8/8/2019 Older Driver Traffic Safety Recogntion

1/2

Traffic SafetyOklahoma CountySher iff's Of fic eO lder D river S afetyProgramIn conjunction with the National Sheriffs'Association and the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is a nationalleader in traffic safety initiatives, and this year, in partner-ship with the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) and theNational Highway TrafficSafetyAdministration (NHTSA),the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is piloting a newOlder Driver Safety Program. This program is two-fold: toeducate older drivers on the effects of aging on their drivingskills, and to inform law enforcement officials of criticalaging issues that might be overlooked in traffic situations.

Sheriff John Whetsel is Chairman of the NSA TrafficSafety Committee and is no stranger to traffic safety orsenior issues. The agency's Traffic Safety Unit is activeyear-round in reducing traffic-related injuries and deathsthroughout Oklahoma's most populated county, and theOklahoma County TRIAD program, aimed at reducingcriminal victimization of older adults, is one of the mostactive and fastest-growing in the area. Both of these unitsgive the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office the perfect plat-form from which to focus on Older Driver issues.

After being chosen byNHTSA and NSA to begindeveloping the new program,webegan looking atwhat issuesaffect not only older drivers,but specifically, older driversin Oklahoma. The OklahomaCity metro area is one of thelargest cities in the country inregard to land area, so seniorcitizens have very unique chal-lengeswhen it comes to gettingaround. Senior transportationoptions exist, but usually havespecific criteria that not everysenior can meet (i.e. rides formedical appointments only,age restrictions, etc.).

46 * Sheriff ' N o vembe r/ De cembe r 2 010

By Sheriff John Whetsel and Corporal KelliBrookshire, Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office,Oklahoma

Educating seniors on driving safety and possible issues i;tricky from a law enforcement perspective. A lot of olderdrivers believe that law enforcement officers aim to revoketheir licenses in order to take them off of the roadway. Infact, law enforcement's goal is the exact opposite, to keepdrivers behind the wheel for as long as it is safe for them tobe there. And just like with any discipline, education andtraining are the best ways to keep skills sharp.

In May 2010, the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Officekicked off Older American's Month by introducing thenew program, intermingled with critical elements ofNHTSA's DriveWell program. Over 200 older adultswere educated that first month on Five Simple Actionsto Improve Driving. While these first lessons were beingconducted, plans also began coming together for a largesafety event. Another 200 seniors were exposed to thesecond lesson plan in June 2010, titled Staying Healthyfor Driving Fitness. In August 2010, the first OklahomaCounty Older Driver Safety Day was held at Francis Tuttle

8/8/2019 Older Driver Traffic Safety Recogntion

2/2

Traffic Safety (cont inued)

Technology Center in Oklahoma City. This half-day eventincluded an Auto Safety Resource Fair, free vehicle safetyinspections, educational seminars on eyesight and medicalissues that affect older drivers, and a senior transportationresource panel discussion. Around 100 seniors attendedthe event, and we've already had several wonderful seminartopic suggestions for next year.

Educating local law enforcement officers is no easy task,either. When medical issues are discussed, law enforcementofficers instinctively believe that inform~tion to be morerelevant to medical professionals. In fact, the contact officeron a moving violation or the first officer on the scene of atraffic crash plays a critical role. Training for law enforce-ment officers in recognizing senior-specific medical issuesis minimal, so it would be very possible to end up with asenior citizen taking an intoxilyzer test, when they shouldbe being treated for a medical condition in an emergencyroom.

As a part of the Older Driver Safety Program, a trainingcurriculum is being written to providing training to officersrelating to senior-specific medical issues. This will requirepartnerships with medical professionals who specialize ingeriatric medicine, and we are lucky to have several oppor-tunities for those partnerships within Oklahoma County.

While aging and/or medical issues are by no meansan excuse for traffic violations or crashes, they do requirea different nature of response from law enforcement. Byusing this program to educate both seniors and respondingofficers, we are working to achieve two goals: to preventthese life-threatening situations by senior drivers and to

make sure officers use the appropriate response when theyactually occur. The national conversation on senior drivingisn't going away and with the Baby Boomer generationgetting older every day, we must focus attention on keepingthese drivers on the road in a safe and secure manner.Prevention, after all, is the best medicine. 0

For more information on the Oklahoma County Sheriff'sOffice Older Driver Program, contact Cpl. Kelli Brookshireat sokelbro@oklahomacounty.org.

She rif f" Novembe r/D ec embe r 20 10 * 47