Seniors Behind the Wheel

In 2002, the 50 and over group represented almost 30 per cent of Canada's population. About 70 per cent of Canadians 55 and over have a driver's licence. Drivers over 80 are the fastest-growing segment of Ontario's driving population. The number of elderly people with driver's licences will increase exponentially over the coming decades, bringing to the fore concerns about age-related deficits and driving ability.

In 2001, seniors accounted for over 17 per cent of the Canadians killed in traffic crashes, but only 12.7 per cent of the population.

In 1996, about one-half of Canadians aged 65 and over living in private households (about 1.7 million) were driving a car, minivan or truck. Seniors in small towns and rural areas are more likely to be drivers - not surprising, considering that small towns and rural areas often have little or no public transit or special-needs transportation and their residents tend to live farther from basic amenities. To maintain their independence in everyday activities such as shopping and getting to personal appointments, seniors must rely more heavily on their cars.

Profile of older drivers

Most drivers over age 65 and over drive only a few times a week. The majority of their trips are relatively short, with total distance travelled ranging from 11 to 17 km per day on average. Most often, seniors use their car for shopping, personal appointments such as visiting physicians, and family or social get-togethers.

Senior men - both rural and urban residents - are far more likely to drive than senior women. According to the 1996 National Private Vehicle Use Survey, in the majority (55 per cent) of households where the husband held a valid licence, he was the exclusive driver of the household vehicle. Whether or not the wife had a licence made little difference; the husband still did the bulk of the driving.

The apparent lack of driving experience among women aged 65 and over may have important consequences, particularly in areas not served by public transit. Women tend to outlive their husbands; once alone, they may find that, unless they drive, they must significantly curtail their activities, pay for transportation or rely on friends and family for transportation.

Age-related factors affect driving

As time goes by, the independence offered by having a vehicle may be jeopardized by deteriorating health, which can affect the ability of some seniors to drive. For example, the 1996-97 National Population Health Survey showed that 35 per cent of men and 56 per cent of women aged 75 and over who have a driver's licence suffer from chronic arthritis or rheumatism, conditions that could make manoeuvres such as those required to make sharp turns or to merge with heavy traffic particularly difficult.

As well, roughly half of both male and female licence holders aged 75 and over were taking three or more medications around the time of the survey. The use of medications may slow reaction time by that fraction of a second needed to avoid a collision. However, an Ontario government study found that, on the basis of kilometres driven, older drivers actually get into approximately the same number of collisions as their 16- to 24-year-old counterparts. Many older drivers compensate for these age-related health limitations by driving shorter distances and avoiding night driving, busy highways and downtown areas.

Governments prepare for the future.

In October of 1999, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators held a national workshop in Ottawa to help provincial and territorial governments address emerging issues related to older drivers. The Canada Safety Council was a sponsor of the workshop. A number of issues were identified:

• There is a need to strike a satisfactory balance between the desire of an individual to continue to drive and public safety on the road. Current testing standards need to be reviewed to determine if they are adequate to fairly assess a maturing driver's performance.
• The removal of a driver's licence from a person is a potentially traumatic experience which may lead to a huge change in lifestyle; any maturing driver program and policy reviews must recognize and be sensitive to the issues of senior drivers' experience and dignity.
• Education on this issue is needed among the various stakeholders and the general public.
• Vehicles and road signs should be designed with an older population in mind.

Recommendations and priorities from the October workshop are expected to become the basis for a national model licensing program for maturing drivers by provincial and territorial governments.

Sources: Canadian social trends, Statistics Canada (September 9, 1999)
Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators conference release, October 22, 1999

1999 and Beyond/Challenges of an Aging Society, National Advisory Council on Aging. Full report available on the Internet.

Return to top of page