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Program

**Ed Stroesser** of *Communique* introduced our speaker, **Leonard Levine**, author of the book "**Driving into Old Age With Independence and Dignity**":http://www.drivingintooldage.com

Leonard has served on the St. Paul MN city council, and served as director of both the state Deptartments of Human Services and Transportation in Minnesota. He travels the country, speaking on issues of aging and transportation, especially about older drivers.

The automobile is a symbol of mobility and independence in our society. The increase in automobile traffic is threatening our mobility and independence - especially for older people. This problem gets worse when you consider our rapidly growing population of older people. People *expect* to be mobile, they need to be mobile to stay active and socially engaged.

The nation's highway system was in a crisis of obsolescence when President Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway system. Those highways are now becoming insufficient. This aggravates the probelms for older drivers. Older drivers sustain a disproportionate number of highway accidents, injuries, and deaths.

The physical changes of aging effect driving, especially eyesight and reaction time. In 1988 the Dept of Transportation issued new guidelines for highway design, which better accomodate the older drivers. Signage standards included larger lettering, better luminance, better pavement markings, and better maintenance. These recommendations have been improved on a regular basis. New criteria are being applied to the design of intersections, Freeway entrances/exits, work zones and rural roads.


Club Business

Next week: Commitees will meet during the club meeting. Board meeting will follow.

Saturday November 8, 8:00am: Cleanup of our Adopted Highway.

Monday Nov 10: No meeting (Veterans Day)