To the editor:
The matter of pedestrian safety usually takes a backseat to other public policy issues, but AARP finds that it is a matter of great concern for older adults in Maine. It’s no wonder older Mainers are concerned with their safety when out on the roads; people aged 65 and older make up 15 percent of Maine, but they were 35 percent of pedestrian fatalities across the state between 2003 and 2010. As an older adult living in Maine, I do not want to become another number in the count of pedestrian fatalities.
A recent report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition in collaboration with AARP noted that “older adults face more risks as pedestrians because they may be less likely to react quickly to an oncoming vehicle” and they are “less likely to recover from a serious collision.” This should be of particular concern for the state of Maine because we have the oldest population in the nation.
The path to greater pedestrian safety is found at the local, state, and federal level. Locally, people can document roads and crossings they find dangerous and insist that public officials respond. On the state level, officials can make sure pedestrian safety is built into a project from the start. Congress can help by passing the Safe Streets Act as part of the renewal of the federal transportation law, requiring all states and local planning organizations to adopt safe streets policies for federally funded projects within two years.
Let’s give pedestrian safety the visibility and strong support it deserves. Find out more at www.aarp.org/livable.
Roberta Downey
AARP Maine
Volunteer Executive Council
Bangor
