GEORGIA OLDER DRIVER TASK FORCE
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.