Accident patterns and prospects for maintaining the safety of older drivers

Every human being has a basic need for mobility. Whereas mobility demands can be a burden to many of today’s young working people, it has a predominantly positive connotation in the everyday life of older people. Mobility makes it possible to meet individual needs, to participate in an active social life, and it is an important prerequisite for independence. However, it is paradoxically in old age that both the type and the scope of mobility become restricted. This restriction is a result of declining sensory, motor and cognitive abilities. Of all the different forms of mobility, car driving and its risks are of particular interest in our society. Car accidents often not only affect the person causing the accident but also second parties. In addition, the media relishes reporting dramatic accidents where older people are at fault. This influences the perception of the risk associated with older drivers. However, car-driving is the most loved means of transportation for current and future generations of our aging population. This volume discusses the actual risk of driving in old age. Furthermore, approaches and alternatives for age-friendly auto-mobility are discussed and their implementation is briefly outlined. These are illustrated using examples from selected European cities and communities.