This report has been developed to present the findings of a six month study undertaken within Northern Ireland on improving the road safety of older people. As we move through this decade a greater proportion of the population is expected to fall into the ‘older road user’ category. Increasingly, older people wish and have the opportunity to remain active and contribute fully to society well into their retirement. In order for older people to retain their independence and achieve the quality of life expected they need access to safe and efficient transport. It is anticipated that the demand for travel amongst older people will also increase; as such the proportion of older people who hold a driving licence is likely to increase. Other factors such as the increasing cost of living or fuel prices may mean that older people turn to cheaper forms of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport. Older people may be badly injured when involved in a road traffic collision that for a young person would not result in an injury of the same severity. As we get older we undergo gradual and sometimes unnoticed changes in functional abilities such as vision, hearing, decision making and reaction time. There is a body of evidence that these changes have a significant impact on a person’s mobility and safety, both as a driver and a pedestrian. We rely on older road users to be aware of the changes in their ability and adapt their behaviour. Any proposals to legislate or regulate older drivers should not significantly restrict access to services, especially in rural areas and must recognise the increasing desire of older people to retain mobility in their later years. The expected changes to the demographic in Northern Ireland are not unique and other European countries are investigating the impact of an increase in older road users. Set against a backdrop of NI road safety targets aiming for a 60% reduction in fatal and a 45% reduction in serious casualties by 2020 it is important to understand the issues affecting the road safety of older people. Only with a full understanding of causation factors and contributory issues can the task of minimising risks to this user group be moved forward. Atkins was commissioned by the Department of the Environment (DOE) in November 2011 to investigate measures to improve the road safety of older people. The project involved: • Undertaking a literature review of relevant research; • Reviewing current and planned interventions; • Carrying out an analysis of collision/casualty data; • Investigating the travel patterns of older people and their attitudes to road safety; • Investigating the attitudes and behaviours of other road users towards this group; • Identifying causes, influencing factors and any common trends and patterns; and • Recommending specific action measures aimed at reducing casualties in this group. The overall aim of this project was to enable the Department of the Environment and its road safety partners to develop specific action measures aimed at reducing collisions and casualties involving older people. (Author/publisher)
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