GEORGIA OLDER DRIVER TASK FORCE

 

Good morning!  I am looking forward to our next meeting of the ODTF, which has been scheduled for Wednesday,  October 27th from 10a.m.-12p.m.  The usual meeting space at the Alzheimer's Association is not available that week, but Randy Clayton has generously reserved the Rose Anderson meeting room at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.  The office is located at 34 Peachtree Street, 8th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, just a few steps away from the 5 Points MARTA station.  I've attached directions to GOHS from one of the nearby parking garages, but please note that there are many garages to choose from, and ***GOHS is no longer able to validate parking tickets.***

 

I am currently working on the agenda and welcome any suggestions for items you would like to see included.  I will send out the completed agenda next week, along with a "family awareness" summary prepared by Dr. Karp.

 

I am thrilled to be a part of this terrific group and am looking forward to working with everyone!


Jennifer Curry
Georgia Dept. of Community Health
Injury Prevention Program
Division of Emergency Preparedness & Response
2 Peachtree Street NW, 10th Floor, Suite 10.403
Atlanta, GA 30303-3142
404-657-2894
jlcurry@dhr.state.ga.us

 

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PHOTOS AND PRESENTATIONS FROM THE RURAL AND HUMAN SERVICES COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION WORKSHOP

 

View all from the Workshop here.

 

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PHOTOS AND NEWS FROM THE AUGUST 4TH OLDER DRIVER TRAIN THE TRAINER WORKSHOP HELD IN ATLANTA

 

Learn more from the Workshop here. The agenda from the Workshop can be found here.

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BACKGROUND
The Georgia Older Driver Task Force (ODTF) officially was established in July 2006 as part of the Governor's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). Since its inception, the Task Force has been meeting monthly to address the injuries and fatalities experienced by older drivers and, conjointly, the factors that influence older adult mobility. Older Drivers are one of ten key SHSP emphasis areas for Georgia. The Task Force is headed by the Injury Prevention Section, Division of Public Health, with funds from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

GOAL
The Georgia ODTF is charged with recommending evidence-based approaches for reducing motor-vehicle injuries and fatalities sustained by older drivers in Georgia. Simultaneously, the ODTF also recognizes the need to maintain the mobility of older adults who cease driving or who do not drive by providing sustainable alternative transportation options. The ODTF is working to ensure that the recommendations will serve as a springboard to: raise awareness of issues impacting older drivers, increase the capacity of intermediary populations such as physicians, caregivers, law enforcement, aging service providers, and transportation providers, as well as older adults themselves, to safely address driving and mobility concerns, and improve access to driving and mobility resources. The recommendations developed by the ODTF will be reviewed by the Governor's SHSP Leadership Group.


FOCUS AREAS

The Georgia ODTF decided to target its initial efforts within three major focus areas impacting older drivers and older adult mobility in Georgia; education, engineering, and alternative transportation. It is engaged in developing comprehensive strategies within these three areas that are relevant to the needs of older Georgians and their communities. Themes addressed in the ODTF debut year include problem awareness, roadway and transportation and infrastructure changes, policy issues, and access to resources.

 

VIEW ASSESSING AND COUNSELING OLDER DRIVERS: A PHYSICIANS GUIDE (PREPARED BY H.R. KARP, M.D. FOR THE OLDER DRIVER TASK FORCE HERE....