Older drivers may soon need eye tests from an optometrist or ophthalmologist before driving in South Australia, under a new plan to make roads safer.
That is one of two key changes being discussed by a number of medical and road safety groups.
The other is whether to include an objective cognitive exam as part of the baseline testing.
Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) figures show that between 2017 and 2021, on average 21 older road users lost their lives and 97 suffered serious injuries each year in South Australia.
Those statistics showed that people aged 70 or above are overrepresented in road deaths; they make up 14% of the population yet account for 22% of lives lost and 14% of serious injuries.
Dr Monika Moy, chair of the Australian Medical Association’s Road Safety Committee, is participating in a review of how older patients’ driving capacity is assessed.
Dr Moy, with support from Committee of General Practice chair Dr Bridget Sawyer, is discussing possible updates to the ‘fitness to drive’ form with DIT, South Australia Police, and representatives from Optometry Australia.
She says these recommendations would alleviate concerns for general practitioners who complete the assessments.
“The current process is very subjective,” Dr Moy says. “It’s in the interests of all road users to ensure thorough and rigorous medical assessments are carried out.”
Dr Sawyer says the proposed changes would assist GPs who conduct the assessments, especially in borderline cases.
“I strongly believe that by establishing a formal pathway, medical assessors will be better able to decline a medical assessment until further opinion has been sought,” she says.
Dr Moy has met with representatives from Optometry Australia and on 12 September she and other members of the Road Safety Committee met DIT representatives to discuss issues of concern, including revision of the form.
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The orthoptist’s role in vision and driving
