Road Safety Engineering and Senior Drivers

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While there has been much attention directed to the under-performance of older drivers operating private motor vehicles, little is understood regarding their safety experience in settings that involve higher workloads associated with commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers, transit buses (urban and inter-city), and school buses. Increased complexity of the driving task is compounded with an inability to self-regulate (e.g., avoid peak traffic periods, inclement weather and night-time hours) which is common among senior drivers of private vehicles. A particular concern has been the recent abolition of mandatory retirement policies in most Canadian jurisdictions that were directed toward school bus drivers. It is now possible for all commercial drivers to continue working beyond the traditional retirement age of 65 years. This study will examine the safety performance of different categories of commercial drivers by age cohort in an attempt to quantify the presumed deterioration of safety performance among the older age groups. These results will be beneficial to support policies and/or countermeasures that target the on-going employment of senior drivers.