The crashes of older drivers (aged over 65) were compared with those of drivers in younger age groups for all road crashes reported to South Australia Police for the years 1994 to 1998. It was found that older drivers were involved in relatively few crashes, and their crash involvement rates were relatively low except when adjusted for kilometres driven. With regard to crash types, the crashes of older drivers were more likely than those of younger drivers to have resulted in severe injury and to have involved some form of turning movement, especially right turns. Older drivers were more likely to have been deemed responsible for the crash in which they were involved but were less likely to have been driving at excessive speed or with an illegal blood alcohol concentration when the crash occurred. Older drivers were less likely to have crashed in adverse driving conditions, such as peak hour traffic times, night time or in periods of wet weather. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E209619. This paper may also be accessed by Internet users at: http://www.rsconference.com/index.html
Abstract