Clearinghouse for Older Road User Safety (ChORUS) joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other partners in recognizing Older Americans Month (OAM) this May. The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, and our focus is on ensuring that older adults are proactive about being a safe drivers and plan for safe mobility beyond the driver’s seat. The older population (65+), although a vulnerable road user, are among the safest drivers. In 2020, 55.7 million people, 17% of the United States population, were over the age of 65. In the same year, there were 6,549 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 17 percent of all traffic fatalities. Although older drivers are less likely to drive aggressively or to speed, they are considered vulnerable road users. It is important for those who engage with older drivers to know about age-related changes that may undermine an individual’s driving ability.
In support of Older Americans Month, we invite you to take advantage of the customizable resources we offer that can be used now and throughout the year to support your education and outreach efforts.
Select any of the sections below to access resources, materials, and other information to support your efforts.
- Add ChORUS to Your Site
Help users easily connect to ChORUS and the wealth of resources on this website. Copy and paste the logo and website description to your website’s home page, resource page or other locations as is appropriate.
ChORUS serves as a centralized, user-friendly, and dynamic source of information pertaining to highway safety for aging drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Built as a comprehensive resource, it covers all three major components of highway safety: safe roadways, safe road users, and safe vehicles.
- How to Use OAM Resources
Review this quick guide for ideas on activities and events using the ChORUS OAM resources that will increase older driver traffic safety within your community.
How to use these Resources to Strengthen Professional and Community Partnerships
- ChORUS OAM 2023 Radio Spot Language
During Older Americans Month and throughout the year, you may have the opportunity to work with your local radio stations to help educate members of your community on the importance of traffic safety and transportation planning for older adults. The following offers messages you can customize and share with your local stations to use as a public service announcement or radio spot.
- ChORUS OAM 2023 Talking Points
During Older Americans Month and throughout the year, you may have the opportunity to meet with older drivers, their family members/caregivers, and others in your community to engage in addressing traffic safety for older adults. Use these talking points to promote older road user safety in your community.
- ChORUS OAM Twitter Chat Discussion Prompts
In recognition of Older Americans Month (OAM), the Clearinghouse for Older Road User Safety (ChORUS) @roadsafeseniors is hosting a Twitter chat on May 23, 2023, at 2:00 pm est. This year’s OAM theme is Aging Unbound. Please join us to share resources and strategies to improve transportation options and road safety for Americans as they age unbound. We will be using the following questions to guide our discussion. Email ChORUS for additional information at RoadSafeSeniors@neweditions.net.
- Please share outreach and educational approaches used in your state or organization to improve traffic safety among older adults.
- When it comes to improving older road user safety (whether driving, bicycling, or walking), who are your partners and stakeholders for education/outreach activities?
- When creating, an age-friendly community helps to have transportation options available. What services and options are available in your community for older adults?
- Feeling empowered to plan for safe mobility, even beyond the driver’s seat, is important for older drivers. What tips can you offer when talking to an older driver about road safety?
- Handouts
Include the ChORUS handouts in the materials you provide for older drivers.
General Information – provides an introduction to the resources and information that ChORUS offers to improve traffic safety for older drivers.
Patient Questionnaire – helps medical professionals gauge when they may need to have a conversation with patients about their driving.
Transportation Planning Tool – helps older drivers and their family members prepare for mobility as they age.
- Infographics
The Older Driver Safety Infographic presents key data to highlight the importance of older driver safety.
3 out of 4 fatal crashes that
occurred in the daytime Infographic
- Lobby Slides
Integrate one or more of the lobby slides into the information messaging systems that you use for those in your waiting areas.
Click here to download all of the lobby slides
- Poster
For areas with bulletin boards or where handouts can be displayed, consider using the ChORUS poster. The poster provides the URL and QR codes to connect individuals to valuable tools and resources about older driver safety.
- Press Releases
Use these sample press releases in newsletters, publications, or community outreach to encourage participation in recognizing and promoting older driver safety.
- Resources
ChORUS offers a wealth of resources that promote older driver safety. We have curated lists to provide the perfect starting point for exploring resources, materials, and tools specific to you.
- Social Media Messaging
Include these ready-to-post social media messages to highlight ChORUS resources in ongoing digital media campaigns.
Messages for Professionals Engaged in Traffic Safety
- Professionals in #TrafficSafety can use ChORUS community outreach tools from @RoadSafeSeniors when engaging with their community about traffic safety for older adults. #OlderAmericansMonth. https://bit.ly/3aynlU6
- #TrafficSafety professionals: May is Older Americans Month and a great time to add lobby slides encouraging older drivers to seek ways to improve their traffic safety. Find lobby slides and more resources @RoadSafeSeniors https://bit.ly/3L2LLsc
- #TrafficSafety Professionals can refer older drivers and their family members/caregivers to the ChORUS transportation tool @RoadSafeSeniors to help #OlderDrivers to drive safer and longer. #OlderAmericansMonth. http://bit.ly/406Rxgr
- #OlderAmericansMonth is the perfect time for medical professionals to incorporate driving safety discussions into patient visits with older adults and their family members. Download the ChORUS Patient Questionnaire to help guide these conversations https://bit.ly/3eiAKp2
- During #OlderAmericansMonth consider adding #TrafficSafety to your tools and resources to help older adults in your community. Find handouts, presentations, and more @RoadSafeSeniors. https://bit.ly/369IoLw
Messages for the General Public
- Do you know about the services available in your state to keep #OlderDrivers engaged in the community if driving is no longer an option? Discover what state resources are available in your community. #OlderAmericansMonth. @RoadSafeSeniors. https://bit.ly/3HfIDGd
- Planning for the road ahead is important for #OlderDrivers to drive safer, drive longer and to be prepared if the time comes when driving is not an option. Use the @RoadSafeSeniors transportation planning tool to plan today. #OlderAmericansMonth. http://bit.ly/406Rxgr
- Do you know about assessments to help #OlderDrivers identify ways to improve driving safety? Comprehensive assessments should be performed by a driver rehabilitation specialist to determine driving fitness and your options. Find free assessments and a driving rehabilitation specialist near you @RoadSafeSeniors. #OlderAmericansMonth. https://bit.ly/39kKZEh
1 National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2022, July). Older population: 2020 data (Traffic Safety Facts. Report No. DOT HS 813 341). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.