Senior drivers deserve respect

Increasing numbers of older people are driving, but they're facing ageist attitudes.

Seven of New Zealand's 3.2 million licensed drivers are over 100 and nearly 4000 are aged 90 or over, latest (January 2010) LTSA figures show. The numbers of senior drivers are expected to increase rapidly over this decade. However, they can face prejudice. 

"Some comments about senior drivers are not appropriate," Age Concern New Zealand national president Liz Baxendine says. 

"When an older person has a car accident, there's a lot of jumping to conclusions."

Even before all the facts are known, there can be an assumption that they're at fault and they must be incapable, simply because of their age.

Anyone can make a mistake or become unwell behind the wheel, but some seniors' accidents get sensationalist coverage.

Older drivers are really put under a microscope. They already have to renew their licences at age 75, 80 and then every two years after that. This includes a medical certificate confirming they're safe to drive.

We think this is working well. If doctors have any concerns about seniors' driving, they can put restrictions on the medical certificate or refer patients for specialist assessments.

However, we're concerned that older drivers alone face extra costs to maintain a driving licence. These can be a real burden on a group that has one of the lowest accident rates.

In 2008, the driver was aged 75 or older in just 4.4 percent of accidents that resulted in injury or death.

Older drivers have a lifetime of safe driving practices behind them; they're less likely to drink and drive and more likely to wear seat belts. However, because older people are less strong, they're more likely to be injured in accidents and take longer to recover.

"We can contribute to our own safety by reviewing and renewing our driving skills as we age, that's why we're so concerned about changes to senior driver training," Liz Baxendine says. 

Illustration

Mrs Ellen Noy of Christchurch is New Zealand's oldest licenced driver.

Story by Allan Williams, photo by Geoff Sloan, both of the Christchurch Star. Mrs Noy's story was an entry into the Age Concern New Zealand Patron's Award 2009, for stories featuring positive news about older people.

Resource

> DOWNLOAD LTSA Motor Vehicle Crashes in New Zealand 2007 [PDF file]