How Streets Are Being Designed for Older, Vulnerable Drivers

As the population ages, city planners and transportation departments across the country are taking steps in street design for older drivers. While experienced behind the wheel, older drivers may face physical and cognitive challenges that make driving more difficult, including slower reaction times, vision impairments, and reduced mobility. To keep older drivers safe, road designs are evolving to be more inclusive and accommodating of their needs, creating environments that are safer for all road users.

The Growing Need for Age-Friendly Street Design for Older Drivers

The population of older adults in the United States is steadily increasing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be aged 65 or older. This demographic shift has prompted cities to rethink how they design streets to improve safety for older drivers, who, despite their experience, may struggle with navigating modern roadways that are often busy and complex.

Older drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents at intersections, during left turns, and in areas with heavy traffic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2020, drivers aged 65 and older were involved in 20% of all traffic fatalities. In response to these statistics, urban planners are focusing on redesigning roads with the needs of older adults in mind.

Key Road Design Features for Older Drivers

1. Improved Intersection Design Intersections are some of the most dangerous places for older drivers. Navigating complex intersections with multiple lanes, signals, and pedestrian crossings can be overwhelming for anyone, but for older drivers, it can be particularly challenging due to slower reaction times and difficulty judging gaps in traffic.
   To address this, cities are implementing roundabouts as alternatives to traditional intersections. Roundabouts eliminate the need for left turns, which can be risky for older drivers, and reduce the likelihood of high-speed, head-on collisions. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that roundabouts can reduce injury crashes by as much as 75%.
   Additionally, protected left-turn signals are being added to intersections. These signals give drivers a dedicated green arrow to make left turns, reducing the complexity of navigating oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
2. Better Lighting and Enhanced Visibility Vision declines with age, particularly at night. As a result, older drivers often struggle to see road signs, lane markings, and pedestrians in poorly lit conditions. To combat this, many cities are investing in improved street lighting at intersections, crosswalks, and high-traffic areas to enhance visibility.
   In addition to better lighting, transportation departments are also installing larger road signs with clearer fonts, as well as reflective lane markings, which make it easier for older drivers to navigate roads in low-visibility conditions.
3. Slower Speed Zones Older drivers are more vulnerable in crashes due to increased physical frailty. Slower driving speeds can significantly reduce the severity of accidents and give older drivers more time to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions. To make streets safer for older adults, cities are implementing slower speed limits, especially in residential areas, near retirement communities, and in busy urban centers.
   Cities like New York have introduced “20 is Plenty“ zones, which set speed limits of 20 mph in areas with high pedestrian traffic. These zones reduce the risk of severe accidents and create safer environments for both drivers and pedestrians.
4. Dedicated Turn Lanes and Extended Timing for Traffic Lights For older drivers, making left or right turns can be stressful, especially in heavy traffic. Dedicated turn lanes are being added to many roadways, giving drivers a safer, separate space to wait to make turns without blocking through traffic. This design reduces pressure on older drivers and allows them more time to make safe turns.
   Extended traffic light timing is another important feature in age-friendly street design. Older drivers may need more time to react when a light changes from green to yellow, and more time to clear an intersection. Extending the duration of green lights and the time between signal changes allows older drivers to navigate intersections with greater ease and safety.
5. Rumble Strips and Lane Departure Warnings Rumble strips, grooved patterns installed on road surfaces, are designed to alert drivers when they drift out of their lane by creating a vibrating sensation and loud noise. For older drivers, these strips provide an important safety feature by helping to prevent unintentional lane departures, which can occur due to drowsiness, distraction, or vision impairment.
   On highways and rural roads, where accidents involving older drivers are more likely to occur, rumble strips serve as a low-cost, effective solution to reducing crashes caused by lane departures.
6. Accessible Parking and Curb Design Older drivers may have reduced mobility, which makes accessing parking spaces and crossing streets more difficult. Age-friendly curb designs with curb cuts (sloped curbs that ease wheelchair or walker use) and wider, accessible parking spaces are being integrated into city infrastructure to provide older drivers with easier access to their destinations.
   Reserved parking near medical facilities, grocery stores, and community centers also ensures that older adults can park close to their intended location, reducing the distance they need to walk and helping them maintain their independence.

Success Stories: Cities Street Design for Older Drivers

Several cities are leading the charge in creating age-friendly streets:

• New York City: As part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative, the Department of Transportation has added more than 700 senior pedestrian safety zones in areas with high concentrations of older adults. These zones include extended crossing times at intersections, improved signage, and better lighting.
• San Francisco: The city’s “Safe Streets for Seniors” program identifies intersections with high rates of accidents involving older adults and prioritizes them for improvements such as enhanced lighting, high-visibility crosswalks, and slower speed limits.
• Denver, Colorado: Recognizing the state’s rapidly aging population, Denver has implemented traffic calming measures in neighborhoods with a high concentration of older drivers. These measures include speed humps, narrower lanes, and curb extensions to slow down traffic and give older drivers more reaction time.

Conclusion: Building Roads for All Ages

Designing streets for older drivers not only improves safety for seniors but also benefits all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and younger drivers. Age-friendly street design is about creating inclusive, accessible environments that accommodate the needs of everyone on the road.

By investing in safer intersections, better lighting, slower speed limits, and more accessible parking, cities are paving the way for a safer future—one that respects and supports the aging population. As the number of older drivers continues to grow, it’s vital for communities to prioritize these age-friendly road designs to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, can navigate the streets safely.