Road safety for senior citizens

In Wolverhampton there are more than 50,000 people over the age of 60. Many are enjoying a fit and active retirement, and all have priceless skills and knowledge which they can pass to younger generations.

People today are living longer and healthier lives, with many older people having no trouble coping with modern traffic. But the onset of age may mean that they have to look at traffic in a different light; for some, eyesight may not be as sharp as it once was, while others may not be quite so nimble. Drivers and pedestrians should take extra care.

Last year in Britain around 3,500 people were killed in road accidents, with a quarter of those aged over 60, along with 30,000 injured. Unfortunately, older people are more likely to die or suffer serious injury than younger accident victims.

Pedestrians

Even the most basic of modern cars can accelerate and manoeuvre quickly. This makes it difficult to judge the speed and distance of vehicles, so some older people will need to take extra care when making journeys on foot and crossing roads. So....

Plan your route

...to avoid busy junctions or find safer places to cross the road wherever possible. It may take a little longer to get where you're going, but it's worth taking the time.

Cross safely

...at Zebra crossings, pelican crossings and pedestrian refuges. Drivers don't always do what they are supposed to, so make sure that all traffic has stopped completely and that you have enough time to cross before starting over. Where busy roads and dual carriageways are concerned, then footbridges or subways are by far the safest way to cross.

Be seen

...by wearing or carrying something bright or reflective, especially at night, so you can be easily spotted by drivers.

If you have sight or hearing difficulties, the following may help:

Beepers...for some it can be difficult to see the red or green man at pelican crossings, so many are fitted with a beeping sound which tells people when it's safe to cross over.

Finger knobs...pelican crossings without beepers are fitted with a rotating knob on the underside of the "wait" box. After pressing the button, feel underneath the casing for something that feels like a TV volume knob. When it starts turning it's safe to cross over.

Special paving...all pedestrian crossings have knobbly paving slabs at the kerb edge. They guide people by colour and feel, leading them to the crossing.

Special painting...the front edges of all subway steps are marked with white paint so they are easier to see.