Regional Coalitions in the future

Safe Communities Coalitions Coalitions exist throughout the state Coalitions work at the community level to create awareness of traffic safety issues Projects are centered around the goal of preventing death and injury caused by vehicle crashes

Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition Concluded that there was an uptrend in fatal crashes involving Senior Drivers Assessed what was in place already Compiled resources to better inform seniors and their family members Came up with a plan to educate the public