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476660-00049-1 Report Abstract

Senior Automobile Crashes and Fatalities in Texas: Are Older Texas Driver Safe?

Anthony Price and Gwendolyn C. Goodwin, Texas Southern University, September 2011, 35 pp. (476660-00049-1)

Many factors can contribute to a senior being involved in a traffic accident, i.e. poor vision, declining health, roadway hazards, and declining driving skills, etc. Throughout the US, laws are being enacted to ensure that seniors can continue driving without harming themselves or the general public. Katie’s Law (H.B. 84) represents an attempt to make roadways safer for senior drivers in Texas. Katie’s Law requires that elderly persons age 79 and over must renew their licenses in person at Department of Safety offices. This study examines data from Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) accident records during 2003-2008, to determine if enacting Katie’s law resulted in a decrease in senior fatalities. Finally, the study ends by looking at additional senior friendly transportation initiatives.

 

Keywords: Elderly Drivers, Traffic Accidents, Safety Issues

ENTIRE REPORT (Adobe Acrobat File – 242 KB)