Citation

Meuleners L, Charlton J. J. Australas. Coll. Road Saf. 2018; 29(4): 16-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Australasian College of Road Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Demographic changes in the Australian population are leading to an increase in the number of older drivers on our roads. By 2030, approximately 23% of the Australian population will be aged 65 years and older. Research indicates that the risk of fatal and serious injury crashes increases substantially with old age. This increased risk has commonly been attributed to frailty and associated injury susceptibility, and also to age-related declines in cognition, vision and psychomotor abilities and increased medical conditions and medication use. As people age, sensory, motor and cognitive declines as well as medical conditions common in older adults such as cataract and dementia, can affect the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. For example, older drivers have been found to have more difficulty with merging, negotiating complex intersections, hazard perception, gap selection and slower reaction times than younger drivers.

For people over 65 years, driving is the most common form of transport and is strongly associated with older adults' independence and social inclusion. In contrast, driving cessation has been linked to poorer health, depression11 loneliness, reduced mobility12 and a higher risk of institutionalisation. 13 This highlights the importance of understanding driving performance and driving patterns of older adults so that individual autonomy and mobility can be preserved for as long as possible, while ensuring safety on the roads...

Language: en