Seniors: Driving in old age
PREVENTION Many people continue to benefit from cars well into old age. This is a challenge for accident prevention, because older people have a much higher risk of serious and fatal injuries.
Senior citizens cause an above-average number of accidents behind the wheel, and with sociodemographic change, the number of accidents is likely to rise further. To identify older people who are no longer fit to drive, Switzerland currently relies primarily on medical check-ups from the age of 75. However, the AAIB considers other measures to be more effective.
Medical checkups
For many older people, driving means mobility and a more active life. However, seniors are more vulnerable in accidents than younger people, and injuries are more likely to have serious consequences. In addition, older drivers are involved in and cause accidents at a disproportionately high rate.
Medical check-ups have now been comprehensively investigated by the BFU (Swiss Council for Accident Prevention). The advisory body comes to the conclusion that the medical check-ups are widely accepted, but do not bring the hoped-for increase in safety.
Use of safety assistants
In the BFU's view, it would make sense to streamline the complex system of check-ups. First of all, it would have to be investigated whether the increase in the age for the examination from 70 to 75 years, which only took place in 2019, has had a negative effect on the number of accidents. Independently of the adjustment of the check-ups, other prevention approaches would need to be strengthened. At the technical level, the consistent and correct use of safety assistants in cars must be promoted. Even less complex, more forgiving roads bring a gain in safety.
Mental stress while driving
Speed 30 zones can be implemented quickly. Among other things, lower speeds reduce the mental strain of driving. This benefits older drivers in particular. It is also important that seniors deal with age-related changes at an early stage. With its Driving Safety Check, the BFU offers a tailor-made tool that enables older people to recognize possible limitations in good time and take appropriate measures.
