At June 2011, 18.5% of the Queensland population were senior adults (aged 60+). It is estimated that by the year 2031, one in five Queenslanders will be aged 65 years or older. A consequence of this surge is a dramatic increase in the numbers of road crashes and fatalities among senior adults, especially pedestrians.

Common causes of older driver crashes

  • Failure to see and/or yield to other road users;
  • Complex road environments (e.g. intersections, roundabouts);
  • Sudden illness or blackout;
  • Lack of awareness of traffic signals; and Low speed manoeuvres (e.g. U-turns).

In 2014, approximately 40% of the 241 road fatalities for senior adults aged 65 years or older were pedestrians. Only a small proportion of pedestrian fatalities stem from risky road use on the part of the driver. Primary responsibility for the collision is fully or partially attributable to the pedestrian in about six of every seven cases.