IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD DISTRIBUTE TRAFFIC SAFETY INFORMATION TO OLDER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. FINAL REPORT

The study was commissioned to increase the effectiveness of the information dissemination process. In order to develop strategies that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administraion could implement, older persons were contacted in focus group settings; organizations that could distribute traffic safety information to older drivers and pedestrians also supplied information to the study team. Individuals with higher socioeconomic backgrounds and more education tend to be attracted to information distributors that make use of facts and figures and to information pertaining health. Individuals with lower socioeconomic backgrounds and less education obtain information through local organizations such as churches and senior centers and are attentive to messages relating to personal security and well being. Out of 69 potential information distributors, 20 were identified with high, repeated exposure to large numbers of elderly people, a central distribution point, established mechanisms, willingness and ability to bear some costs of distribution, and current or potential cooperation with NHTSA. Information on each orgnization is presented in a directory that describes the relevant characteristics of each organization.