1. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY A. George Ostensen FHWA Office of Safety 8 January 2005 White House Conference on Aging Listening Session USDOT- FHWA Perspective: Infrastructure, Operations & Safety

2. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY Today’s Presentation Where is FHWA on Older Road User issues Highlight 2 current initiatives Some ongoing Challenges

3. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY FHWA Older Road User Activities Early attention –FHWA Safety and Mobility for an Aging Population Specific Activities –1997 - FHWA Older Driver Highway Design Handbook & Guidelines –1999 - FHWA Older Road User Workshops –2000 & 2003 - Revised Highway Standards –Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices –AASHTO Green Book

4. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY FHWA Older Road User Activities Recent Initiatives –2001 - Revised FHWA Handbook & guidelines –2003 - Guidance for AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan Implementation –2003 - Demonstration projects to evaluate the effectiveness of older road user guidelines –2004 - Travel Better, Travel Longer Pocket Guide

5. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY FHWA Older Road User Workshop Describe/demonstrate age-related changes to eng’rs & other highway safety professionals. Recommendations and how to use the handbook Practice application through case studies Almost 3000 practitioners trained in 45 States.

6. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY Arizona DOT – pedestrian safety Washington DOT – signs/signals/markings Massachusetts Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau - work zone safety FHWA Demonstration Projects

7. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY FHWA is assisting States in taking a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving highway safety. Every State needs to determine how to address the older road user safety issues in their State. SAFETEA provides additional funds for safety improvements, including those that will improve safety for older road users. Comprehensive Highway Safety Plans

8. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY Working with broad spectrum of highway safety professionals – Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services – to move the numbers using a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach Expanding awareness of older road users’ needs and implementation of appropriate infrastructure solutions that help ALL road users. Ongoing Challenges

9. INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY Improvements that help older users help everyone FHWA has researched, identified and promoted infrastructure changes We are working with partners to improve safety and mobility of older road users and all road users FHWA encourages States to develop Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan to identify safety problems Summary