Would you be willing to take driving lessons in your 50s and beyond?
Most of us have been driving since we were teens. As a country kid, I learnt to drive when I was 13.
But would you benefit from driving lessons now? Well, research says you probably would and the study authors are recommending driving lessons restart as early as 50.
UNSW Sydney’s latest research into older driver behaviour is finding that tailored driving lessons can improve older driver performance and safety on the road.
Expert in ageing Professor Kaarin Anstey has been involved in several projects researching older driver safety at UNSW Sydney. Her team at the UNSW-affiliated institute, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), has recently completed a randomised controlled trial of older drivers – called the Better Drive Study – to see whether driving skills can be improved despite the physical and cognitive challenges of old age.
Higher rate of crashes
“We know that older drivers have higher rates of crashes than middle-aged drivers,” Prof. Anstey says.
“And we see an uptick of crashes particularly in the over-80s. But until recently, the way that has been managed is through regulation, in license removal, which is basically an all-or-nothing approach. But for some older drivers, they got their license when they were 16 and they tell you they learnt to drive in a paddock. And now the driving environments have completely changed, cars have changed, and they’ve never done any refresher courses.”
Using drivers aged over 65, the study put one part of the cohort through driving training as a ‘control’ group. A second group was videoed as they drove, and any errors were played back to them after they drove and the third group was videoed, given feedback and specialised lessons tailored to their mistakes.
Researchers followed up with the drivers for 12 months to see if their driving improved over time. The final results are still to be analysed, but earlier research supports the proposal for driver training.
From unsafe to safe drivers
“In our pilot study, which was very similar, we found that of the people who had our intervention involving driving lessons and video feedback, we moved a significant proportion from unsafe to safe drivers, and we reduced their driving errors,” Prof. Anstey says.
However, the researchers admit not all mistakes were necessarily due to the effects of old age.
“A lot of these are just bad habits that drivers have brought with them from their younger years,” Prof. Anstey says.
“We see a lot of people not checking blind spots, not taking right hand turns properly, cutting corners, or not maintaining their lane position … in our study drivers get to practice the errors, which I think is quite powerful. They’re not just being told what they’re doing wrong and what not to do. They’re actually getting a chance to learn to do it the right way.”
While enforced driving lessons for older Australians is just pie in the sky at the moment, Prof. Anstey’s team has launched a website for older drivers – Ageing Well on the Road – that is packed with information to help older drivers throughout Australia navigate the rules and regulations of their state.
More intervention
Prof. Anstey said she would like to see intervention and improving driving skills for older drivers become an accepted part of having a licence.
“People don’t naturally ask themselves ‘do I need to update my driving skills’?,” she said.
“The idea is that we need to put some effort into improving our driving and maintaining our skills, and it shouldn’t be stigmatised at all.
“It could be something like, when you turn 50 you’re invited to have an extra driving lesson just to check in on your driving. At the moment you’d only get that if you had something wrong with your driving. It’d be better to make it a normal part of life.”
Would you be happy taking driving lessons in your 50s? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: Is your car spying on you?
I have been driving since I was twelve, including trucks, tractors, and other farm machinery. I drove stock cars on the track and in the beginning, a Police Officer tested me for my driver’s licence, not a driving instructor. One problem I see today is the Left Foot driver, using the left foot to brake in an automatic car. This is where the problem arises, in a quick braking situation the right foot thinks the accelerator is the brake and we all know the result.
You didn’t answer the question. Just whinged about others.
Would you be willing to take driving lessons in your 50s and beyond?
Good idea but why not make it a rule for drivers of all ages to have a driving test review every 10 years?
I’m 74 and my observation of drivers in my area is that there is a lot of selfish behaviour and lack of self control.
Tail gating is my pet hate. I drive at the speed limit, signal in advance when I’m about to turn so I’m not holding anyone up and yet there is often a bumper hugger who just can’t wait.
Driving is about skill but it also requires respect for other users and common sense.
Tailgating is also my pet peeve, especially here in the ‘country’. I was moving from Albury to Wagga last August, and travelling up the Olympic Highway (A41). I was driving to the speed limit, and slowing down going thru the 40 & 50kph zones, and I had a truck hauling hay on my backside – literally! If I had to slow down quickly I wouldn’t have anywhere to go, as the truck would be parked in the front seat of my car, and killing me in the process. I only drive a small car, but that’s ridiculous, as trucks need more ‘stopping space’ than a car does.
BTW, I needed to be in Wagga by 4pm that afternoon, and left Albury at 2pm, so I wasn’t speeding or anything to make my appointment, as it’s around 90 minutes from door to door.
Yes, respect for others and common sense are very much missing in ‘younger’ drivers. I definitely won’t display ‘S’ plates, as it is too much like ‘bragging’ that others should give me a wide berth on the road – certainly not! I’ve lived in the country too long to even try and drive in Sydney these days.
I’m 76 and drove as a taxi driver when younger. I think I am a good driver but I also drive carefully and defensively and won’t drive if I’m feeling under par. You don’t have ‘right of way’ if the other driver doesn’t give you it.Some road rules change so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have driving tests for all ages every 10 years or so. I was taught when turning right into a double lane road to pull into the right hand lane then making sure the road is clear into the left. I have since been told I should pull straight into the left which seems weird to me and I still don’t do it. Just as well the day the car behind me screamed round the corner and into the left hand lane, where if I had been there would have caused a terrible accident.
You didn’t answer the question. Just whinged about others.
Would you be willing to take driving lessons?
Hi I’m 72 been driving since I was about 13 in paddock bashes,farm vehicles etc ,the cop next door took me for my p plates and said no problem you have driving off road for years.
So I think it’s a load of b/shit having to do tests again maybe it is good for some people but not compulsory,if you feel you need to catch up on the latest rules fine, probably just another way to get more money out of you,who comes up with these new rules probably some jerk who just graduated and has to justify their job
Being anti-education isn’t a good look.
I’ll do lessons if I can find an instructor who has done some recently AND passed the instructor test.
Current standards aren’t good enough.
The insurance industry should become involved as they will benefit greatly with less claims etc. State governments and other stakeholders should also become involved so it’s a free service if it’s made compulsory. There are huge savings and other benefits for governments.
A lot of people would find the added expense of lessons, assessments etc prohibitive with today’s cost of living if not a free service.
And yes Winston Smith, I’d do lessons and or assessments.
Pathetic waste of time.
No
Would you be willing to take driving lessons in your 50s and beyond? Answer No. Most accidents and worst drivers are under 50 years old
This is ludicrous! You have these young idiots driving very powerful cars and trying to imitate a low flying jet ultimately ending up wrapped around a tree or a house front room. The other thing is do drivers know how to read speed signs? School zones are 40K during certain times yet I see car doing up to 80 – 100 k’s through them.
The other thing is that if a road does not have a speed sign then the default speed is 50. These idiots tht speed past abusing me – I hope you have a serious accident.
If the state government is serious about road toll reduction then put speed cameras in all school zones and a whole lot more speed cameras on general roads which currently resemble a practice session for Bathurst! Another problem area is car parks – these resemble an excuse for a demolition derby.
Don’t blame elder drivers – we are better at obeying road rues than the bunch of idiots that drive in high powered commodores or comaros.