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Cover of Older Road Users: Emerging Trends
Older Road Users: Emerging Trends
  • Publication no: AP-R530-16
  • ISBN: 978-1-925451-39-9
  • Published: 20 October 2016

This report identifies trends in crash involvement amongst older road users (aged 75+).

The project incorporated a literature review; analysis of 10 years of crash data from every jurisdiction in Australia and New Zealand; analysis of three years of detailed hospital injury data for older road users in South Australia; analysis of the contributing factors in older road user crashes examined using the Centre for Automotive Safety Research in-depth investigation method; consultations with representatives of all jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand; and a summary of relevant sections of road safety strategies in a sample of international jurisdictions.

The report provides policy recommendations and describes crash countermeasures relevant to older road users.

  • Summary
  • Data
  • Injury Risk
  • The Risk to Older Pedestrians
  • Crash Factors
  • Alterations to driving habits and licence status
  • Co-Operation Between Government Departments
  • 1. Literature Review
    • 1.1. Method
    • 1.2. Introduction
    • 1.3. Older Drivers
      • 1.3.1. Crashes Involving Older Drivers
      • 1.3.2. Mobility Issues
      • 1.3.3. Driving Cessation
    • 1.4. Public Transport
    • 1.5. Older Pedestrians
      • 1.5.1. The Safety of Older Pedestrians
    • 1.6. Mobility Scooters
      • 1.6.1. The Safety of Older Mobility Scooter Users
    • 1.7. Pedal Cyclists and Motorcyclists
      • 1.7.1. The Safety of Older Pedal Cyclists
      • 1.7.2. The Safety of Older Motorcyclists
    • 1.8. Increasing Travel by Older Adults and Their Preference for Driving Themselves
    • 1.9. Overall Summary and Key Points
  • 2. Older Road User Data Analysis
    • 2.1. Introduction
    • 2.2. Method of Analysis
    • 2.3. Overall Data
      • 2.3.1. Number of Crashes
      • 2.3.2. A Note On Active Crash Participants with an Unknown Age
      • 2.3.3. Active Units in Crashes
      • 2.3.4. Active Participants in Crashes
      • 2.3.5. Total Crash Involvement Per Year
      • 2.3.6. Crash Rates Per Head of Population
      • 2.3.7. Crash Rates Per Licence Holder
      • 2.3.8. Unit Type by Crash Participant Age
      • 2.3.9. Injury Risk If Involved in an Injury Crash
      • 2.3.10. Active Participant Sex
      • 2.3.11. Responsibility for The Crash
      • 2.3.12. Day of Week
      • 2.3.13. Time of Day
      • 2.3.14. Lighting at the Time of the Crash
      • 2.3.15. Speed Limit
      • 2.3.16. Weather at the Time of the Crash
      • 2.3.17. Road Wetness at the Time of the Crash
      • 2.3.18. Road Surface Type
      • 2.3.19. Crash Type
      • 2.3.20. Summary
    • 2.4. Conclusions
      • 2.4.1. Limitations
      • 2.4.2. Overall Crash Numbers and Trauma
      • 2.4.3. Unit Type
      • 2.4.4. Injuries and Fatalities
      • 2.4.5. Other Crash Characteristics
  • A Note On Statistical Significance
  • 3. Analysis of In-Depth Crash Data
    • 3.1. Introduction
    • 3.2. Crash Investigation Method
    • 3.3. Limitations
    • 3.4. Results
      • 3.4.1. General
      • 3.4.2. Right Angle
      • 3.4.3. Pedestrian
      • 3.4.4. Right Turn in Front
      • 3.4.5. Single Vehicle
      • 3.4.6. Rear End
      • 3.4.7. U-turn
      • 3.4.8. Head On
      • 3.4.9. Other
    • 3.5. Discussion
  • 4. Analysis of a Sample of Hospitalised Road Users
    • 4.1. Introduction
    • 4.2. Method
      • 4.2.1. Case Selection
      • 4.2.2. Medical Data
      • 4.2.3. Police-Reported Crash Data
      • 4.2.4. Licensing Records
      • 4.2.5. Results of Blood Tests for Alcohol and Drugs
      • 4.2.6. Interviews
      • 4.2.7. Limitations
    • 4.3. Results
      • 4.3.1. 75+ Sample
      • 4.3.2. 60-74 Sample
      • 4.3.3. Results of The Interview Study with 60 Surviving Hospitalised Older Drivers
    • 4.4. Summary and Conclusions
  • 5. Consultations with Stakeholders
    • 5.1. Introduction
    • 5.2. Method
    • 5.3. Limitations
    • 5.4. Australian and New Zealand Consultations
      • 5.4.1. Is the Ageing Population Considered a Transport Safety Issue?
      • 5.4.2. Countermeasures for Older Road User Crashes
      • 5.4.3. Other Relevant Issues
    • 5.5. International Road Safety Strategies
      • 5.5.1. Netherlands
      • 5.5.2. Norway
      • 5.5.3. United Kingdom
      • 5.5.4. United States
    • 5.6. Conclusions
  • 6. Overall Conclusions and Recommendations
    • 6.1. Synthesis of Results and Conclusions
      • 6.1.1. Data
      • 6.1.2. Injury Risk
      • 6.1.3. The Risk to Older Pedestrians
      • 6.1.4. Crash Factors
      • 6.1.5. Alterations to Driving Habits and Licence Status
      • 6.1.6. Co-Operation Between Government Departments
  • A Note On Medical Fitness to Drive
  • References
  • Appendix A Crash Data Tables
  • Appendix B Definitions for Coding Accidents (DCA Codes)
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