In 2003, the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth received grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who partnered with the American Society on Aging and the Academy for Educational Development, to initiate a project involving research on older driver habits in Onondaga County, New York.

In order to effectively measure older driver (65+) habits, the Department of Aging and Youth was required to survey 400 drivers age 65 and older; thus providing an appropriate number of responses and enabling the Academy for Educational Development to measure older driver habits of the entire 65+ population in Onondaga County.

The initial survey received more than 600 responses from sources such as attendees of the Great New York State Fair, Onondaga County Senior centers, the State University of New York, Upstate University Hospital-Center for Human Performance, Onondaga County Faith Communities and others.

During the year-long study, and through the follow-up survey conducted at the close of the research period, we learned the following:

• Equate Driving with independence
• Socialize less, decrease in volunteering
• Want a variety of alternatives to driving themselves but favor private car
• Oppose mandatory testing for driver licensing
• Are willing to take driver classes to enhance driving skills

In 2004, the Department received a research grant from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This grant, along with the work already accomplished from the research grant received in 2003, enabled the Department of Aging and Youth to expand the newly created “Project Safe R.O.A.D.s (safe and responsible options for aging drivers).

Project Safe R.O.A.D.s services now include:

• Website information on driver safety for older adults, caregivers and human service professionals
• Exercise locations at community sites that focus on strength and balance training to help keep older driver agile and mobile
• Information on Transportation options for older adults living in Onondaga County when they can no longer drive themselves.