about us
Walk Wise, Drive Smart is a community-based pedestrian safety program working to build community support for and awareness of senior-pedestrian safety issues. The program:
- Includes educational workshops and a series of walking audits of Hendersonville neighborhoods;
- Gathers extensive community feedback through surveys and interviews; and
- Identifies elements needed to implement a pedestrian safety plan that is responsive to Hendersonville 's needs.
Funded by the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Walk Wise, Drive Smart is coordinated by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center in partnership with the community of Hendersonville .
Walk Wise, Drive Smart also receives in-kind support from many state and local organizations. These include:
- N.C. Governor's Highway Safety Program;
- N.C. Department of Transportation;
- UNC Healthy Aging Research Network;
- Henderson County Council on Aging;
- N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Division on Aging and Adult Services;
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center ; and
- Henderson County Healthy Aging Council.
Why focus on senior pedestrian safety?
The issue of senior pedestrian safety has jumped to the forefront of national attention with the swelling of the ranks of Americans age 65 and older.
- Senior pedestrians involved in a crash are much more likely than younger pedestrians to suffer serious or fatal injury, due in part to the increased fragility that often comes with age.
- Pedestrians ages 75 and older have a higher per population fatality rate than any other age group, according to a 2004 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- As many as one-third of adults ages 65 years and older fall each year; falls are the leading cause of injury deaths as well as a significant cause of injuries, especially fractures. Fear of falling keeps many older adults from walking.
- Walking is a key to maintaining physical and mental well being and to enabling senior adults to stay connected to their community.
Why Hendersonville?
More than 31 percent of Hendersonville ’s population is age 65 and older, making it an ideal model community for the Walk Wise, Drive Smart program. Improving the pedestrian environment in Hendersonville will benefit not only senior adults, but also all residents and visitors to the area.