• Asessing your Driving Skills
• Medical Conditions
• Medicines
• Safe Driving Practices
• Good Health and Driving
• Retiring from Driving

Why this information

This information is written with the aim of helping older drivers to continue driving – safely!

Reading the book and following the advice contained in it is a good start to remaining mobile.

Of course, the advice of your doctor and pharmacist is still very important. Moreover, a prudent driver will listen to what his or her spouse, relatives and friends have to say as well.

This book is one of a series produced for different road user groups, such as young drivers and motorcyclists.

The good news

Older drivers are involved in fewer crashes than other age groups.
Reasons for this include:

• Older drivers tend to drive less distance. This is so despite the fact that some retired people take long holiday trips.
• Older drivers tend to be cautious and responsible
• Older drivers tend to obey the law
• Older drivers are rarely involved in drink-driving

The bad news

Whilst older drivers don’t have as many crashes as younger drivers, for each kilometre they drive they have a greater risk of having a crash. What’s more, if they are involved in a crash, older drivers are more likely to be killed or seriously injured as a result.

A national study by the Federal Office of Road Safety shows this increased risk of death or serious injury.

Figure 1. Risk that a crash will be fatal at different ages.

Wylie, J. (1996),Variation in Relative Safety of Australian
Drivers with Age, Federal Office of Road Safety, Canberra.

Reasons for the increased risk include:

• Some people, as they age, experience changes that reduce their ability to drive safely
• Some older people are more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash because of their increased frailty
• Some older people suffer from illnesses that affect their ability to drive safely
• The medicine taken may affect their ability to drive

What this booklet is about

• The first part of the book contains a questionnaire that will help you to assess your own driving and to identify possible trouble spots.
• The scoring of the questionnaire will give you a guide to your current safety level as a driver.
• The next section following the questionnaire gives some practical hints for safer driving, based on the questionnaire.
• Parts 2, 3 and 4 contain information on health problems, medicines, safe driving practices, the use of alcohol, keeping your car in good condition and buying a new car.
• Part 5 looks at the issue of healthy lifestyle as an aid to good driving.
• Part 6 outlines licensing requirements for seniors and provides hints on how to prepare for giving up driving without giving up independence.

Road Safety Seminars for Seniors

The Road Safety Operations Branch,DIER provides Older Driver Safety Seminars free to groups of senior Tasmanians.

The program covers the content of the Older Drivers ’ Handbook,helps seniors assess their own driving ability,gives an update of road rules and provides advice to keep older drivers driving safely.

Trained DIER staff visit groups of senior people and conduct the 2-hour discussion based session.

To book a presentation on behalf of your group or organisation, please call (03)6233 6643

For more information and advice contact the following:

Transport Enquiry Service (TES) Hotline
1300 851 225

Road Safety Operations Branch
Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
(03) 6233 6643

Tasmanian Older Drivers’ Handbook
Feedback/questions/publishing
(03) 6233 6643