July 24, 2003 - On Thursday, TRIP (The Road Information Program), a national transportation organization based in Washington, D.C., released a Report which recommends ways to "accommodate the increasingly mobile older driver." Regrettably, Florida leads the nation in the number of older drivers killed in traffic accidents, with 268 older drivers killed in 2001.

FBT partnered with TRIP to publicize this important report here in Florida. FBT President Doug Callaway was quoted in TRIP's Florida-specific News Release and interviewed by several TV news crews here in Tallahassee and print reporters from around the state. In Orlando, where the upcoming vote on Mobility 20/20 is of such importance, FBT Chairman Fred Leonhardt participated in a Press Conference on Thursday with Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty. Additionally, FBT members Dave Clavier, Tina Matte, Dennis Grady, and Neil Spirtas had been briefed earlier on the TRIP report and were on standby ready to talk with reporters in their area concerning this important matter.

With the two recent tragedies involving older drivers, the public, the press, and the politicians are very interested in this issue. However, the message of the TRIP report is NOT one of "we should get these older drivers off the road." Instead, it recommends ways to make driving safer for older citizens. Simply put, by making our highways safer for older drivers, we also make them safer for everyone!

Specifically, FBT's message follows the basic outline of FBT President Doug Callaway's quote:

1.) FDOT is to be commended . . .
2.) but with 268 older driver fatalities in 2001 much more needs to be done . . . .
3.) which will require more transportation funding . . .
4.) which means we need to . . .

get a 95% return back from Washington,
stop diverting $200-$400+ million each year away from state transportation user fees, and
pass local transportation funding initiatives like Mobility 20/20.

The complete TRIP report may be accessed at their web site: www.tripnet.org.

A July 24 USA TODAY article reports on an accident involving an 86-year old driver in which 10 pedestrians were killed.