As people age they generally adapt well to any loss or reduction in sensory abilities, such as vision and hearing. However, increasing age may affect peoples' physical fragility, perception of and response to hazards and their ability to recover from injury.
The older we get the more likely we are to have health conditions or take medications that affect our safety as road users. Medications can change your perception of hazards, reaction time, judgement and decision making skills when in the road environment.
Older drivers are involved in a small number of crashes, however, these crashes are of higher severity, probably because of the increased frailty of these people.
Older drivers have been shown to be more cautious and to exhibit less illegal and dangerous driving behaviour than other age groups, and there is evidence that older drivers self-regulate to avoid risky situations and times of day.
Common crash types for older drivers, are right turn crashes and crashes due to disobeying a traffic signal or sign.
The use of safer vehicles could provide benefits for older drivers particularly in providing increased protection when a crash occurs. Improvements to the road environment are also important, for example lower speed limits and controlled phases at traffic signals would prove beneficial for older drivers.
Improved public transport will be important to older people, to maintain mobility and access to services, without the need to drive.
Older pedestrians have a higher risk of collision with road vehicles. This can be due to:
Many elderly people also have a greater reliance on walking and are therefore more likely to be exposed to traffic as pedestrians than younger age groups.
If an older person is hit by a car, the outcome is likely to be more severe resulting in a fatality rather than an injury.
Crashes involving older pedestrians occur mainly on routine trips to local shops and recreation activities, often close to the person's home.
Moving Right Along: Obligations and Opportunities for Older Drivers is a resource for communities, individuals, families and friends that provides information about issues facing older drivers, driving safely and alternatives to driving.
Moving Right Along provides details about:
Download a copy (PDF, 1821 KB) or pick up the booklet at your nearest Service SA centre. Alternatively to request a copy of the booklet, contact 8343 2644 or dpti.movingrightalong@sa.gov.au
More information:
Additional vehicles registered in South Australia have now been identified as having been fitted with a “critical” Takata airbag, and will be refused registration to ensure the safety of all road users.
As part of the Regency Road to Pym Street Project there will be a temporary partial closure of the South Road and Regency Road intersection from 5am Monday, 4 January, to 5am Monday, 11 January, weather permitting.
As part of the Darlington Upgrade Project, night and weekend works will be undertaken in the lowered motorway and on South Road to install the final layer of asphalt and line marking.
Motorists are advised of upcoming partial closures of the Heysen Tunnels to allow for essential safety maintenance works.