Officials launch new safety resource for transportation

In honor of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Roadway Safety Foundation introduced a new safety resource for transportation Thursday.

The resource, entitled the "Clearinghouse for Older Road User Safety" (ChORUS), is designed to address safety concerns specifically for elderly drivers. This is important as the U.S. population continues to age; there are now more elderly drivers on U.S. highways than ever before.

The newly published resource includes technical manuals, research, state-by-state licensing policies, tips, assessments and a supportive online community for caregivers. It is a modern and easy way for seniors and caregivers to access the resource. The public can access it without any cost from tablets, desktops and mobiles.

Yearly Highway Statistics demonstrate that as of 2014, there are now 214.3 million licensed drivers living in the nation. Of this figure, 95.9 million drivers are 50 years old or older.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s study, entitled "Beyond Traffic," estimates that there will be a 77 percent rise in elderly drivers who are older than 60 years old by the year 2045. Furthermore, motorists who are 85 years old and older have risen 2.9 percent when comparing 2014 to 2013.

In the United States, elderly drivers are the fastest-growing demographic of licensed drivers.