JEFFERSON CITY - Dozens of state and community-based leaders are kicking off a year-long initiative to increase awareness and action focused on promoting older driver safety in Missouri.

MoDOT, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the San Francisco-based American Society on Aging, assembled key leaders from across the state concerned with improving older driver safety and encouraging them to use transportation alternatives when they must limit or stop driving.  The group's action will focus primarily on instituting five core programs in five cities in Missouri - Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis.

The effort is geared at reducing deaths and injuries associated with traffic crashes involving older drivers. Older drivers were involved in 16 percent of the fatal traffic crashes and 13 percent of the crashes involving a serious injury in the last three years.

"As people age, they may experience vision changes, limited mobility, slower reflexes, delayed reaction time, drowsiness and trouble judging distance or speed," said Jackie Rogers MoDOT's state coordinator for the project. "It's important for mature drivers, their families and their physicians to understand that growing older doesn't always mean giving up driving, but it may mean making some changes in how and when you drive."

As part of the campaign, MoDOT will work with NHTSA, ASA and community coordinators in each of the five cities to stage trainings and outreach efforts on the programs.  A description of the five programs can be found on the MoDOT web site at www.modot.org/safety.