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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time
— a cross-sectional study | | Author(s) | Laura Asher, Maria Aresu, Emanuela Falaschetti, Jennifer Mindell |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 41, no 5, September 2012 |
| Pages | pp 690-694 |
| Source | http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/ http://www.bgs.org.uk/ |
| Keywords | Pedestrian transport ; Pedestrian accidents ; Accident prevention ; Ageing process ; Physical characteristics [elderly] ; Physical capacity. |
| Annotation | The present study aimed to compare walking speed in the UK older population with the speed required to utilise pedestrian crossings and to determine health and socio-demographic associations with walking impairment. Study participants were a random population sample of 3,145 adults (including 1,444 men) aged 65 years and over. Walking speed was assessed by timing a walk of eight feet at normal pace. Walking impairment was defined as a walking speed of 1.2 metres per second or non-participation in the test due to being unsafe or unable. The mean walking speed was 0.9 metres per second in men and 0.8 metres per second in women; 84% of men and 93% of women aged 65 years and over had walking impairment. Female gender, increasing age, lower socio-economic status, poorer health and lower grip strength were predictors of walking impairment. The authors conclude that most older adults either cannot walk eight feet safely or cannot walk fast enough to use a pedestrian crossing in the UK. The health impacts on older adults include limited independence and reduced opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. An assumed normal walking speed for pedestrian crossings of 1.2 metres per second is inappropriate for older adults and revision of these timings should be considered. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-121005005 A |
| Classmark | OE: OPB: OQ: BG: BA: BI |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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