Aussies aged 50 and over should take compulsory driving lessons to reduce crashes, experts say

A controversial new report has recommended that Australian motorists over the age of 50 should take driving lessons to reduce the number of accidents on the road.

The latest research from UNSW in Sydney has found that the move will help improve older drivers’ performance behind the wheel.

A recent study by insurer AAMI found that drivers over the age of 65 were the most likely to be involved in a car accident and were responsible for 26 percent of all crashes.

The research also found that men were at greater risk, with 52 percent involved in road accidents.

UNSW Scientia professor Kaarin Antsey said drivers in their 50s should take extra driving lessons to ensure they keep their skills up to date.

‘Of course people don’t wonder ‘should I update my driving skills’,’ Professor Antsey said.

‘It could be something like being invited for an extra driving lesson at the age of fifty, just to check your driving behavior.

“You only get that now if there is something wrong with your driving.”

Professor Antsey said the number of accidents among people over the age of 80 had increased.

“Until recently this has been managed through regulation, through license revocation, which is essentially an all-or-nothing approach,” she said.

Professor Antsey said some of the errors discovered during the trial were not all due to age.

“A lot of these are just bad habits that drivers have brought with them from their younger years,” she said.

‘We see that many people do not check blind spots, do not turn right properly, cut corners or do not keep in their lane.’

Professor Antsey has led several studies into ways to improve the safety of older drivers, the latest of which is called the Better Drive Study.

The controlled study consisted of a random sample of drivers over the age of 65, who were divided into three groups. The research was conducted for one year.

The aim of the study was to detect whether the driving skills of older drivers can be improved despite their physical and cognitive challenges.

One group took part in a refresher course on traffic rules, while the second group received video feedback on their driving behavior.

A recent study by insurer AAMI found that drivers over the age of 65 were the most likely to be involved in a car accident and were responsible for 26 percent of all accidents (stock)

The final group received video feedback and also specific driving lessons to help them correct their mistakes.

The results of the study have yet to be analyzed, but some findings indicate that the study helped participants improve their driving skills.

“In our pilot study… we found that of the people who received our intervention with driving lessons and video feedback, we shifted a significant proportion from unsafe to safe drivers and reduced their driving errors,” Professor Antsey said.

The results are expected to be released in 2025.

Australia recorded its highest number of road deaths in five and a half years in 2023, with 1,253 motorists killed last year.