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eTraffic  |   Countermeasures  |   Education  |   Frequently Asked Questions  |  
Livable Communities

When designing roadways and communities to benefit an aging road user, engineers and planners should consider the natural changes in vision, fitness and flexibility, attention span, and reaction time that occur as we age. For example, making left turns or getting stranded in the crosswalk when the signal changes can be challenging for all road users, and especially more challenging for aging road users. However, it is possible to accommodate the needs of older drivers while enhancing the safety of all road users through the application of roadway design and implementation of proven engineering and safety countermeasures.

As stakeholders, engineers and planners can help support two focus areas in the Safe Mobility for Life Strategic Action Plan – Livable Communities and Mobility Independence. Building roadways and livable communities with Florida’s aging population in mind is critical to the continued safety and mobility of older adults. The resources on this page help support the Coalition’s data-driven approach to eliminating fatalities and serious injuries for Florida’s aging road users. We will be adding more resources and guidance in the near future to directly support engineers and planners. Sign up for our Coalition updates to receive a notification when these resources are available.


eTraffic

FDOT’s State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office developed eTraffic, a GIS based web application, that integrates various FDOT traffic related datasets and is used for data reporting, analysis, and informational purposes. The datasets are reflected as interactive layers that can be activated or deactivated based on the need of the analysis. The Safe Mobility for Life eTraffic layer was developed to support our proactive data-driven approach to eliminating fatalities and reducing serious injuries for Florida’s aging road users and can be accessed below.




Countermeasures

The countermeasures and strategies shown in this section have been proven effective to reduce fatalities and serious injuries for aging road users and benefit road users of all ages. Click on the sections below to view the specific countermeasures, where to access guidelines, available educational materials for intersections and pedestrians/bicyclists.

Intersections

One particular challenge for all types of aging road users is the ability to navigate intersections safely. While intersection-related crashes comprise a similar share of crashes for individuals over and under 65, they take a much greater share of fatalities for those aged 65 and over – showing they are more deadly for this age demographic (see figure below).

Intersection Graphic. Intersection Crash Involvement (<65): 66% not at intersection, 33% at intersection. Intersection Crash Involvement (65+): 63% not at intersection, 37% at intersection. Intersection Fatalities (<65): 70% not at intersection, 30% at intersection. Intersection Fatalities (65+): 55% not at intersection, 45% at intersection.

Making left turns, changing lanes, and navigating through intersections are among the most complex traffic situations for aging road users and require appropriate countermeasures and some are shown below to ensure safety.

Backplates with Retroreflective Borders

  • Description: Traffic signals attract the attention of every driver, including aging drivers, those with impaired vision who meet legal requirements, who are fatigued or distracted, or who are not expecting to encounter a signal at a particular location. Backplates with retroreflective borders improve safety performance at signalized intersections. Yellow retroreflective borders may be used as an option to improve visibility of the illuminated face of the signal.
  • Safety Benefits:
  • Relevant Guidelines:

Flashing Yellow Arrow

  • Description: The flashing yellow arrow increases the likelihood that all drivers, but particularly aging drivers, will wait for an appropriate gap in oncoming traffic before beginning a permissive left-turn maneuver, rather than incorrectly assuming that they have the right-of-way. This results in a decrease in the likelihood of right-angle and other crashes that are particularly common among aging drivers making unprotected left turns. Research indicates an improved response rate for the flashing yellow arrow (FYA) among users of all ages, as compared to the circular green. Installation of the FYA indication for permissive left-turns provides a safety improvement when added to existing protected/permissive left-turn signal phasing operations.
  • Relevant Guidelines:
    • Section 3.10, Flashing Yellow Arrow Signal Application, Traffic Engineering Manual
    • Chapter 2, Section 24, Flashing Yellow Arrow, FHWA Handbook for Designing Roadways for the Aging Population
  • Education Material

Roundabouts

  • Description: Roundabout intersections can be a beneficial treatment over a traditional stop- or signal-controlled intersection for aging drivers. When properly designed, roundabouts are low-speed intersections, effectively eliminate severe right-angle crashes, eliminate problems associated with making unprotected left turns at intersections. Therefore, roundabouts are recommended to be considered as part of the engineering study in the design of new intersections and the redesign of existing intersections.
  • Safety Benefits:
  • Relevant Guidelines:
    • Section 213, Modern Roundabouts, FDOT Design Manual
    • Chapter 2, Section 16, Roundabout, FHWA Handbook for Designing Roadways for the Aging Population
    • Roundabouts, FHWA’s Proven Safety Countermeasures initiative (PSCi)
  • Education Material

Yellow Change Intervals

  • Description: At a signalized intersection, the yellow change interval is the length of time that the yellow signal indication is displayed following a green signal indication. Appropriately timed yellow change intervals can reduce red-light running and improve overall intersection safety.
  • Safety Benefits:
  • Relevant Guidelines:
    • Section 3.6, Standardization of Yellow Change and Red Clearance Intervals for Signalized Intersections, Traffic Engineering Manual
    • Yellow Change Intervals, FHWA’s Proven Safety Countermeasures initiative (PSCi)

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Approximately two-thirds of pedestrian- and bicyclist-related fatal crashes occur outside of a marked crosswalk or bicycle lane. Many serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists occur during dark or dusk hours. Motorist speed is one of the major factors that can mean the difference between a minor injury and a serious injury or fatality for a bicyclist or pedestrian. As speed increases, the likelihood of a crash with a bicyclist or pedestrian resulting in a fatality or serious injury also increases.

According to Safe Mobility for Life data provided by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, from 2016-2020, 7.5% of aging bicyclists and pedestrians involved in crashes died. In contrast, only 4.9% of bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages found a fatal encounter in a crash. This again points at the greater vulnerability experienced by aging road users when they interact as non-motorists.

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons

  • Description: The pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) is a traffic control device designed to help pedestrians safely cross higher-speed roadways at midblock crossings and uncontrolled intersections. In general, PHBs are used where it is difficult for pedestrians to cross a roadway, such as when gaps in traffic are not sufficient or speed limits exceed 35 miles per hour. They are very effective at locations where three or more lanes will be crossed or traffic volumes are above 9,000 annual average daily traffic.
  • Safety Benefits:
  • Relevant Guidelines:
  • Education Material

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons

  • Description: To enhance pedestrian conspicuity and increase driver awareness at uncontrolled, marked crosswalks, a pedestrian actuated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) can be installed to accompany a pedestrian warning sign. RRFBs consist of two, rectangular- shaped yellow indications, each with a light-emitting diode (LED)-array-based light source. RRFBs flash with an alternating high frequency when activated to enhance conspicuity of pedestrians at the crossing to drivers.
  • Safety Benefits:
  • Relevant Guidelines:
  • Education Material

Education

The Safe Mobility for Life Coalition developed a series of educational materials, in both print and digital formats to help raise awareness and increase the understanding of countermeasures by older adults. Our materials are designed based on results of human factors research to specifically educate older adults. Our static and animated digital media graphics below are companions to the print materials available through the Safe Mobility for Life Resource Center, that can be used on your social media pages, webpages, and other digital channels.

Flashing Yellow Arrow


Roundabout


Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon and Midblock Crossing


Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons


Turning Right on Red


Wrong Way Driving


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the eTraffic Safe Mobility for Life Tab?

What are the layers on the Safe Mobility for Life eTraffic tab? What do they mean?

What are the benefits of using eTraffic to support aging road users?


Sources: FLHSMV Closeout Data (data reflects records with known ages only), BEBR Population Estimates, FLHSMV Licensed Driver Data.

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