title: A longitudinal investigation of the predictors of older drivers' speeding behaviour.
abstract: There is little objective evidence about the extent older drivers' are involved in speeding or factors that may influence this behaviour. Particular concern exists for the increasing number of older drivers with poor or declining cognitive and visual function. This study investigates whether a reduction in speeding forms part of the self-restrictive driving behaviour evident when older drivers experience poor cognitive and visual function. Driving data over 12 months were collected from 182 volunteers aged 75-94years. Driving speed was estimated using Global Positioning System location, and speed limit data was based on a service-provider database. Speed events were defined as driving 1km/h or more, with 3% tolerance, above a single speed limit, averaged over 30s. Almost all participants (99%) were involved in speed events. While, 16-31% of participants experienced a meaningful decline in cognitive or visual function during the 12-months, these declines were not predictive of a change in speed events. Our results indicate speeding behaviour in this age group was highly prevalent, but less so for the oldest drivers whereby the rate of speed events was 7% lower per year older (IRR=0.93, 95%CI=0.89-0.96). Older drivers with worse function were less involved in speed events (unadjusted for distance driven) during 12 months of observation. Weekly distance driven decreased over the year by approximately 0.45km with every week of monitoring for these older drivers. When distance driven was taken into account, decreased function was not predictive of involvement in speed events, indicating the reduction in speed events may be achieved by older drivers with lower function reducing distance driven. These results are important for developing policy to address speeding behaviour of the growing population of older drivers to reduce the incidence of crashes and resulting casualties.
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, GPO Box 5389, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia. Electronic address: achevalier@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, GPO Box 5389, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia; School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Australia. Electronic address: kcoxon@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: Kristy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coxon
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, GPO Box 5389, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia. Electronic address: krogers@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Safer Roads Consulting, 53 Lachlan St., Thirroul, NSW 2515, Australia. Electronic address: aran.chevalier@saferroadsconsulting.com.au.
authors.forename: Aran John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Road Safety, Transport for NSW, Road Safety Technology, Level 3, 84 Crown St., Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia. Electronic address: john.wall@transport.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Margarete Ainsworth Building, Barker St., Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. Electronic address: j.brown@neura.edu.au.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Level 10, Kolling Building 6, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: elizabeth.clarke@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, GPO Box 5389, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia. Electronic address: rivers@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ivers
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, GPO Box 5389, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia. Electronic address: lkeay@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001315:Australia; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cognition; In-vehicle monitoring; Older driver; Speeding; Vision