ROAD Safety is everyone's business and no less so as we age. But what does this really mean to older people and what are the conversations to be had when we think about how safe we are as drivers?
Council on the Ageing South Australia in conjunction with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure is running a series of interactive information sessions to help older people make informed decisions about their driving futures.
Moving Right Along provides an opportunity for discussion and sharing information that can support older drivers in their choices. The focus is very much on the rights of individuals to make informed decisions around their own fitness to drive and the safety of other road users.
For many people losing their driving licence signifies a loss of independence which impacts our routines and daily life. Yet there are many more aspects of what safer driving can mean to consider before beginning the conversation about retirement from driving.
Some of the assumptions made about older drivers can be easily disputed in that they are not statistically any more responsible for accidents than younger drivers. In fact older drivers have a wealth of driving experience and are overall less likely to take risks.
Through the Moving Right Along program individuals are supported in understanding the relationship between health and fitness and driving.
The program also looks at assistive technologies such as emergency response systems and assistive parking systems which can support an older person to remain driving for longer.
For more information on the information sessions, or COTA SA's next Reframing Ageing Seminar, Staying Safe on the Road, visit one of the links below. The sessions will all be held at COTA SA, 16 Hutt Street, Adelaide.
Moving Right Along: Session 1 - Older drivers, safer vehicles, fitness to drive
Wednesday, August 31, 10-11am
Visit https://www.cotasa.org.au/events/2016/moving-right-along-older-drivers.aspx
Moving Right Along: Session 2 - Travel options and retiring from driving
Wednesdy, August 31, 11.30am-12.30pm
Visit https://www.cotasa.org.au/events/2016/moving-right-along-travel-options.aspx
Moving Right Along: Session 3 - Motorised Mobility Scooters
Tuesday, 13 September, 10.30-11.30am
Visit https://www.cotasa.org.au/events/2016/moving-right-along-motorised-mobility-scooters.aspx
Staying Safe on the Road
Wednesday September 14, 10am- 2pm
https://www.cotasa.org.au/events/2016/staying-safe-on-the-road.aspx
