EU and national governments adapt road safety policies to the needs of an aging population
07.11.2023
ETSC Report – European Transport Safety Council
The European Union and national governments must adapt road safety policies to the needs of an aging population, improving – with safe and well-protected infrastructure – the safety of elderly pedestrians and cyclists, and ensuring that elderly drivers are not discriminated against due to age.
These are the main indications that can be obtained from “Reducing older people’s deaths on European roads – PIN Flash 45”, the relationship of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) – the independent, non-profit organization committed to reducing the number of deaths and injuries in transport in Europe.
“As the European population continues to age – declared Jenny Carson, co-author of the research – this Report highlights the need for a global approach to road safety for the elderly, which balances safety measures with the advantages deriving from active and independent mobility” .
The Report highlights how the same collisions which, in younger users, can lead to mild consequences, for people aged 65 or over risk having serious or even fatal outcomes, due to the greater risk of mortality in the event of a physical impact.
In our country, in particular – one of the longest-lived in Europe, where the over 65s now represent almost a quarter of the total population – guaranteeing active, independent and safe mobility for the elderly is one of the most difficult and relevant. Suffice it to consider that, in just one year (2022), 960 elderly people died on our roads (2.6 per day) and 28,374 (77.7 per day: 3 every hour) were injured.
The disadvantage of the older age groups is evident considering the distribution of road mortality rates by age group: compared to a national average of around 53 deaths per million inhabitants, this value rises to 86 between 80 and 84 years and 106 in the 85-89 age group.
Among the main results obtained in this regard, the Report highlights:
an average annual reduction of 3% in road deaths among older people in the EU25 over the last ten years, largely due to overall improvements in road safety;
the presence of significant variations in road safety between various countries. The safest for the elderly is Norway, followed by Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, while Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria record the highest road deaths in this category of citizens;
the presence of significant variations in road mortality among the elderly depending on the mode of transport, age group and type of collision;
a significant percentage made up of elderly people among pedestrians and cyclists killed in road accidents: it is therefore essential to understand the critical issues present in these types of accidents to develop effective road safety measures;
a European population that continues to age and therefore the need for relevant policies to evolve to meet the specific safety requirements for this demographic segment. The Report also highlights the often overlooked problem of pedestrian falls on the street, underlining the importance of monitoring such events to encourage active mobility and improve the safety of those who travel on foot.
Regarding older drivers, the draft text highlights how age-based medical checks do not adequately prevent serious collisions and could lead older drivers to use more vulnerable modes of transport when they stop driving.
Various studies have already highlighted that specific medical conditions, substance abuse, mental disorders, epilepsy and diabetes are more important factors than age and affect drivers at all stages of life.
Although the European Commission, in the draft revision of the EU rules on driving licenses, recently proposed that all drivers be subject to regular medical checks after the age of 70, ETSC claims that this rule is discriminatory, deeming it preferable that doctors family use a screening protocol for all age groups, in order to report those medical conditions that could negatively affect their ability to drive.
Finally, the report also underlines the importance of safe and well-maintained road infrastructures, traffic calming measures and pedestrian crossings well regulated by traffic lights to improve the safety of older road users.