“I want to see road safety taken as seriously as AIDS”, “It kills just like AIDS”, “If roads are not made safer, road traffic crashes could double by 2030 and surpass HIV/AIDS”(Red Cross 2005). In Malaysia, almost 80% of injuries were dominated by road traffic accidents (RTA) with 70% mainly involving motorcycle-related crashes (Rahman et al. 2015). The fatality rates were the highest among the young (18-20 years) and the elderly (above 65 years) (OECD/ITF 2014, 2015, 2016), with very elderly group (aged above 75 years) were almost three times more likely to die from RTA than elderly group (aged below 75 years) (Ang, Chen, Jamalludin, et al. 2016). According to Bauer et al. (2003), individuals are living longer, consequently driving longer.
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2009; Nations 2013).
“There are good drivers who are old and there are awful drivers who are young. It’s not a question of age”(Rudman et al. 2006). In general, older drivers are considered to be cautious and safe road users but compared to younger middle-aged drivers, they are at increased risk of fatal and serious injury crashes due to age-related fragility (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2000; Boot et al. 2013). Although the older cohort has a relatively low rate of crash involvement, they face far more injuries and death than their younger counterparts due to the fact that they are frailer than younger adults and therefore, sustain more …show more content…
It is not just about making a choice whether to continue or stop driving but it is a timely process that gradually changes over time to compensate for declining ability by making appropriate adjustments in driving behaviour and alterations to driving pattern. Previous literatures have suggested that there are a number of potential factors that can influence this outcome, including demographics, personal and environmental factors (Table 1) (Donorfio et al. 2009; Kostyniuk et al. 1998; Rudman et al. 2006). However, most literatures addressing older adults travel patterns and self-regulatory behaviour have been conducted in developed countries. In addition, the instruments used for data collection have been designed specifically for these populations. There are very few instruments available for use in developing countries and in languages other than English. Existing scales are mostly limited to current drivers and lacking psychometric properties assessments (Yeoh et al. 2016). According to Ikpeze et al. (2016), no single assessment can reveal when older drivers should stop driving. “Reliable assessment methods are needed to study older adults’ self-regulatory driving” (Wong et al. 2015a). To date, there is no studies or instrument developed to identify the determinant factors of driving or riding reduction and cessation among older car drivers and motorcycle riders in
2009; Nations 2013).
“There are good drivers who are old and there are awful drivers who are young. It’s not a question of age”(Rudman et al. 2006). In general, older drivers are considered to be cautious and safe road users but compared to younger middle-aged drivers, they are at increased risk of fatal and serious injury crashes due to age-related fragility (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2000; Boot et al. 2013). Although the older cohort has a relatively low rate of crash involvement, they face far more injuries and death than their younger counterparts due to the fact that they are frailer than younger adults and therefore, sustain more …show more content…
It is not just about making a choice whether to continue or stop driving but it is a timely process that gradually changes over time to compensate for declining ability by making appropriate adjustments in driving behaviour and alterations to driving pattern. Previous literatures have suggested that there are a number of potential factors that can influence this outcome, including demographics, personal and environmental factors (Table 1) (Donorfio et al. 2009; Kostyniuk et al. 1998; Rudman et al. 2006). However, most literatures addressing older adults travel patterns and self-regulatory behaviour have been conducted in developed countries. In addition, the instruments used for data collection have been designed specifically for these populations. There are very few instruments available for use in developing countries and in languages other than English. Existing scales are mostly limited to current drivers and lacking psychometric properties assessments (Yeoh et al. 2016). According to Ikpeze et al. (2016), no single assessment can reveal when older drivers should stop driving. “Reliable assessment methods are needed to study older adults’ self-regulatory driving” (Wong et al. 2015a). To date, there is no studies or instrument developed to identify the determinant factors of driving or riding reduction and cessation among older car drivers and motorcycle riders in