Driver's licence plea to Aussies over 65 after startling find: 'Should not be happening'

Senior Australians have been singled out as the riskiest drivers on the road, prompting renewed warnings to older Australians to ensure they are safe to drive. Recent data shows over a quarter of incidents that resulted in insurance claims were attributed to drivers over 65.

The startling statistic comes from AAMI's Decade of Driving report which looked at 4.3 million motor claims between 2014–2023. It's prompted the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) to remind older drivers they must understand their responsibility to themselves and other road users.

"We know that the law and ethics say that if you are a driver, you need to be asking yourself every time you get behind the wheel 'Am I safe to do this?' " Dr Anita Muñoz, Chair of RACGP Victoria told Yahoo News Australia.

"All older Australians should be asking themselves that question," she said, adding that GPs are in an "excellent position" to help answer that question.

While seniors living in Victoria are required to notify VicRoads if they develop any long-term or permanent physical or mental conditions that might affect their ability to operate a vehicle, the state doesn't legally mandate that drivers need to visit a doctor annually as other states across the country do.

Drivers in NSW, Queensland, ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory must have medical checks after 75. The age is lifted to 80 in Western Australia while older drivers in South Australia must complete self-assessments.

The reason that Dr Muñoz doesn't go as far as to say that Victoria should mandate annual medical checks, she says people can't avoid the personal responsibility involved in driving.

"A person may pass a test on a day with their GP, but that doesn't mean that every single time they drive they don't need to ask themselves, 'can I really do this?'"

"Every person has to recognise their personal responsibility for the actions that they take and if you drive a car, you need to be certain that you are fit enough to drive the car. If you're a person over 65 I think that you should be asking your GP to help you answer that question."

Ageing affects cognitive processing, doctors say

Dr Muñoz said there are several factors that affect people as they age, including strength, dexterity, reaction times, vision, hearing and cognitive processing.

"That doesn't mean that once you become a person 65 or older you'll automatically unable to drive but we are aware that ageing does affect us, that's a truism," she said. "The older we live, the more likely we are to have chronic illnesses. Chronic diseases are very common. The majority of Australians live with at least one chronic, and many have two or more chronic. When you combine age with chronic illness, the effects of ageing can be amplified."

The most common type of collision over all age groups was found to be nose-to-tail crashes at 26 per cent, which leads AAMI experts to suggest that there is a "propensity to tailgate other drivers and drive distracted," according to Leah James, AAMI Motor Claims Manager.

James told Yahoo bad behaviour on Aussie roads "should not be happening" and drivers of all ages should drive with caution. "Nose-to-tail crashes are the most common throughout Australia, and drivers aged 65 years and over are most likely to be in the driver’s seat," James said.

"This data lends itself to the fact that drivers may have a tendency for tailgating or being impatient and easily distracted when behind the wheel — all things that should not be happening.

James warns drivers of "any age" must play it safe while driving. "We encourage everyone behind the wheel to: follow all road rules, stick to the speed limit, avoid distractions like mobile phones, leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front and remain patient in heavy traffic."

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Trends across Aussie roads

Other trends suggested that male drivers were more likely than female drivers to crash, with 54 per cent of males being involved in collisions.

Friday was the worst day of the week for crashes, at 16 per cent, followed by Thursday and Wednesday. However Saturday and Sunday fared the best.

Other trends noticed in the past 10 years included drivers failing to give way (19 per cent of incidents) and accidentally damaging cars while parking (17 per cent).

The AAMI report is based on its motor insurance claims data from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2023.

The data has been shared with governments “to help identify and plan for future road projects, as well as drive policy changes and road improvements at identified hotspots.”

with AAP

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