Road death drives call to check older motorists
Should keeping a driving licence depend on your age? There’s no national consistency.
Refresher courses may be the answer
Research into older driver behaviour has found that tailored driving lessons can improve older driver performance and safety on the road.
The researchers, from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), recommend ongoing driver improvement intervention for older people across states and territories.
“We need to put some effort into improving our driving and maintaining our skills, and it shouldn’t be stigmatised at all,” senior principal research officer, Professor Kaarin Anstey, said.
“It could be something like, when you turn 50, you’re invited to have an extra driving lesson just to check in on your driving. At the moment, you’d only get that if you had something wrong with your driving. It’d be better to make it a normal part of life.”
NeuRA has developed a website, Ageing Well on the Road, helping older drivers throughout Australia navigate the different rules and regulations.
The recent death of a grandmother who was hit by a 91-year-old car driver has reignited debate over whether older people should be tested for driving fitness.
Police say the 91-year-old woman driver’s small car struck another woman, aged 59, the victim’s husband, and their grandchild while they were walking on a footpath.
The 59-year-old woman died, while her husband and the two-year-old boy were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The accident followed another crash in Victoria in March, when a six-year-old boy died after being hit by a car driven by an 84-year-old woman.
The Victorian Government is now examining road rules as they apply to elderly drivers.
Unlike New South Wales, where older drivers must be retested every two years from age 85 (or earlier, if a doctor recommends it), Victoria does not have any age-based driver’s licence retesting requirements.
The Federal Government’s Office of Road Safety says drivers aged 75 and older in NSW, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory require an annual medical test. In Western Australia, an annual medical assessment is required from age 80.
More information about state and territory rules governing older drivers is available here.
Victoria Police statistics show that, in the five years to 30 June 2023, motorists aged 65 or older were responsible for at least 145 road deaths and more than 7,000 injuries.
But University of Adelaide centre for automotive safety deputy director, Matthew Baldock, said data did not support the idea that older people were bad drivers.
“Older drivers are often sort of maligned as being a group with a higher crash risk than other age groups, but research actually indicates the opposite,” Dr Baldock told ABC News.
“If you look at overall crash numbers, the older the age group, the smaller the overall crash numbers they’re involved in.”
Crash rates per licensed driver showed older drivers had the lowest crash rate of any age group, which could be because they drove less frequently.
Dr Baldock said research also did not suggest mandatory medical exams or requirements to re-test for the elderly resulted in safer roads.
“In Victoria, there's no mandatory age-based assessments for older drivers and Victorian older-driver crash rates are certainly no higher than anywhere else in Australia,” he said.
The biggest concern with older drivers was that their inherent frailty means any crash was more likely to result in injury.
Research by Amie Hayley, an associate professor at Swinburne University’s School of Health Sciences, also found that the mandatory assessments of older drivers did not translate to a meaningful difference in crash rates.
“Driving should be based on ability and not your age,” she said.
Ask any older person who drives, and they’ll tell you how important it is to their independence, mobility, social connectedness, and sense of achievement and agency.
However, little research has been conducted into the views of older people with mild cognitive impairment about who decides if they are safe to drive.
Anita Muñoz, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victoria chair, said Victoria should not impose mandatory annual medical checks – but people over 65 should be asking their GP whether they should keep driving.
She said people's reflexes, ability to see clearly, and judgement all change as they age, as do their cognitive abilities.
“Everyone of any age must recognise their personal responsibility for the actions that they take. If you drive a car, you need to be certain that you will be a safe driver,” Dr Munoz said.
It’s important to recognise the changes that occur with ageing and the effects they can have on driving.
It’s not just about your independence and self-esteem; the lives of other people are at stake.
Consult your GP and know the rules governing your licence once you reach a certain age.
As you age, your driving may be affected by changes in vision, hearing, movement and response times, medical conditions, and medications.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to manage health and fitness as you grow older:
Be active: People of all ages should make physical activity an essential part of their day. You don’t have to prep for a climb up Mt Everest; physical activity just needs to be regular.
No alcohol : Drinking alcohol dramatically increases your risk of being involved in a car crash, no matter your age. When combined with pre-existing medical conditions or reduced reaction time, it could spell disaster.
Sleep and medications: Many prescription medications cause drowsiness, so it’s important to follow this up with your doctor if you’re taking anything new. If you’re feeling sleepy after medication, ask your doctor if there’s a non-drowsy alternative, or whether you can take them at a more convenient time, such as just before bed.
Maintain muscle: Your muscles tend to shrink as you age. There are some exceptions to the rule but, in general, this means:
Your injuries may be worse if you’re involved in a crash
Some parts of your car may become more difficult to operate
Reduced neck mobility can make looking left and right more difficult
Sitting down for long periods can be more difficult because of reduced lower back cushioning.
Muscles may shrink, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them back. You can still exercise your muscles well into old age with light weights and a tailored fitness program. Consult your GP for advice.
Eyes and ears: You may find your vision and hearing become less effective as you age, making driving more difficult. For example, the effects of glare from sunlight or from headlights can be more distracting and hearing high tones like a car horn can be difficult. Luckily, there are treatments and procedures to help you with these issues. Consult a medical professional to assess your options.
Joint pain: This can be caused by conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism and may change the way you drive, making your driving less safe. For example, you may avoid looking over your shoulder before leaving a parking spot or when changing lanes. Ask your doctor about joint pain and exercises you can do to maintain your flexibility.
Related reading: ORS, The Australian, ABC
