title: Walking the tightrope: developing a systems approach to balance safety and mobility for an aging society.
abstract: In an aging population, safety and mobility are often viewed as being in conflict, when in fact they are two values that must be reflected equally in transportation policy. The challenge for policy makers and for society is to emphasize and optimize both. To achieve this, a comprehensive systems approach to driver health, personal decision-making and planning, community and transportation systems construction, vehicle design, and licensing regulations is needed. Such an approach requires crafting policies based on conceptualizing the issue as a continuum of resources facilitating safety and mobility regardless of driving status. The discussion that follows reviews components of the issue and suggestions for developing a comprehensive approach.
authors: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. richard.marottoli@ynhh.org
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Marottoli
authors: Joseph F
authors: JF
authors: Coughlin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011050:Policy Making; D011640:Public Policy; D040841:Resource Allocation; D020379:Risk Adjustment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D014186:Transportation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards