The reasons behind why an older person does or doesn’t give up driving a vehicle is the subject of a new study by the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), which found individual factors surrounding health and lack of suitable infrastructure were the most common determiners.
UniSC researchers compiled two papers that have been subsequently published in major international health journals. It relies on data collected from 12 studies, involving 600 drivers from four countries over the pension age, as well as those that have chosen to stop driving, and a dozen drivers from the Sunshine Coast.
An increase in life expectancy has led to an aging population, and 22.1 percent of Australians aged 65 and over are predicted to hold driver’s licences by 2030, according to the Australian Roads and Traffic Authority.
In comparison, just 12.6 percent of drivers in the senior bracket held licences in 2000.
Driving is often seen as a symbol of independence, especially for seniors. However, as individuals age, changes in physical and brain abilities sometimes affect driving skills and increase the risks of accidents.
Memory loss can affect the ability to remember road rules, routes, or recent driving experiences. Decreased cognitive processing speed can result in slower decision-making and increased difficulty in multitasking.
Conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or diabetes can cause pain, stiffness, or fatigue, making it uncomfortable or challenging to drive. Medications used to treat these conditions can also have side effects, such as drowsiness or dizziness.
Older drivers are now more likely to die on the road than any other age group in Australia.
A recent study by Queensland tyre review and recommendation site Tyre Geek found drivers aged 80 to 89 have the “highest likelihood of dying in road accidents” at 9.2 deaths per 100,000 people. This was based on data from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics .
Those over 90 were the second largest group at 7.7 deaths per 100,000, just ahead of the 20 to 29 age group.
Official statistics show an upward trend in road fatalities for drivers aged 75 and over on Australian roads.
In Queensland, 15 percent of Queensland’s road fatalities involved drivers aged over 75, while fatalities involving drivers aged 60 to 74 years old rose to 20.1 percent in 2021, up from 17.6 percent in 2020.
Kyle Schofield, who is the lead researcher for the study, outlined an array of factors that caused people to stop driving.
“These included declining physical health, the desire to maintain control, the cost of vehicle maintenance, and worry about causing harm to others,” she said.
Ms. Schofield noted the interviews with local drivers highlighted a lack of advice from family and medical professionals regarding an individual’s driving, possibly delaying conversations about them giving up being behind the wheel.
“There is good evidence in international literature that conversations about life after driving are an important motivator in planning for driving retirement. Yet, our local participants reported that they did not receive feedback on their driving, therefore feedback from family, peers and doctors did not play a large role in their decision-making,” she said.
“This identifies a great opportunity to encourage and improve conversations about this critical life event in our community.”
Infrastructure Issues Means Many Continue to Drive
Researchers determined that many older drivers who wanted to explore alternative means of transport were often put off by environmental and accessibility impediments like continuous footpaths and a lack of pedestrian crossings. They believe innovations in urban planning are required to cater for the age group.“Participants in the Sunshine Coast study were fit and healthy and wanted to continue living vibrant, active lifestyles—walking, cycling, using motorised scooters, and public transport. Ensuring that older people have the social support, environmental infrastructure and policies to achieve this without driving is extremely important,” Ms. Schofield said.
The UniSC research team determined that ensuring a safe transition from car to pedestrianised transport via policy changes was imperative to aid those looking to take a step back.
These changes include a promotion of conversations surrounding driving retirement from doctors, family, and peer-to-peer support groups.
Practically, raising awareness of and utilising ride-sharing services and “subsidized private transport options are needed to ensure continued mobility of older adults, especially in rural and regional areas that lack alternate transport services,” read the report.
Associate professor in health promotion Florin Oprescu, who was a co-author of the study along with Paralympian Bridie Kean and associate professor in midwifery Terri Downer, said older driver safety was not being talked about enough at the legislative and social level.
“Previous evidence suggests that only a small percentage of drivers plan for driving retirement and that there is limited understanding of the factors influencing this behaviour,” they said.
“This research shows how we can normalise the conversation around planning for driving retirement and support respectful conversations between older drivers, family, clinicians and peers.”
