Speed to reflect ageing motorists
Speed limits in Queensland will be reviewed after a Queensland government report found older people liked to drive slowly. Experts warned older drivers would make up an “increasing population of the road toll in the future”, and handed the government 26 recommendations to prepare for a “tsunami” of ageing motorists.
Speed limits in Queensland will be reviewed after a Queensland government report found older people liked to drive slowly.
AAP reported experts warned older drivers would make up an “increasing population of the road toll in the future”, and handed the government 26 recommendations to prepare for a “tsunami” of ageing motorists.
Transport Minister, Scott Emerson, called for public comment on the Older Driver Safety Advisory Committee’s report, which also recommended re-designing roads.
The report stated the number of Australians aged 75 years and older would increase by 83% in less than two decades, rising to 11% of the population in 2031 – up from 6.2% in 2007.
The report said older drivers could frustrate other road users by driving too slow, and this “can manifest in road rage and intimidating driving behaviours”.
“While older drivers may have long years of experience . . . some will inevitably experience problems as they age, which will impact on their ability to drive safely,” the report said.
Other key recommendations included communication strategies to prevent road rage directed at older drivers, information about the best cars for older people to drive, road designs better suited to older drivers, and yearly medical certificates for drivers aged over 75 years.
