Innovation in Older Driver Safety:
State and Community Program Perspectives
Elizabeth Head, GA Department of Public Health
Candace Kortovich, Senior Services North Fulton
Bob Carr, Common Courtesy
Today’s Discussion
• Older Driver Safety : Data, Program,
Resources
• GATE Program
• Common Courtesy
• Discussion
Today’s Discussion
• The Power of a Key
• Older Driver Safety by the numbers
• The Georgia Older Driver Safety Program
• Resources for Mobility
• Innovations in Transportation
/Mobility
Keys over a lifetime
What does it mean to age?
“There are people who reach the age of 85 in a
very good physical and mental condition. There are
others who have extensive cognitive difficulties and
physical disorders already by the age of 60.”
US Population Aged 65 and Older
Numbers in millions
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
6
Older Drivers Tend to Have
Fewer Crashes
120
Crashes per 1000 drivers
100
80
60
40
20
0
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
Driver Age
65-74
75-84
85+
(Source NCSA, 2000)
7
F a ta lity R a te
Highway Design & Operations to
Accommodate Older Drivers and Pedestrians
Fatality Rate per 100 Million
Vehicle Miles Traveled
10
8
6
4
2
0
16
18
20-24 30-34 40-44 50-54 60-64 70-74 80-84
Age Group
Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2000 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
8
Fatalities in Georgia
2012 Georgia Driver Crash Fatality Rate, by Age Group
7.0
6.0
Rate Per 1,000 Crashes
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
<16
16-17
18-19
20-24
25-34
35-44
Age Group
45-54
55-64
65-74
75-84
85+
Mobility/Physical Abilities:
Frailty
• Progressive
• Marked by transition from independence to
dependence on caregivers
• Presence of 3 or more of the following:
– Loss of strength
– Weight loss
– Low levels of activity
– Poor endurance or fatigue
– Slowed performance
Physical & Cognitive Impairments
Normal Aging
Disease Process
Mobility
ROM (head/neck)
Muscle Strength
Endurance
•
•
•
•
Arthritis
Parkinson’s Disease
Stroke
Diabetes
Vision
Acuity
Contrast Sensitivity
Peripheral Vision
Depth Perception
Sensitivity to Glare
Ability to Change Focus
•
•
•
•
Macular Degeneration
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Diabetic Retinopathy
Cognition
Age-related memory loss
•
Dementias (Alzheimer’s
Disease, etc.)
Stroke
Traumatic Brain Injury
•
•
Normal Vision
Reduced Visual Acuity
Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Retinopathy
Cataract
Mind your medications!
– Regular (annual) medication review
with your Physician and Pharmacist
– Review ALL possible side effects with
your Physician or Nurse when starting
a new medication/regimen
– Report any changes in physical or
cognitive side effects
It really does keep us young!
The Older Driver Safety Program
• Program Goals & Objectives
– Reduce injuries and fatalities
– Enhanced mobility options for older adults.
– Goal is to make Georgia’s roadways
safer for all users
• Funded by Governor’s Office of
Safety
Highway
• Goal is to make Georgia’s roadways safer for all users
Older Driver Safety Program
• Resources
– Keeping Drivers Safe: self-help
– Addressing skills: rehabilitation specialists
– Alternative Transportation options
• Training (community and professional)
– The Four E’s
Program Focus Areas & Activities
– Education
• CarFit
• Caregiver Awareness
• Physician Awareness
– Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers: A
Physician’s Guide
– Fact sheets
– Educational Presentations
– EMS
• Yellow Dot
• Telehealth/telemedicine – the front lines
Program Focus Areas & Activities
– Engineering
• Workshops targeting engineers & planners
– FHWA Older Driver Design Workshop
• Environmental/Engineering intervention
– Ponce de Leon
– Enforcement (Legislation/Policy)
• Success - DDS form 270 –Request for Driver Review
• Tough - Vision requirements
• GARD Report Recommendations
Thinking of Retiring
… from driving?
Be Prepared!
Resources & Innovations
from the Field
Georgia Department of Driver Services
•Renewals
•Mobility Resources
•Transportation Options
•Medical Revocation Process
http://dds.ga.gov/seniors/index.aspx
Self-help for Drivers
• Free Hartford Publications
http://thehartford.com/advance50/publicationson-aging
• AARP Driver Safety Program
http://www.aarp.org/homegarden/transportation/driver_safety/
• The Hartford/MIT Age Lab Older Driver
Safety http://thehartford.com/advance50/
Resources to Assess/Sharpen skills
• CarFit – www.car-fit.org
• Defensive Driving Courses
http://www.dds.ga.gov/DUI/SchoolMatrix.aspx
• American Automobile Association (AAA) Roadwise
Review and online courses
http://seniordriving.aaa.com/
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Driver
Safety Courses
http://www.aarp.org/ws/EO/driver-safety-programs/
• Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialists (CDRS)
Alternative Transportation
• Government/Formal Resources
– AgeWise Connection 404-463-3333
– GA Div. Aging Services 866-552-4464
• Informal Community Resources
– Churches
– Community Centers; Neighborhood organizations
• Nonprofit organizations
– Voucher programs
– Volunteer driver programs
– Ride Share
• For-Profit organizations
– Taxi services
– Non-emergency medical transport
– Uber/Lyft
Breaking Down Tough Conversations
Gate Around Town Easily – GATE
A Voucher Program
Participant Requirements:
 A resident of Alpharetta - Johns Creek – Milton – Mountain Park – Roswell - Sandy Springs
 An older adult 60+ or adult with disabilities,
 No longer able to drive or access public transportation
 Use an approved driver in the GATE program
Transportation provided by:
 Driver of your choice (except a spouse) or
 approved GATE driver.
 All drivers are interviewed prior to acceptance into the
program.
Cost:
 Voucher book containing $100 worth of vouchers.
 The cost share for this book is $25.
 Rider and driver agree on price prior to trip
Program Funding:
 Grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission
 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5317-New Freedom
Funds.
Gate Around Town Easily – GATE
A Fulton County Voucher Program
Program Set-up and management:
Personal interviews of participants and providers (drivers)
Transportation providers must show proof of required valid driver’s license and auto insurance,
Providers must also complete specific training certifications.
No online or email process
Monitor voucher usage
Program Facts:
Serves over 200 people/year
Paperwork intensive
Staffing:
1 Full-time manager
1 Part-time administrator
Common Courtesy is a
non-profit with a mission to
partner to provide safe,
affordable or even no-cost
transportation to those unable
to operate a vehicle safely.
Money is raised by:
 Religious Organizations





Senior Living Communities
Healthcare Providers
Retailers
Friends
Senior Organizations
*Each organization maintains their own
“bucket” of funds to sponsor rides.
This money is used to sponsor the costs of providing
rides for those who can no longer drive and want to
maintain their independence.
 We partner with Uber, a technology
based transportation company that
uses smart phones to connect drivers
and riders. And now with Caliber for
ADA wheelchair accessible.
 We connect riders that cannot drive
or do not have transportation, with
drivers from Uber.
Organizatio
ns
Businesse
s
Funding
from
sponsors
Communities
Friends
Famil
y
Civic
Association
Neighborhoo
d Associations
s
Neighborhood
General Funding
Religious
Corporat
Organization
s
Grocery /
Pharmacy
e
Donors
Bucket
One $$$
Bucket
Five $$$
Bucket
Two $$$
Bucket
Three $$$
Bucket
Four $$$
Grant
s
 A rider may need transportation to the grocery
store, doctor appointment, mall, social activities, etc.
Obtaining a ride begins by registering with
Common Courtesy
There are two ways to make arrangements for a ride:
1. The rider can use the Uber App on their smart
phone
2. The rider can call the dispatch phone number
 Common Courtesy requests 24 hours advanced
notice to dispatch rides
// uberX: the low-cost Uber in Atlanta (and the choice for Common Courtesy)
Rider Registration Information
In order to become a funded Rider (that is your rides are free), you will need to go through a few
steps! Because we are a non-profit we must determine that you are someone who “cannot or
should not” be driving a personal vehicle. In most cases this is not difficult yet we must make
certain that those who can otherwise afford or secure transportation are not using much needed
funding dollars!
The system: How it works
a. Rider Registration
First Step: Potential rider* will complete a Rider application / Registration Form, either
online in pdf format
or as a hand written format to be sent to CCI.
CCI staff (individually or as a team) will review the application to meet the established
parameters under the funding source’s desired set of criteria.
a. If Rider is approved, a code/tag will be assigned and the basic rider information for Uber or
other service will be input into system. Applicant Rider will be notified and requested to
attend a Rider Travel Training (Rules of the Road) in a group setting. CCI Volunteer will lead
the training session and each graduate will be activated.
b. Rider may activate or initiate a ride 24 hours after the training using a smartphone device that
they own.*
c. All rides for a selected subset of donations will be reported weekly to the donor source (if
desired).

Riders must meet criteria of Funding Source such as low-income, older-adult, physically
impaired, or one suffering from a critical disease and requiring routine medical treatments.
CommonCourtesy®, Inc.
… in partnership with YOU for transportation
CONFIDENTIAL Statement of Need and Rider Information Form
888-447-7555
$10.00 Refundable Registration Fee if not accepted
Please mail to: PO BOX 19674, Atlanta, GA 30325
or FAX to: 404-745-8003
PLEASE ASSIST US BY PRINTING (EXCEPT SIGNATURE) ALL INFORMATION REQUE
BALLPOINT PEN!
PLEASE COMPLETE ALL INFORMATION BEFORE SUBMITTIN
.
TODAY’S DATE: ______________________
FULL LEGAL NAME:________________________________________________________
First
Middle Initial
Last
NICKNAME? _______________________________
PRESENT RESIDENCE ADDRESS:
________________________________________________________________________
Number
Street
APT
City
State
Any SPECIAL NEEDS (CONFIDENTIAL)?
______________________________________________________________________
________
I CAN WALK FREELY yes/no
I USE A WALKER
WHEELCHAIR yes/no
I NEED ASSISTANCE yes/no PLEASE EXPLAIN:
__________________________________
yes/no
I USE A
Please list two nearby/available contacts or emergency numbers:
Name __________________________________________ Relationship
____________________
Telephone ______________________________________
Name __________________________________________Relationship
_____________________
Telephone ________________________________________
RELEASE OF LIABILITY
COMMON COURTESY CURB-TO-CURB RIDES FOR: HOW IT WORKS
A.
Application
1.
Become a registered rider by completing and submitting the required registration form along with a credit card or check for $10
made out to Common Courtesy
a. You must have a cell phone to become a registered rider
2.
Receive Confirmation with your rider identification number and rider registration packet.
A.
Taking Rides with Common Courtesy IF BY DISPATCH ONLY
1.
Schedule a ride by calling the toll free message center at 888-447-7555 and pressing the #1 button on your phone. Leave a
message with all the information to arrange your ride from the script in your rider registration packet.
2.
A confirmation call will be made providing you with a unique Ride Confirmation Code. Please retain this Code as it is your Ride
Confirmation and identification by Driver.
a. You will be given a local number to call 404-276-0164 on your cell if you have any changes to the planned travel itinerary.
Please write it down and take with you.
3.
Pick-up Your Common Courtesy Driver will arrive within 10 minutes of the pick-up time, driver name and last 3 digits of their
license plate number will be provided to you along with make of the auto.
4.
Return ride Common Courtesy will call you 15 minutes before you are scheduled to be picked up to confirm the time and
location.
a. Please be sure and have your cell phone charged and turned on to receive the return ride confirmation call.
b. Call the local number given to you 404-276-0164 if your return time is delayed or changed.
c. Also call the local number if your driver has not arrived or if there is a problem.
Help to provide safe, affordable or
even no-cost transportation to those
unable to operate a vehicle safely.
And…Our volunteer support needs are:
Your physical help to:
Administer and validate driver application procedures
Administer dispatch support
Give telephone responses to driver, riders, funding sources
Prepare materials and coordinate attendance for presentations
Data input, registering Drivers and Riders in the system
Prepare & assemble Fundraising & Grant Requests
Coordinate Volunteer Staff activities
Provide support as needed for Community Organizations Advocacy
Track Funding and Accounting
Area Agencies on Aging/Aging &
Disability Resource Connections
Best kept secret!
www.eldercare.gov
•Call lines staffed by Certified
Information & Referral Specialists
in Aging
•Online access to resources
•Demographic information
•Policy & Planning
•Program access point