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Home / MAP-21 / Questions & Answers / Section 148: Older Drivers and Pedestrians Special Rule Questions & Answers

Note: This document was superseded on 2/2/2022 by HSIP Special Rules Guidance

Section 148: Older Drivers and Pedestrians Special Rule Questions & Answers

Posted 2/13/2013

Interim Guidance

Q: When does the Older Drivers and Pedestrians Special Rule apply?

A: The first year States would determine whether the Older Driver Special Rule applies is 2013. Starting August 31, 2013, States should include in their annual HSIP reports the calculations performed, verifying whether the Older Driver Special Rule applies in the State.

Q: What data will States use to calculate whether the Older Drivers and Pedestrians Special Rule applies?

A: The State will use the number of fatalities for drivers and pedestrians 65 years of age and older from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Annual Report File (ARF) and the number of serious injuries from a State’s data system for drivers and pedestrians 65 years of age and older. The FHWA will provide population figures for persons 65 years of age and older per 1,000 total population.

Q: What is the Annual Report File?

A: The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Annual Report File (ARF) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the initial release of traffic fatality data for the preceding calendar year.  The ARF is typically issued 9-12 months after the calendar year on which it is reporting.

Q: What is a Serious Injury?

A: To define a serious injury States should use their existing highest non-fatal injury severity code that corresponds closest to the "A" value from the common KABCO injury severity scale, most frequently called "Incapacitating Injury."  Other terms used by States to describe the highest non-fatal injury severity include "Major," "Severe" and "Disabling."

Q: What is the Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians?

A: The Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians (FHWA-RD-01-103) provides practitioners with a practical information source that links older road user characteristics to highway design, operational, and traffic engineering recommendations by addressing specific roadway features. This Handbook supplements existing standards and guidelines in the areas of highway geometry, operations, and traffic control devices.

For the Older Driver Special Rule, the latest version of the Handbook should be used. The Handbook can be found online at: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/older_users/handbook/.

Page last modified on February 9, 2022
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000