PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS AND SAFETY OF THE OLDER PERSONS IN TRANSPORT
PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS AND SAFETY OF THE OLDER PERSONS IN TRANSPORT

Author(s): Biljana Činčurak Erceg
Subject(s): Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Demography and human biology, Gerontology, Transport / Logistics
Published by: Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Ekonomski fakultet u Osijeku
Keywords: older passengers; passengers rights; transport law; difficulties in transport; safety issues;
Summary/Abstract: Older persons naturally become less mobile (due to their age, health, lower income, etc.). However, does age necessarily have to mean the termination of traveling and use of transport? Whether drivers, pedestrians, or passengers, each of these forms carries specific issues and problems for the elderly. Although they have more free time, it often happens that because of reduced mobility and inaccessibility of public transport older persons stay at home. This not only limits the quality of their life in the tourist, leisure, cultural and social sense, but can also have an impact on the quality of getting e.g. health care. For these reasons, mobility is important to them and therefore transport must be easily accessible and adjusted for use. To use public transport in the best possible way, all passengers, and especially the elderly, must be familiar with the rights specifically provided for them and the procedures for exercising them. Progress has been made within the European Union to protect the rights of older passengers. Specifically, the European Union has adopted regulations to guarantee additional rights for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (including the elderly). A particular problem regarding older persons in transport is related to traffic safety issues. Statistics show ‘interesting’ data when it comes to the elderly, whether they were involved in traffic accidents as drivers or pedestrians. The most important problems related to mobility and public transport are presented in the paper. The paper also analyzes the most important provisions of European regulations on the rights of passengers with reduced mobility. Data on road accidents involving the older persons are also analyzed and an attempt is made to answer whether they are a threat to road safety. Finally, certain measures will be proposed to reduce the inaccessibility and unavailability of public transport. It is also suggested to conduct additional research on the number of older persons traveling and the problems encountered in transport.

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