Longitudinal patterns in older drivers’ speeding behaviour

Background: Older drivers are at increased risk of casualty crash involvement and injury. Speeding increases crash risk and injury severity. However, there is little evidence about older drivers’ speeding. This study investigated the prevalence of speeding over a year, and whether cognitive and visual function, age, gender or driving history influenced speeding._x000D_
Methods: Older driver’s vehicles were fitted with monitoring devices for up to 12-months. Speed events involved travelling 1+km/h, with 3% tolerance, above the speed limit, averaged over 30-seconds. Functional measures, citations and crash involvement were collected. Regression modelling examined speed events, and speed events/distance driven._x000D_
Results: Driving data were recorded for 182 participants 75-94 years (median 80). Almost all (99%) were involved in speed events. The majority of events (92%) involved driving 1-9km/h above the speed limit. Univariate modelling found events decreased by approximately: 7% with every year increase in age; 11% for every decrease of 10 in DriveSafe score adjusted for DriveAware; and 9% with every 20 second increase in time to complete TMT B. When speed events/distance were examined, these associations were not evident. Distance driven decreased by 0.45km with every week during the year. Speed events were not associated with gender, crashes or citations._x000D_
Conclusion: Low-range speeding was prevalent in older drivers. Older drivers with lower function were less likely to be involved in speed events over a 12-month period. However, as age and measures of function were not significant when distance driven was applied, it appears speed event involvement is reduced through driving less._x000D_
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