TEACHING OLDER DRIVERS: A HANDBOOK FOR DRIVING INSTRUCTORS

Older drivers want to maintain driving independence. Licence review, illness, disability or a change in circumstances may mean that the older driver participates in driver assessment, retraining and/or rehabilitation. Driving Instructors (DI) are often involved in these processes. As the number of older drivers in our community increases, the need for DI education and retraining will increase. However, there is a need to develop teaching approaches, which suit individual requirements and the educational styles of older drivers. This paper discusses the development of an innovative project, which aimed to develop and produce a Handbook to assist driving instructors with teaching older drivers. The need for a resource was identified through various consultation processes involving the Road Safety branches of the ACT and Tasmania. A participative model (involving driving instructors and groups representing or resourcing the needs of older or functionally impaired drivers) was used as the project framework. The booklet was developed, trialed and launched in 2001 and is currently in use. 1.0 BACKGROUND Over the next thirty years, we will see a steady increase in the number and proportion of drivers over the age of sixtyfive. As the “baby boomers” achieve retirement, more people will be living longer and healthier lives and will expect to continue to drive. Various personal changes may influence an individual’s capacity to drive and driving competence may come into question. The maintenance of an older individual’s driving independence needs to be carefully balanced with the requirement to maintain the safety of other road users. This policy priority was clearly identified by the recent Ageing and Transport – Mobility needs and Safety Issues, OECD Report (OECD, 2001). Retaining a licence to drive is dependent on a number of factors, including health status and physical, sensory and cognitive capacity, combined with maintenance of adequate driving skill, suitable safety related knowledge and behaviour, and personal qualities such as self confidence and insight. National licensing laws place the onus on individual drivers to notify state licensing authorities if they have a permanent condition which may impact on their long term driving performance (Austroads, 2001). Licensing authorities may have a driver’s competence to continue driving drawn to their attention by police, health professionals including occupational therapists, medical practitioners and family members (Carr, 2000). On road tests may be undertaken with licensing authority personnel or occupational therapy driver assessors (OTDAs) in conjunction with driving instructors (DIs) (DiStefano, 1994). In some states there is also mandatory age based testing which