This study investigated cessation of driving by older Victorian licence holders; the rate of involvement in casualty accidents per distance driven for Victorian drivers of various ages; and the factors that contribute to the over-representation of older drivers in casualty accidents. It was estimated that at least 7.7 per cent of persons aged 65 or more recorded in the VicRoads database as current licence holders have permanently ceased driving, including 2.8 per cent who have died. The rate of involvement in casualty accidents per distance driven followed a U-shaped curve, being lowest for drivers aged 40-49 years and higher for both younger and older drivers, especially those aged less than 26 and those aged more than 65 years. The study identified a range of environments and manoeuvres associated with over-representation of older drivers in accidents. The study found evidence that changing exposure patterns, physical frailty and declining driving competence all contribute to the elevated rate of casualty accident involvement per distance driven for older drivers. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting