Survey of Older Road Users: Behavioural and Travel Issues

Monash University Accident Research Centre - Report #57 - 1994

Authors: B. Fildes, S. Lee, D. Kenny & W. Foddy

Abstract:

A study was undertaken of attitudes, habits and perceptions on a range of road user safety issues for older people in Australia. The study involved a literature review, a one-day workshop of older road users, and a survey of 1600 young and old drivers and pedestrians in a number of shopping centres. Cars were the most predominant mode of transport among the older people interviewed and likely to remain so in the years ahead. While most respondents were able to nominate people able to chauffeur them around if necessary, most claimed that losing their car would be a severe inconvenience. Older drivers tended to drive less and have fewer trips at night and reported difficulties with glare and seeing other road users in dark conditions. They relied more heavily on controlled traffic situations and were more concerned with other traffic and personal safety than younger drivers. While many older pedestrians still had a current driving license, a sizeable number of them (especially females) had never had one or had given it up recently as a result of ageing difficulties. Older pedestrian problems when using the roads and footpaths were uneven paths, overhanging trees and shrubs, undelineated edges and high gutters. Skateboards, roller blades and bicycles on footpaths were seen to be problematic for older pedestrians. Most older people seek pedestrian crossings when crossing the road and reported some difficulty with brief light cycles, cars not giving way and a lack of refuge areas. Cognitive difficulties seemed to be a problem for older drivers and pedestrians. A number of areas requiring intervention and additional research were identified to help reduce road trauma for older people in the years ahead.

Executive Summary

A survey was undertaken by the Monash University Accident Research Centre for the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust to throw some light on the problems and difficulties facing older drivers and pedestrians in Canberra. Travel patterns of older road users and knowledge of the road laws was also examined.

A total of 1600 old and young drivers and pedestrians were interviewed in shopping centres in Canberra and Sydney during the survey. This design allowed age and location effects to be assessed separately.

Shopping was the major reason for travel each week followed by visits to see family or friends. Older Canberra residents had fewer trips for work, visiting or sport and entertainment but more journeys for health reasons and to attend meetings.

Cars were the predominant mode of travel for people of all ages. On average, people undertook 11.3 trips per week which was higher for younger respondents, those living in Canberra, and drivers.

Knowledge about who has right of way at intersections without traffic lights was not good. However, older people's knowledge was slightly better than younger people.

Public transport was readily available to a majority of respondents, especially pedestrians. There was little known about the availability of other special community transport services by people of all ages and in both cities, suggesting a need for more services and publicity about their availability.

IMPROVING OLDER ROAD USER SAFETY

The study highlighted a number of areas that older road users felt required attention to alleviate problems for them and improve their safety.

A strong need for improved knowledge of safe road practices by both older and younger road users including clearer knowledge about right of way between motorists and pedestrians in certain traffic situations.
A campaign to reduce aggressive behaviour by drivers through increased publicity, greater enforcement and better education.
A number of intersection improvements were highlighted such as the greater use of traffic and pedestrian lights in areas heavily used by older people and longer light cycles to permit older pedestrians sufficient time to cross the road.
More liberal use of refuge areas in the centre of the road would benefit older pedestrians.
Reductions in the number of road and path hazards to improve pedestrian safety for all path users (especially the elderly) such as improved path surfaces, reduced overhanging foliage and not permitting the use of recreational devices such as skateboards and roller blades on footpaths.
Greater publicity and provision of community transport services for the elderly would help provide mobility options for these people apart from using their cars.
Measures to reduce glare on the roads for drivers and pedestrians (without reducing the amount of light available) could help overcome vision difficulties experienced by older motorists.
Improved roadside signage through increased contrast between letters and their backgrounds and larger lettering would be of enormous help for older eyes.
The inclusion of insurance accident data with official records would help demonstrate the full extent of road accidents in Australia.

FINDINGS OF RELEVANCE TO DRIVERS

Older Canberra drivers drove 30 per cent more than their Sydney counterparts but 20 per cent less than younger Canberrans. Two-thirds of all respondents drove less than 200kin each week. Eighty-five per cent of all trips were in urban areas.

Drivers of all ages claimed it would be a major inconvenience not to be able to drive themselves around. Several older drivers claimed that losing their licence would lead to a major change in their lifestyle and well-being.

The vast majority of drivers claimed that at least one other person relied on them to drive them around (spouse for older drivers and relatives and friends for younger ones). If they had to cease driving, most could nominate at least one person who could drive them around.

Half the drivers reported no recent changes in their driving patterns. Older drivers who did report a change were more likely to be driving less than they used to. Common reasons included changes in work or lifestyle as well as deterioration in their health.

Aggressive drivers were nominated by drivers of all ages as the biggest problems they experienced when driving. Older people were especially concerned about being tailgated and this was even more pronounced among Sydney drivers.

Driving at night or at dusk was noted to be a particular problem for older people. These drivers were far less likely to drive at night than younger people and felt more anxious about it when they had to.

Glare was said to be a particular problem for drivers of all ages and in both cities. Seeing other traffic was more difficult for older drivers.

Older drivers claimed to have less difficulty judging speed than younger drivers and reported fewer occasions when they were surprised by unexpected cars. (This could suggest that older drivers are less aware or likely to nominate these situations than younger ones).

All drivers prefer signalised intersections when having to cross busy roads. Older drivers in particular preferred turning at intersections where there were green arrows to control the opposing traffic.

Older drivers had more of a preference for traffic lights while younger ones preferred roundabouts. There was widespread acceptance of roundabouts as a desirable feature, especially among Canberra residents of all ages.

Older drivers and those living in Canberra were more favourably disposed to speed humps than younger drivers. Reasons included slowing the traffic (desirable), made the road safer, and helping traffic control.

Older drivers were more likely to lock their doors while driving. Car breaking down and quiet roads were most commonly seen as less safe driving situations by all drivers. Sydney residents were especially concerned when stopping at lights.

Fifteen percent of drivers reported at least one accident in the preceding 12 months. This is much higher than official statistics because it would include a large number of property damage accidents not officially reported.

FINDINGS OF RELEVANCE TO PEDESTRIANS

More than half of the pedestrians interviewed still held a current driving licence, although this was lower for older than younger pedestrians.

Almost three-quarters of those who did not own a licence had never had one. This was particularly so for older people and for women. The vast majority of people who had surrendered their licence were older road users.

Most pedestrians had access to someone who could chauffeur them around if required. Their spouse or partner was most common among older pedestrians.

More than half the respondents claimed that their pedestrian behaviour had not changed recently.

On average, 5km was considered to be a long walk by all respondents. Not surprisingly, older people nominated shorter distances than younger people. There were a number of people who considered 500m or less to be a long walk, even though it was likely that they would have walked that far or more around the shopping centre they visited.

Frequent difficulties when walking included uneven paths, overhanging trees or shrubs or poorly lit roads. Edges that are difficult to see and high gutters were especially problematic for older pedestrians, as was difficulty reading signs.

Older pedestrians claimed to cross the road mainly at pedestrian crossings whereas younger people and males were more likely to cross where they needed to.

Busy traffic, few places to cross and no centre refuge were singled out as difficulties experienced when needing to cross the road. Older people were particular concerned with having to cross the road quickly.

Difficulties when crossing at intersections included too little walk time, cars not giving way and having to cross unsignalised intersections or roundabouts. Older people were especially concerned with not being able to see the traffic lights.

Common problems in using public transport included regularity of service and cost for younger pedestrians and getting on and off and step height for older people.

Twenty percent of pedestrians reported having had at least one accident (traffic accidents and slips and trips) when using the roads over the last 12 months.

LICENSING ISSUES

Residents of Canberra aged 75 years and older are to have to submit to and pass a medical test each year to maintain their licence to drive. While older drivers may be at risk in certain situations and their use of the road at certain times might need to be discouraged, they are not a large accident problem compared to other road user groups and it is doubtful that measures aimed at restricting their driving would be cost-beneficial.

Preventing older people from driving would have a severe influence on their mobility and lifestyle with serious ramifications. While there is clearly a need to restrict the driving of particular individuals at high risk, the assessment criteria and methods most suited to do this are not clear at this stage.

AREAS WHERE FURTHER RESEARCH IS REQUIRED

There were a number of areas where further research is required, including the need for more exposure data on older drivers and pedestrians to help separate greater risk of injury from higher crash involvement, examination of the trade-off in road safety risk that occurs when older drivers become pedestrians to help guide licensing policy and public transport priorities; and further research aimed at understanding functional and cognitive disabilities faced by older road users and how these might influence older road user behaviour.

Sponsor: NRMA ACT Road Safety Trust