Objectives: Effective public policy to prevent falls among independent community-dwelling older a... more Objectives: Effective public policy to prevent falls among independent community-dwelling older adults is needed to address this global public health issue. This paper aimed to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement of future policies to increase their likelihood of success.Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted to identify policies published between 2005–2020. Policy quality was assessed using a novel framework and content criteria adapted from the World Health Organization’s guideline for Developing policies to prevent injuries and violence and the New Zealand Government’s Policy Quality Framework.Results: A total of 107 articles were identified from 14 countries. Content evaluation of 25 policies revealed that only 54% of policies met the WHO criteria, and only 59% of policies met the NZ criteria. Areas for improvement included quantified objectives, prioritised interventions, budget, ministerial approval, and monitoring and evaluation.Conclusion: The finding...
Access to adequate and appropriate transport options enables older people to continue as thriving... more Access to adequate and appropriate transport options enables older people to continue as thriving community participants, to reach services and to maintain social connections. While transport needs are diverse, and tend to change over time, there is little information on current and future transport patterns, and the awareness, acceptance and adoption of new technologies. A national online survey was administered to current drivers in Australia. A sample of 705 drivers provided information on available travel modes and use of these modes, awareness of in-vehicle technologies and future use of vehicle technologies. The findings revealed high use of private vehicles, walking and taxis but little use of other travel modes (bicycles, motorcycles, rideshare, community services and public transport). Age, gender and residential location influenced the availability and use/potential use of some transport options. Overall awareness of in-vehicle technologies was generally low and particular...
This chapter covers the risks faced and the types of collisions and injuries suffered by older pe... more This chapter covers the risks faced and the types of collisions and injuries suffered by older pedestrians as well as strategies to improve road safety for this age group. As a group, older pedestrians have an increased vulnerability to death and injury as a result of collisions with motor vehicles. Although increased frailty and slower walking and response times may be partly responsible, there are practical countermeasures that can be introduced to increase road safety for this group.
Walking is a sustainable mode of transportation which is beneficial to both individuals and to th... more Walking is a sustainable mode of transportation which is beneficial to both individuals and to the broader community, however, there are risks and it is essential that road design and operation provides safe conditions for walking. In Victoria, pedestrians represent one of the most vulnerable road user groups, accounting for approximately 12% of all road fatalities and serious injuries. These figures largely represent injuries where the pedestrian has been struck by a vehicle with the extent of pedestrian-only injuries largely un-reported. Falling while walking may be a significant contributor to pedestrian only injuries. Indeed, the World Health Organisation has identified falls generally as the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in older populations. Despite the prevalence of fall-related injuries, there has been relatively little research undertaken to address the issues surrounding falls that occur while walking for transport and in public spaces. This study, the...
Speeding remains a major contributor to trauma on our roads, held to be a major factor in around ... more Speeding remains a major contributor to trauma on our roads, held to be a major factor in around one-third of fatal crashes and over 10 percent of all crashes (Bowie & Walz, 1994; Fildes & Lee, 1993). This study reviewed speed management strategies and key factors that should be considered through a comprehensive review of the literature. One of the most frequently used methods of managing travel speeds is the posted speed limit. The primary purpose of the speed limit is to advise drivers of the maximum reasonable and safe operating speed under favourable conditions, therefore considered to be a road safety measure. Further, speed limits are designed to be (i) related to crash risk, (ii) provide a reasonable basis for enforcement, (iii) fair in the context of traffic law, and (iv) accepted as reasonable by most road users. Traditional approaches to setting speed limits (e.g. engineering approach using the 85th percentile speed) are compared with an alternative view to setting speed ...
ObjectivesReluctance to seek help is a leading contributor to escalating mental injury rates in A... more ObjectivesReluctance to seek help is a leading contributor to escalating mental injury rates in Australian workplaces. We explored the benefit of using community organisations to deliver mental health literacy programmes to overcome workplace barriers to help-seeking behaviours.DesignThis study used a qualitative application of the theory of planned behaviour to examine underlying beliefs that may influence worker’s intentions to participate in mental health literacy programmes delivered by community organisations and manager support for them.SettingThis study took place within three large white-collar organisations in the Australian state of Victoria.ParticipantsEighteen workers and 11 managers (n=29) were interviewed to explore perspectives of the benefits of such an approach.ResultsCommunity organisations have six attributes that make them suitable as an alternative mental health literacy programme provider including empathy, safety, relatability, trustworthiness, social support ...
While older drivers do not currently represent a significant road safety problem in Australasia, ... more While older drivers do not currently represent a significant road safety problem in Australasia, they are over-represented in serious injury and casualty crashes per head of population, probably due to their frailty. Further to this, the population is increasingly \"greying\" and this could result in an increase in the number of crashes involving older drivers. The present study set out to review the suitability of current road design requirements for older drivers in Australasia. The study was undertaken in a number of stages including a literature review, a critical examination of the Federal Highway Administration's recently released \"Older Driver Highway Design Handbook\", a one-day expert workshop, and an examination of older driver \"black spots\" in four Australasian jurisdictions. Primarily older drivers seem to have a difficulty selecting a safe gap in conflicting traffic at intersections, especially at those controlled by either stop or g...
The Victorian ‘arrive alive’ 2008-2017 road safety strategy aims to reduce road trauma, to delive... more The Victorian ‘arrive alive’ 2008-2017 road safety strategy aims to reduce road trauma, to deliver further major improvements to our road transport system, and to improve safety for all Victorian road users. The strategy identifies reductions in traffic speed as having an important role in achieving this aim and this requires the introduction and maintenance of effective speed management strategies. A review of the recent and current literature on the factors that influence choice of driving/riding travel speed was undertaken and a number of factors were identified. These include driver/rider characteristics, motivational and attitudinal factors, speed limits, enforcement, available technologies and road design and infrastructure. A more definitive understanding of these factors can be used to guide recommendations for an improved and enhanced speed management strategy. A suite of recommendations for an enhanced strategy is provided and includes measures addressing the main identifi...
Older pedestrians are over-involved in serious injury and fatal crashes compared to younger adult... more Older pedestrians are over-involved in serious injury and fatal crashes compared to younger adults. This may be due, in part, to diminished perceptual and cognitive skills which act to reduce the older pedestrians’ ability to sense danger and take measures to avoid hazards. Two experimental studies were undertaken to investigate decision-making processes involved in gap selection and the ability to process vehicle distance and speed information. The findings support the notion that age-related limited cognitive capacity reduces the ability to simultaneously integrate vehicle distance and speed information and interferes with sound judgements of when to cross safely. The implications for engineering, behavioural and training countermeasures are discussed.
Objectives: Effective public policy to prevent falls among independent community-dwelling older a... more Objectives: Effective public policy to prevent falls among independent community-dwelling older adults is needed to address this global public health issue. This paper aimed to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement of future policies to increase their likelihood of success.Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted to identify policies published between 2005–2020. Policy quality was assessed using a novel framework and content criteria adapted from the World Health Organization’s guideline for Developing policies to prevent injuries and violence and the New Zealand Government’s Policy Quality Framework.Results: A total of 107 articles were identified from 14 countries. Content evaluation of 25 policies revealed that only 54% of policies met the WHO criteria, and only 59% of policies met the NZ criteria. Areas for improvement included quantified objectives, prioritised interventions, budget, ministerial approval, and monitoring and evaluation.Conclusion: The finding...
Access to adequate and appropriate transport options enables older people to continue as thriving... more Access to adequate and appropriate transport options enables older people to continue as thriving community participants, to reach services and to maintain social connections. While transport needs are diverse, and tend to change over time, there is little information on current and future transport patterns, and the awareness, acceptance and adoption of new technologies. A national online survey was administered to current drivers in Australia. A sample of 705 drivers provided information on available travel modes and use of these modes, awareness of in-vehicle technologies and future use of vehicle technologies. The findings revealed high use of private vehicles, walking and taxis but little use of other travel modes (bicycles, motorcycles, rideshare, community services and public transport). Age, gender and residential location influenced the availability and use/potential use of some transport options. Overall awareness of in-vehicle technologies was generally low and particular...
This chapter covers the risks faced and the types of collisions and injuries suffered by older pe... more This chapter covers the risks faced and the types of collisions and injuries suffered by older pedestrians as well as strategies to improve road safety for this age group. As a group, older pedestrians have an increased vulnerability to death and injury as a result of collisions with motor vehicles. Although increased frailty and slower walking and response times may be partly responsible, there are practical countermeasures that can be introduced to increase road safety for this group.
Walking is a sustainable mode of transportation which is beneficial to both individuals and to th... more Walking is a sustainable mode of transportation which is beneficial to both individuals and to the broader community, however, there are risks and it is essential that road design and operation provides safe conditions for walking. In Victoria, pedestrians represent one of the most vulnerable road user groups, accounting for approximately 12% of all road fatalities and serious injuries. These figures largely represent injuries where the pedestrian has been struck by a vehicle with the extent of pedestrian-only injuries largely un-reported. Falling while walking may be a significant contributor to pedestrian only injuries. Indeed, the World Health Organisation has identified falls generally as the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in older populations. Despite the prevalence of fall-related injuries, there has been relatively little research undertaken to address the issues surrounding falls that occur while walking for transport and in public spaces. This study, the...
Speeding remains a major contributor to trauma on our roads, held to be a major factor in around ... more Speeding remains a major contributor to trauma on our roads, held to be a major factor in around one-third of fatal crashes and over 10 percent of all crashes (Bowie & Walz, 1994; Fildes & Lee, 1993). This study reviewed speed management strategies and key factors that should be considered through a comprehensive review of the literature. One of the most frequently used methods of managing travel speeds is the posted speed limit. The primary purpose of the speed limit is to advise drivers of the maximum reasonable and safe operating speed under favourable conditions, therefore considered to be a road safety measure. Further, speed limits are designed to be (i) related to crash risk, (ii) provide a reasonable basis for enforcement, (iii) fair in the context of traffic law, and (iv) accepted as reasonable by most road users. Traditional approaches to setting speed limits (e.g. engineering approach using the 85th percentile speed) are compared with an alternative view to setting speed ...
ObjectivesReluctance to seek help is a leading contributor to escalating mental injury rates in A... more ObjectivesReluctance to seek help is a leading contributor to escalating mental injury rates in Australian workplaces. We explored the benefit of using community organisations to deliver mental health literacy programmes to overcome workplace barriers to help-seeking behaviours.DesignThis study used a qualitative application of the theory of planned behaviour to examine underlying beliefs that may influence worker’s intentions to participate in mental health literacy programmes delivered by community organisations and manager support for them.SettingThis study took place within three large white-collar organisations in the Australian state of Victoria.ParticipantsEighteen workers and 11 managers (n=29) were interviewed to explore perspectives of the benefits of such an approach.ResultsCommunity organisations have six attributes that make them suitable as an alternative mental health literacy programme provider including empathy, safety, relatability, trustworthiness, social support ...
While older drivers do not currently represent a significant road safety problem in Australasia, ... more While older drivers do not currently represent a significant road safety problem in Australasia, they are over-represented in serious injury and casualty crashes per head of population, probably due to their frailty. Further to this, the population is increasingly \"greying\" and this could result in an increase in the number of crashes involving older drivers. The present study set out to review the suitability of current road design requirements for older drivers in Australasia. The study was undertaken in a number of stages including a literature review, a critical examination of the Federal Highway Administration's recently released \"Older Driver Highway Design Handbook\", a one-day expert workshop, and an examination of older driver \"black spots\" in four Australasian jurisdictions. Primarily older drivers seem to have a difficulty selecting a safe gap in conflicting traffic at intersections, especially at those controlled by either stop or g...
The Victorian ‘arrive alive’ 2008-2017 road safety strategy aims to reduce road trauma, to delive... more The Victorian ‘arrive alive’ 2008-2017 road safety strategy aims to reduce road trauma, to deliver further major improvements to our road transport system, and to improve safety for all Victorian road users. The strategy identifies reductions in traffic speed as having an important role in achieving this aim and this requires the introduction and maintenance of effective speed management strategies. A review of the recent and current literature on the factors that influence choice of driving/riding travel speed was undertaken and a number of factors were identified. These include driver/rider characteristics, motivational and attitudinal factors, speed limits, enforcement, available technologies and road design and infrastructure. A more definitive understanding of these factors can be used to guide recommendations for an improved and enhanced speed management strategy. A suite of recommendations for an enhanced strategy is provided and includes measures addressing the main identifi...
Older pedestrians are over-involved in serious injury and fatal crashes compared to younger adult... more Older pedestrians are over-involved in serious injury and fatal crashes compared to younger adults. This may be due, in part, to diminished perceptual and cognitive skills which act to reduce the older pedestrians’ ability to sense danger and take measures to avoid hazards. Two experimental studies were undertaken to investigate decision-making processes involved in gap selection and the ability to process vehicle distance and speed information. The findings support the notion that age-related limited cognitive capacity reduces the ability to simultaneously integrate vehicle distance and speed information and interferes with sound judgements of when to cross safely. The implications for engineering, behavioural and training countermeasures are discussed.
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