Older Adults as Cutaway Bus Passengers: User-Centered Literature Review

Abstract

This literature review focuses on human factors issues affecting the safe use of cutaway buses (i.e., a bus body carried by a van or truck chassis) by older adults. Cutaway buses are often used as shuttles for assisted living facilities, in demand–response and paratransit services such as dial-a-ride, and in mainstream public transportation and shuttle systems. Because of the scarcity of data gathered specifically on the subject of U.S. cutaway buses, this review uses international statistics on paratransit, demand–response, special transportation services, and dial-a-ride services as substitutes, because these are the areas of public transportation that most frequently use such vehicles. The first section of the report takes a user-centered approach in reviewing some factors related to older adults' driving cessation and how public transportation systems using cutaway buses help make this life change easier. Also reviewed are the age-related physiological changes that decrease the ability of older adult passengers to withstand a motor vehicle crash and that limit the mobility of older adults in boarding or alighting the bus and navigating the cabin. The second section reviews bus crash statistics to understand what types of injuries and outcomes are associated with older passengers in different types of motor vehicle crashes. Finally, areas of concern and possible solutions to improve the safety of older adults using cutaway buses are presented.