Comfort accessories are popular among older drivers - but they can increase the chance of injury in a crash. New evidence-based guidelines provide advice to health and road safety professionals on how to make driving more comfortable without compromising safety.
Mobility is critical to independent and healthy ageing, and older Australians primarily travel by car. However, older people are currently over-represented in crash statistics, with death and casualty rates almost as high as our youngest drivers.
The statistics are stark: every year, around 175 Australians aged 65 years and over die in car crashes, and more than 4,000 are hospitalised. Chest injuries are the most common injury associated with death or hospitalisation among this group of drivers.
Research conducted at the Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) Transurban Road Safety Centre found some types of comfort accessories commonly used by older people, such as cushions and seat pads, can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Specifically, accessories that change the geometry of the seatbelt or a person's posture increase the chance of a chest injury and submarining in a crash.
(Submarining is the term for when the pelvis rotates under the lap belt and the seat belt rides up into the soft abdomen during a collision, causing injury.)
Modern car seats are designed to help reduce crash injury. However, adding an after-market accessory such as a height-raising cushion, can reduce the effectiveness of the seatbelt, as these items are often not tested for safety.
Fortunately, there are ways to stay comfortable without compromising safety. New guidelines for setting older drivers' cars up comfortably are now available for medical practitioners, allied health and road safety professionals. Developed by researchers at the Transurban Road Safety Centre at NeuRA, The George Institute and Occupational Therapy Australia, these guidelines provide evidence-based, actionable and accurate advice on how to ensure safe and comfortable travel for older individuals.
In brief, the guidelines recommend:
- Prioritising vehicle adjustments over accessories: Many safety and comfort problems can be addressed without additional accessories, often simply by adjusting the car's seat and other elements.
- Managing pain and discomfort: If driving for extended periods causes pain, seek professional guidance on car set-up (from an occupational therapy driving assessor), take regular breaks and consult a physiotherapist to manage symptoms.
- Using comfort accessories with caution: Using comfort accessories such as cushions or seat pads can increase the risk of injury and should be avoided. Accessories should only be introduced following consultation with an occupational therapy driving assessor.
The guidelines are a first-of-their-kind in Australia and reflect Transurban and NeuRA's commitment to targeting research into safety issues impacting all road-user groups.
See the Vehicle Safety for Older Drivers and Passengers guidelines
