Older Driver Summit Scheduled

See Also: AARP Driver Safety

The public and interested persons can participate in the Older Driver Summit beginning at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 23 and concluding at 1 p.m. Feb 24. The meeting will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, 3301 Lemone Industrial Drive, Columbia, MO.

During the two day summit participants will break up in the areas or groups listed below:

• Systems coordination for person centered mobility support – this group will discuss strategies to enhance communication, coordination and resource sharing to maximize mobility services.
  
• Supporting and promoting non-driving mobility options for older adults – this group will develop strategies to enhance availability and access to mobility options across the state.
  
• Enhancing on-road safety for older adults and their passengers – this group will develop strategies that will make a positive difference in keeping healthy, capable older drivers safely on the road.
  

Our population is aging and older adult drivers are increasing their exposure or miles driven each year on Missouri roadways. Being able to go where we want and when we want is important to our quality of life. Studies have shown that a driver 70 or over is about three times as likely as someone 35-54 years old to sustain a fatal injury in a crash. In 2008-2010, 464 people were killed and 2,792 were seriously injured in Missouri in traffic crashes involving a driver of a motor vehicle who was 65 or over.

For questions please call Jackie Rogers at 573-751-5960 or 800-800-2358.