Could seniors be the next batch of driving students?

Key points:

• Approximately 25 percent of car accidents involved a driver aged 65 years or over in the last decade according to one national car insurance provider’s crash index report
• Researchers will conduct the Better Drive Trial to investigate the impact of driving refresher courses on older Australians’ driving abilities
• If you’re thinking about driving interstate to visit friends and family during hot weather, complete a driver’s decision aid to self-access your skills before you leave

Older Australians are at the greatest risk of being involved in car accidents, but extra driving lessons could reduce the likelihood.

More than a quarter of all vehicle crashes involved people aged 65 years and over in the last decade as per AAMI’s latest crash index report. 

Researchers at Neuroscience Research Australia are conducting the Better Drive Trial to identify the impact of improving driving skills in older Australians.

Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey highlighted the value of providing older Australians with refresher driving lessons in the initial study.

“[In the pilot study], we found that of the people that had our intervention involving driving lessons and video feedback, we moved a significant proportion from unsafe to safe drivers and we reduced their driving errors,” she said.

Safe driving tips for all Australians include creating extra space between your vehicle and the one in front, turning at traffic lights rather than unmarked turns and driving on roads with which you are familiar. 

However, some conditions may impact a person’s ability to drive legally and they may need to stop driving or apply for a modified licence. A modified licence may affect where you can drive, e.g. within a certain radius of your home. 

Conditions that may impact your fitness to drive may include epilepsy, diabetes, eye disorders, strokes, sleep disorders and dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Anstey highlighted the importance of modified licences for people with conditions such as dementia. 

“If a person has dementia, they have to be given a restricted licence that limits them to driving close to home,” she said.

“Most people continue to drive with early dementia. In fact, international research shows that people with Alzheimer’s disease continue to drive for 18 months to three years after first diagnosis.”

Some times during the day can be more difficult to drive in than others so thinking about when you drive could improve your safety on the road as an older driver. This includes avoiding driving at night, in busy traffic, in weather such as heavy rain and on routes with many turns and roundabouts. 

However, as the weather warms up, many Australians may be getting ready for long drives to visit family and friends who live interstate. 

The Aged Care Guide has some hot tips for safe summer travels if you are thinking about driving long distances in the hot weather for Christmas, including:

• packing a cooler with water and food;
• protecting yourself with sunscreen and shade;
• maintaining open communication with the people you’re visiting; and
• servicing your car before leaving.

Additionally, you should be aware that driving licence requirements can change depending on where you are in Australia.

The Office of Road Safety provides information about driving in different states and territories as an older person, current as of March 2024.

People with C-class driver’s licences can drive vehicles that weigh less than 4.5 tonnes and are standard passenger vehicles. 

New South Wales

People aged 75 years and over must have a medical assessment every year to retain their licence. People aged 85 years and over must have a practical test every two years unless they choose to hold a modified licence. A modified licence may affect where you can drive, e.g. within a certain radius of your home. 

Victoria

No practical driving test is required.

Queensland

People aged 75 years and over must have a medical assessment every year to retain their licence. You must carry the relevant medical certificate at all times while driving. No practical driving test is required.

South Australia

A practical driving test is not required for older Australians with C-class driver’s licences.

Western Australia

An annual medical assessment is required for drivers aged 80 years and over who hold a C-class licence but not a public vehicle licence. No practical driving test is required.

Tasmania

People aged 65 years and over must renew their driver’s licences every five years, instead of 10 years. No practical driving test is required. An annual medical assessment is not required for drivers who hold a C-class licence.

Northern Territory

Older drivers must pass a vision test every five years. No practical driving test is required.

Australian Capital Territory

People aged 75 years and over must have a medical assessment every year to retain their licence. No practical driving test is required.

Although driving licence regulations vary across Australia, you can complete a self-assessment to help you identify any problems if you still drive with a current licence. 

The Aged Dementia Health Education and Research Centre has created a decision aid for older drivers to self-assess their driving ability. 

Completing a self-assessment of your driving before you undertake a long journey is important to ensure that you have the appropriate driving skills to make it to your destination safely.

However, Professor Anstey commented that a change in the way Australians think about driving could improve the safety of everyone on the roads.

“The idea is that we need to put some effort into improving our driving and maintaining our skills and it shouldn’t be stigmatised at all,” she said.

“At the moment you’d only get [a driving assessment] if you had something wrong with your driving. It’d be better to make it a normal part of life.”

What are your thoughts on making driving assessments compulsory for older Australians?

Let the team at Talking Aged Care know on social media. 

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