18 December 2005
Some older pedestrians are at increased risk of death or injury and need to adopt strategies to avoid dangerous situations, a new report by Monash University researchers shows.
The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) report, commissioned by VicRoads, found although walking has obvious health benefits, older pedestrians, particularly those with certain medical conditions, are at increased risk of death and serious injury.
In Victoria last year, 35 per cent of the 49 pedestrians killed were older than 60.
Senior research fellow Dr Jennifer Oxley said although much research had been done on the impact of declining function on the daily living of older people, little was known about the affects on older pedestrians.
Dr Oxley said most people functioned well as they aged and compensated for changes in their ability, making the association between normal age-related cognitive decline and pedestrian performance and crash risk fairly moderate.
"But there is more substantial evidence that certain medical conditions, such as dementia, Parkinson's Disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis, could result in cognitive impairment that may impact on pedestrian performance and crash risk," she said.
Such people could be at risk when there were drops in road crossing ability, and problems with memory, decision-making, and response times, particularly in complex traffic situations. But there were strategies that pedestrians could take to reduce risk, including crossing only at formal crossings, avoiding crossing in complex traffic, and walking with a friend, she said.
However, Dr Oxley said older people without insight into their declining abilities were less likely to use compensatory strategies, and placed themselves at greater risk.
"We need to build a good understanding of how decline and impairment contributes to older pedestrians' crash risk and develop suitable countermeasures such as education, improved vehicle design, and ensuring a safe and forgiving road environment in which to walk - otherwise the problems and risk will worsen in coming decades."
The full report can be viewed at the Monash University Accident Research Centre website.
Dr Jennifer Oxley is available for interview on +61 3 9905 4374 or contact Ms Allison Harding in the Media Communications office on 9905 2085 or 0408 812 301.
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