title: Usual and Dual-Task Walking Speed: Implications for Pedestrians Crossing the Road.
abstract: In many countries, pedestrian light crossings require a minimum walking speed of 1.2 m/s. This study examined the proportion of adults in a nationally representative sample whose usual and dual-task walking speeds are <1.2 m/s.
  
  
  
  Community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) completed walking speed tests on a GAITRite® walkway (N = 4,909).
  
  
  
  One third of Irish adults aged 65 to 74 years and 61% of adults aged ≥75 years walked slower than 1.2 m/s. In dual-task walking, 54% of adults aged <65 years and 91% of adults aged ≥75 years walked slower than 1.2 m/s.
  
  
  
  Based on these data, many older people would have insufficient time to cross the road at light-controlled pedestrian crossings. Increasing the time provided would be an advantage for many older pedestrians.
authors.affiliation: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland odonogh@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Orna A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Donoghue
authors.affiliation: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dooley
authors.affiliation: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rose Anne
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069636:Pedestrians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D000072797:Walking Speed
keywords: mobility; pedestrian crossings; safety