More than 200 Sunshine Coast seniors have brushed up on their driving knowledge and skills at a free Seniors Road Safety Forum hosted by the University of the Sunshine Coast this morning.
Senior drivers were taken through practical skills and response scenarios in sessions hosted by experts from UniSC, Queensland Police Service (QPS), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC)
Director of the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration, Professor Kerry Armstrong, said the event was about “giving back to the community by promoting road safety and providing important, practical information on road rules, enforcement and fitness to drive assessments for our senior road users.”
“Those who attended heard from our stakeholders about safe driving tips, learned about what is required for driving from their 75th birthday and beyond, what to do in the event of a crash, and how fitness to drive assessments are undertaken,” Professor Armstrong said.
The latest data shows hospitalisations among senior road users increased 17 percent in 2023, while fatalities were up nine percent, compared to the previous five-year average.
Senior Research Fellow Dr Kayla Stefanidis from the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration said it's a reminder that we need to support our senior community on the roads.
“One of our current research projects is focusing on the relationship between cognitive function and fitness to drive capacity in older adults, with the overall aim of reducing fatalities and injuries on our roads, as well as keeping older adults who are safe to drive, driving for as long possible,” Dr Stefanidis said.
The Seniors Road Safety Forum was held as part of the regional launch of Queensland Road Safety Week at the UniSC Innovation Centre.
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