Eberhard, J., Hakamies-Blomqvist, L, Howard, E. et al. OECD 2001,  Expert  group on mobility needs and safety problems of an ageing society (ERS 4), 2 rue André-Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.

Objectives 

The study had its aim to identify current and emerging mobility and safety issues arising from the ageing of the baby boom generation and to develop policy and research recommendations to meet older people´s transport needs while maintaining acceptable safety standards.

Methods   

The expert group worked on the basis of literature and policy reviews, analysis of demografic and statistical data and study of recent research findings and case studies.

Results    

This study identifies four key issue areas: safety, mobility, land use and socio-economic factors. (1) Older drivers tend to be safer than is commonly believed. They have fewer reported crashes per capita or per number of drivers. The most important safety concern is their frailty and consequent vulnerability to personal injury or death in a crash. Older pedestrians have higher fatality rates than younger ones; they account for nearly half of all pedestrian faralities in many OECD European countries. (2) Older people who suffer from health-related limitations must often cease walking or using public transport before they cease driving. (3) In most OECD Member countries, older people tend to age in place. Well-planned communities facilitate ageing in place, and improved land use planning is paramount fo facilitating lifelong mobility. (4) The ratio of working to retired persons is decreasing and hence generating less funding to support retirement pensions and health care programmes for older adults. Covernments therefore need to anticipate the mobility and safety needs of older adults.

Recommendations
The study offers eight major policy recommendations: (1) Support and funding to enable lifelong mobility. (2) Support for older people to continue driving safely. (3) Provision of suitable transport options to the private car. (4) Safer vehicles for older people. (5) Development of safer roads and infrastructure. (6) Appropriate land-use practices. (7) Involvement of older people in policy development. (8) Educational campaigns to promote maximum mobility and safety for older people.
There is a pressing need for co-ordinated research and subsequent development in OECD Member countries if older people are to be provided with safe mobility through to 2030 and beyond. While each Member country may undertake efforts to address this challenge on its own, collaboration on research and sharing of best practices and relevant information offer great potential.

The study offers spesific eight areas for further research and development recommendations: (1) Improve older peoples´ ability to avoid/survive crashes. (2) Improve the assessment and rehabilitation of older drivers. (3) Determine, demonstrate and promote the societal benefits of providing road improvements. (4) Determine, demonstrate and promote the societal benefits of providing older people with continued, safe mobility. (5) Provide transport options in an efficient and cost-effective way. (6) Support health improvements for older adults. (7) Enhance land-use planning and sustainable communities. (8) Encourage cross-national co-operation in the development of data and information sources.