Abstract
This paper considers the relative risks to elderly road users. Older people are more likely to be injured or killed in accidents because of increasing fragility, and they appear to be involved in more accidents because data is collected on injuries rather than on number of accidents. When types of journey are compared, the risk of injury is greatest in a car and least as a pedestrian; the risk of fatality is greatest for a pedestrian and least for a bus user. Policies designed to discourage older people from driving and encourage walking are not seen as effective since fatalities would increase. Older drivers practise safe driving strategies and it is elderly pedestrians who are seen as being at greatest risk.