Latest news with #elderlydrivers
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Renewed calls to make major driver's licence change for older Aussies: 'We have to'
The discussion of whether older Australians should be subject to additional driver's licence requirements has been reignited following a fatal car accident involving a 91-year-old driver. Authorities in Victoria are looking to review the road rules after a two-year-old boy was hospitalised and two adults, thought to be his grandparents, died after they were hit while walking on a suburban street in Melbourne last week. The elderly woman behind the wheel at the tragedy in the Melbourne suburb of Wantirna South last Thursday was "terribly shaken", police said. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has yet to be interviewed by police. The morning after the incident, Victoria's Acting Premier Ben Carroll renewed the discussion on driving regulations for the elderly and confirmed he would work with the road safety minister on the matter. Road safety advocates across the country have since weighed in on the debate, with Russell White, founder of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, arguing the latest incident should be the catalyst for standardised change across the country. "Sadly, it's taken someone to have a serious incident and for lives to be lost for us to have discussions like this," he told Yahoo News. "We have to try and look at how we become more proactive in this space and take some probably hard decisions to alter what people's view is on driving." Victoria does not have age-based driving safety requirements, although drivers aged 75 and older must renew their licence every three years, which can involve various tests. In NSW, Queensland, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, drivers older than 75 are required to have a health check, while older drivers in South Australia must complete self-assessments. In Western Australia, an annual medical assessment is required to renew a driver's licence after turning 80. White believes all drivers need more rigorous training over the years after they acquire their licence. "In an ideal world, I would like to see some form of additional coaching that happens," he said. It could come with a practical driving evaluation once a decade, he suggested. While he believes that it may be unpopular to implement such a framework, saving lives is the ultimate priority. "We've got to look at standardising the framework for older drivers, including lifelong learning as far as coaching is concerned," he said. Startling statistics released in the past year reveal elderly drivers are disproportionately represented in road crash statistics. Older drivers aged 85 and up are disproportionately affected by fatal crashes, according to data by Road Safety Education Limited (RSE) earlier this year, while insurance company AAMI singled out senior Australians as risky drivers in their Decade of Driving report. Following the incident, Dr Anita Muñoz, Victorian chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, argued that age is not an innate barrier to safe driving and people of all ages must recognise their responsibility when it comes to being a safe driver. "Fitness to drive and safety on the road is, however, something we should all be proactive about — for ourselves, with our family members, and as GPs, with our patients," she said. "There's an association between our health and our social connectedness and mobility, so it's valuable for older people to continue to drive, but only for as long as it is safe. "Proactive discussions about safety on the road are part of what we as GPs discuss with older patients, but it's something you should think about too, for yourself and others in your life." Ben Rogers, CEO of Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria, which represents the interests of older Australians, cautioned against licensing requirements, arguing that Victoria leads the country in how it approaches the issue by focusing on "ability rather than age". "We don't want to see any sort of legislation change in Victoria, but we are happy to have the conversation about mandatory testing for all drivers," he told Yahoo. "It's incumbent on all of us on the roads to make sure that we are driving safely. "Driving is a privilege, no matter whether you're 45 or 75, if you are not fit to drive you shouldn't be on the roads." He believes family, friends, and medical practitioners should be supporting conversations with drivers about their fitness to drive across all age groups and ensuring that subsidised additional training is available for those who wish to partake in it. Investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the collision at Wantirna South remain ongoing, Victoria Police confirmed. — With AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Fatal Victorian crash that saw 91yo driver hit three pedestrians puts focus on elderly driver rules
When a car driven by a 91-year-old killed a woman and left a man and boy with life-threatening injuries on Thursday, it reignited discussion over whether Victoria's rules for elderly drivers needed revisiting. The morning after the incident, acting premier Ben Carroll said whether the rules should change was "a valid question". "I will work with the road safety minister on this," Mr Carroll said. The tragedy followed another crash in March, when six-year-old Caleb Wesley died when an 84-year-old woman hit him on Bannockburn-Shelford Road at Teesdale. Unlike Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT, Victoria does not require drivers aged 75 and over to have annual medical assessments to keep their licence. Western Australia also requires medical assessments past the age of 80, and in some states, bespoke driving tests for the elderly are required at the request of a doctor, or when drivers pass a certain age. In Victoria, there are no mandatory medical checks or driving tests for the elderly. While drivers are required to notify VicRoads if they develop conditions that could affect their driving — and they may be asked to complete a medical review — responsibility largely falls on the individual to decide if they are fit to drive. Victoria Police data shows in the five years to June 30, 2023, motorists aged 65 or older were responsible for at least 145 road deaths and more than 7,000 injuries. But University of Adelaide centre for automotive safety deputy director Matthew Baldock said older drivers actually had fewer crashes. "Older drivers are often sort of maligned as being a group with a higher-crash risk than other age groups, but research actually indicates the opposite," Dr Baldock said. "If you look at overall crash numbers, the older the age group, the smaller the overall crash numbers they're involved in." Crash rates per licensed driver showed older drivers had the lowest crash rate of any age group, which Dr Baldock said may be in part because they drove less frequently. He said research also did not suggest mandatory medical exams or requirements to re-test for the elderly resulted in safer roads. "In Victoria, there's no mandatory age-based assessments for older drivers and Victorian older-driver crash rates are certainly no higher than anywhere else in Australia," Dr Baldock said. For Dr Baldock, the biggest concern with older drivers was that their inherent frailty meant any crash was more likely to result in injury. Swinburne University associate professor Amie Hayley has also investigated whether mandatory assessments of older drivers made roads safer. She found such measures did not translate to a meaningful difference in crash rates. Steps taken in Japan to cognitively screen older drivers for conditions such as dementia suggested a possible solution, but those too came with drawbacks. "[They] did translate to a reduction in road traffic crashes but paradoxically that also resulted in a higher proportion of older pedestrians becoming injured," she said. "If we're looking at driving performance among older people and assessing their risk of crashes, it needs to be a system which can incorporate things like cognitive performance, mental acuity, but also physical health as well." Ben Rogers, Council on the Ageing Victoria (COTA) chief executive, said Victoria led the country on older-driver policy, despite having less screening. "Driving should be based on ability and not your age," he said. "A system that is based on ability rather than age is more likely to capture, for instance, when someone who is aged 45 who really should not be driving, should be taken off the road." Mr Rogers said he wanted to see more proactive support for drivers. "For instance, we have previously called for greater investment in driver-awareness programmes, which can often be inaccessible due to cost," he said. Mr Rogers said the presumption older drivers were more at risk or more at fault was ageist, adding that consideration had to be given to the isolation and mental health impact of an older person having their licence taken off them. Anita Muñoz, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victoria chair, said the organisation did not believe Victoria should impose mandatory annual medical check. But those over 65 should be asking their GP for help answering the question of whether they should keep driving, it said. While advanced age was not innately a barrier to safe driving, Dr Muñoz said people's reflexes, ability to see clearly, and judgement all changed as they aged. "Everyone of any age must recognise their personal responsibility for the actions that they take. If you drive a car, you need to be certain that you will be a safe driver," she said. Shadow minister for road safety, Danny O'Brien, said regulation change was not needed. "While this is a terrible tragedy, we need to avoid hasty responses that might unfairly tarnish older drivers," he said. "The law already requires drivers to be medically fit for driving, and we support that." Victoria In Victoria, there are no mandatory medical checks or driving tests for the elderly. But all motorists are required by law to notify authorities if they have any illness that may prevent them from driving safely. If a driver is 75 years of over, they are offered the option to renew their licence every three years, rather than every 10 years. New South Wales From age 70, drivers with a multi-combination (MC) licence (required for the largest and most complex trucks and vehicles) require an annual medical assessment and bespoke test for older drivers. From 75, all licence holders are required to have medical assessments to assess their fitness to drive annually, and bespoke driver tests are required if a doctor recommends one. From 85, the same annual medical assessments are required, and driver tests are mandatory every two years. Queensland From age 75, drivers are required to have a doctor assess their medical fitness to drive every year and drivers must carry a current medical certificate while driving, issued by the doctor. Doctors can issue medical certificates for less than a year, if they feel more regular checks are required. Driving without a certificate can result in a fine of $161. South Australia Drivers and doctors are required by law to report medical conditions that affect ability to drive to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. Such conditions can include alcohol or drug dependence, dementia, heart conditions, strokes, arthritis, eye issues, or blackouts. Elderly drivers can be required to undergo medical assessments, self-assessment and/or a practical driving assessment. Drivers are sent a self-assessment annually in the mail to complete from the age of 75. From 85, licence holders for other vehicles have to do an annual practical driving test, but this is not required of car drivers. Western Australia At 80, drivers must undergo an annual medical assessment before they can renew their licence. Mandatory practical driving assessments are not required by drivers aged 85 and older, unless recommended by a medical professional. However, these drivers still have to complete a licence renewal declaration. Tasmania In the past, compulsory annual driving assessments for Tasmanian drivers aged 85 or older were required, but this rule was scrapped in 2011, and it is now the elderly driver's responsibility to regularly assess their own fitness to drive. Older drivers are required to disclose any conditions that might affect their driving ability, and the valid period of licences issued after the driver turns 65 is five years. ACT Drivers aged 75 and over need to get annual medical assessments from their doctor. Drivers with heavy vehicle licences aged 70 and over also require annual medical examinations. Northern Territory The rules are similar to Victoria — there are no compulsory checks for older drivers. But drivers with a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive need to declare them to authorities.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Calls for major driver's licence change after school holiday horror in Melbourne: 'Valid question'
Victoria's acting premier has backed mounting calls for the retesting of elderly drivers after a 91-year-old woman mowed down a family from behind, killing a grandmother and seriously injuring a toddler. A silver Toyota Yaris, driven by the elderly woman, mounted the footpath near a playground on Coleman Road in Wantirna South, in Melbourne 's east, shortly before 12.30pm on Thursday. A 59-year-old grandmother, her 60-year-old partner, and their two-year-old grandson were walking along the footpath in the same direction as the car when they were struck. The grandmother died at the scene. Her partner is still fighting for life in The Alfred Hospital. Their young grandson was rushed to The Royal Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but is now in a stable condition. The 'terribly shaken' elderly driver escaped with minor scratches but remains in hospital. She currently isn't in a position to be interviewed by police. Many unanswered questions remain, including whether or not the driver should have been behind the wheel given her age. In the wake of the tragedy, Acting Premier Ben Carroll indicated support for more frequent retesting of elderly drivers to ensure they're fit to drive, in line with other states and territories. He vowed to take the issue up with Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne. 'In relation to people who are elderly and driving, I think it is a valid question … around testing,' Carroll told reporters on Friday. 'There are a range of initiatives in place through our general practitioners right around Victoria when it comes to making sure that Victorians continue to get tested for their driver's licence. 'But I think this, no doubt this tragedy has brought it into focus. 'Having said that, there will be a thorough investigation underway and we will wait for that to run its course.' Carroll also extended his condolences to the victims' family. 'My heart, as every Victorian's, just breaks for this family and what they're going through and our thoughts are with them,' he said. The latest tragedy comes a year after Victoria's state government rejected calls by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to introduce age-based regulations in line with other jurisdictions. In Victoria, drivers aged over-75 only need to renew their licence every three years. NSW, Queensland, ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory require drivers over 75 to undergo an annual health check, while older drivers in South Australia must complete self-assessments. In Western Australia, an annual medical assessment is required after turning 80 to renew a driver's licence. Thursday's fatality took Victoria's road toll to 14 lives lost in the last seven days. It's understood the elderly driver collided with a street sign and struck the pedestrians before the out-of-control car continued down the road for another 200m running through the fence near a playground. 'It came from behind,' Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said. 'It looks like it has lost control about 40m or 50m before the collision with the people who were walking on the other side of that road.' Supt Goldsmith said it was too early to say whether the driver had suffered a medical episode when she lost control. It's unknown whether charges will be laid. Crash investigators will examine whether speed was a contributing factor. 'That will be subject to the investigation, but it is a downhill section of road, so if there has been a lack of control to some degree there is a possibility the car would have picked up speed as it's driven further down Coleman Road,' Supt Goldsmith said. 'We've lost so many lives and had so many life-threatening injuries over the course of last week (and it) is completely horrific and unacceptable.' Victoria has recorded a number of deadly crashes involving out-of-control vehicles in recent years. In November, kindergarten worker Eleanor Bryant was killed and a three-year-old boy injured when a truck driven by a man, 68, smashed through the gate of Macedon Ranges preschool's playground. Two weeks earlier, an 11-year-old boy was killed and four other students injured when an SUV crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne's east. Five people were killed and six injured in November 2023 when a diabetic driver passed out and crashed into patrons seated outside the Royal Daylesford Hotel. The male driver, 66 was charged but the allegations were ultimately struck out, after a magistrate found there wasn't enough evidence to support a conviction.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- The Guardian
Victoria to consider increasing testing of elderly drivers after out-of-control car kills woman and leaves two in hospital
The Victorian government is considering increasing testing for elderly drivers after a 91-year-old woman lost control of her car near a playground and struck three pedestrians, killing one. The acting premier, Ben Carroll, said his thoughts were with the family of the 59-year-old woman who died on Thursday afternoon on Coleman Road in Wantirna South in Melbourne's east. A toddler is also in a stable condition in hospital while a man is fighting for life. Victoria police have not yet revealed the connection between the three victims, but they are believed to be related. 'My heart, as every Victorian's, just breaks for this family and what they're going through and our thoughts are with them,' Carroll told reporters on Friday. When asked whether elderly Victorians should be required to prove their fitness to drive, Carroll acknowledged it was a valid concern. 'In relation to people that are elderly and driving, I think it is a valid question that you raise around testing. I will work with the road safety minister on this,' he said. 'There are a range of initiatives in place through our general practitioners right around Victoria when it comes to making sure that Victorians continue to get tested for their driver's license. But I think this, no doubt this tragedy has brought it into focus.' In 2024, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners called for Victoria to introduce age-based regulations for drivers in line with other jurisdictions including New South Wales, Queensland, ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, which require drivers over 75 to have a health check. The age is 80 in Western Australia, while older drivers in South Australia must complete self-assessments. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email At the time, the Victorian government rejected the call, arguing drivers aged 75 already had to renew their licence every three years, which could include various tests. Police on Friday morning were yet to interview the 91-year-old driver, who was treated in hospital for minor injuries. They said she lost control of her Toyota Yaris about 12.20pm on Thursday, mounted a footpath, went through a fence and hit a bench. Supt Justin Goldsmith said the adults and child were walking in the same direction as the car was travelling when it struck them. 'It came from behind,' Goldsmith told reporters. 'It looks like it's [lost control] about 40 metres or 50 metres before the collision with the people who were walking on the other side of that road.' The out-of-control car continued down the road for another 200 metres, hitting a street sign and smashing through a fence before coming to a stop near a playground. 'No one was hit at the park, thankfully,' Goldsmith said. The driver, who was 'terribly shaken', had minor scratches and was taken to hospital for assessment and blood testing. Police will look at whether speed was a contributing factor. 'That will be subject to the investigation, but it is downhill section of road, so if there has been a lack of control to some degree there is a possibility the car would have picked up speed as it's driven further down Coleman Road,' Goldsmith said. The crash happened during the first week of Victorian school holidays, bringing the state's road deaths to 14 in the past seven days. 'We're facing a horrific month for road trauma,' Goldsmith said. The state has seen a number of deadly crashes involving out-of-control vehicles in recent years. In November, a teacher's aide was killed and a three-year-old boy injured when a runaway truck smashed through the gate of a kindergarten in the regional town of Riddells Creek, about 57km north-west of Melbourne. Two weeks earlier, an 11-year-old boy was killed and four other students injured when an SUV crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne's east. Five people were killed and six injured in November 2023 when a diabetic driver passed out behind the wheel and crashed into patrons seated outside the Royal Daylesford Hotel. The driver was charged but the allegations were ultimately struck out after a magistrate found there was not enough evidence to support a conviction.
