Traffic Safety

Oklahoma County
Sheriff's Office
Older Driver Safety
Program
In conjunction with the National Sheriffs'
Association and the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration

By Sheriff John Whetsel and Corporal Kelli

Brookshire, Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office,
Oklahoma

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is a national Educating seniors on driving safety and possible issues i;
leader in traffic safety initiatives, and this year, in partner- tricky from a law enforcement perspective. A lot of older
ship with the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) and the drivers believe that law enforcement officers aim to revoke
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), their licenses in order to take them off of the roadway. In
the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is piloting a new fact, law enforcement's goal is the exact opposite, to keep
Older Driver Safety Program. This program is two-fold: to drivers behind the wheel for as long as it is safe for them to
educate older drivers on the effects of aging on their driving be there. And just like with any discipline, education and
skills, and to inform law enforcement officials of critical training are the best ways to keep skills sharp.
aging issues that might be overlooked in traffic situations. In May 2010, the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff John Whetsel is Chairman of the NSA Traffic kicked off Older American's Month by introducing the
Safety Committee and is no stranger to traffic safety or new program, intermingled with critical elements of
senior issues. The agency's Traffic Safety Unit is active NHTSA's Drive Well program. Over 200 older adults
year-round in reducing traffic-related injuries and deaths were educated that first month on Five Simple Actions
throughout Oklahoma's most populated county, and the to Improve Driving. While these first lessons were being
Oklahoma County TRIAD program, aimed at reducing conducted, plans also began coming together for a large
criminal victimization of older adults, is one of the most safety event. Another 200 seniors were exposed to the
active and fastest-growing in the area. Both of these units second lesson plan in June 2010, titled Staying Healthy
give the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office the perfect plat- for Driving Fitness. In August 2010, the first Oklahoma
form from which to focus on Older Driver issues. County Older Driver Safety Day was held at Francis Tuttle
After being chosen by
NHTSA and NSA to begin
developing the new program,
we began looking at what issues
affect not only older drivers,
but specifically, older drivers
in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma
City metro area is one of the
largest cities in the country in
regard to land area, so senior
citizens have very unique chal-
lenges when it comes to getting
around. Senior transportation
options exist, but usually have
specific criteria that not every
senior can meet (i.e. rides for
medical appointments only,
age restrictions, etc.).

46 * Sheriff' November/December 2010

 Traffic Safety (continued)

Technology Center in Oklahoma City. This half-day event

included an Auto Safety Resource Fair, free vehicle safety
inspections, educational seminars on eyesight and medical
issues that affect older drivers, and a senior transportation
resource panel discussion. Around 100 seniors attended
the event, and we've already had several wonderful seminar
topic suggestions for next year.
Educating local law enforcement officers is no easy task,
either. When medical issues are discussed, law enforcement
officers instinctively believe that inform~tion to be more
relevant to medical professionals. In fact, the contact officer
on a moving violation or the first officer on the scene of a
traffic crash plays a critical role. Training for law enforce-
ment officers in recognizing senior-specific medical issues
is minimal, so it would be very possible to end up with a
senior citizen taking an intoxilyzer test, when they should
be being treated for a medical condition in an emergency
room.
As a part of the Older Driver Safety Program, a training
curriculum is being written to providing training to officers
relating to senior-specific medical issues. This will require make sure officers use the appropriate response when they
partnerships with medical professionals who specialize in actually occur. The national conversation on senior driving
geriatric medicine, and we are lucky to have several oppor- isn't going away and with the Baby Boomer generation
tunities for those partnerships within Oklahoma County. getting older every day, we must focus attention on keeping
While aging and/or medical issues are by no means these drivers on the road in a safe and secure manner.
an excuse for traffic violations or crashes, they do require Prevention, after all, is the best medicine. 0
a different nature of response from law enforcement. By
using this program to educate both seniors and responding For more information on the Oklahoma County Sheriff's
officers, we are working to achieve two goals: to prevent Office Older Driver Program, contact Cpl. Kelli Brookshire
these life-threatening situations by senior drivers and to at sokelbro@oklahomacounty.org.

Sheriff" November/December 2010 * 47