California Highway Patrol

The primary component of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) mission is to ensure safety and provide service to all members of the public as they utilize the highway transportation system.

While the CHP is tasked with enforcing California's laws, both on and off the roadways, it continually and proactively seeks ways to enhance and improve safety on California's roadways. In addition to leading the charge to improve California's safety belt and child safety-seat use, the CHP is also focusing on improving safety for California's older adult population. This focus is especially meaningful, as the number of older adult drivers in California will increase upon the first baby boomers' reaching age 60 in 2005.

Older Californian Traffic Safety (OCTS) Task Force
Recently, the CHP began the coordination of a long-range system to address safety and mobility for older Californians. In March 2003, the CHP's Special Projects Section took the lead role in forming the OCTS Task Force, which is composed of representatives from private organizations and public agencies that hold a strong commitment to improving safety for California's older adults. The co-coordinator on this project is San Diego State University's Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice (CIPPP). The CIPPP is currently involved in this project as the result of a grant funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

In addition to traffic safety, the OCTS Task Force is charged with ensuring the advancement of changes to health care, aging services, transportation systems, land use planning, licensing, and legislation that will enhance the safety of all Californians.

More information is available at www.chp.ca.gov, ElderSafety.org, and Traffic Safety Among Older Adults: Recommendations for California.