Have you wondered lately why the roads that we travel daily seem to be experiencing changes in commodities such as signage?  Your answer lies ahead.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has just recently published new statistics reflecting data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., showing an increase in older drivers on the road.  Currently, there’s a record-high 214.3 million licensed drivers in the U.S; this includes 95.9 million age 50 and older which is 2.4 million increase over the previous years.  These figures support the U.S. Transportation Secretary’s 30-year framework for future transportation – which predicts a 77% increase among drivers over age 65 by 2045.

The most shocking statistic of this newly found data is that people aged 85 or older increased by 2.9% since the previous year, remaining the nation’s fastest growing demographic group among licensed drivers!  These statistics give reasoning to the variety of safety enhancements needed for America’s roads.  These enhancements include, but aren’t limited to cutting-edge retroreflective laminates which make highway signs brighter and more visible from greater distances – to address the needs of older drivers, which range from declining vision to decreased flexibility and psychomotor performance, and changes in perceptual and cognitive performance.

Sited from a press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Public Affairs, “America’s roads and bridges must meet the needs of all pedestrians and drivers,” said Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “Safety is our top priority, and our ongoing task is to find new and more effective ways to keep drivers safe, no matter what their age.”

Click here to access to the press release.