Number of Victoria’s aged over 85 with a drivers licence up 75 per cent over past decade

The number of Victorians aged older than 85 with a driving licence has spiked over the past decade new figures show, fuelling debate about whether Victoria should introduce an annual health check.

A 75 per cent surge in older drivers in the past decade has resulted in nearly 70,000 Victorians over the age of 85 holding on to their driver’s licences.

The dramatic increase comes as the state’s transport department said it was working with Monash University on fitness-to-drive guidelines for older drivers.

The rising number of older drivers, partly because of an ageing population, will increase pressure on the state government to introduce annual medical assessments to stay behind the wheel.

Acting premier Ben Carroll has said the state would discuss the issue with Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne, and consider following Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT, where drivers aged 75 and over are required to be checked every year.

A double-fatality involving a 91-year-old driver has reignited the safety debate: Picture: Nadir Kinani

The Department of Transport and Planning has confirmed it was liaising with Monash experts to review how effective mandatory reporting and assessments were, as well as analysing road crash statistics and related research on senior motorists.

The debate around the safety of older motorists has re-ignited following the double tragedy in Wantirna South earlier this month when a 91-year-old driver apparently lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a park.

In March an 84-year-old woman was allegedly behind the wheel after a young boy was hit and killed on his walk to school near Geelong earlier this year.

An 87-year-old driver steering an out-of-control car also struck a pedestrian in a near-fatal crash at Mount Waverley in 2022.

As of June 30, 69,926 Victorian drivers were over the age of 85, a big jump from the 2015 figure of 39,335 licence holders.

The current rules leave the responsibility with the individual to decide if they are fit to drive, and drivers should notify VicRoads if they have any health conditions that could affect their ability to operate a vehicle.

Victoria, unlike other states, does not require an annual health check for older drivers. Picture: Supplied

Drivers aged older than 70s have recorded the most lives lost of any age group in this year’s road toll, accounting for 39 of the 176 deaths.

Ben Rogers, chief executive of the Council on the Ageing Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria, said the groups were opposed to mandatory driving tests for older motorists.

“They constitute an ageist and arbitrary approach that fails to reflect the variation in the experience of ageing,” he said.

“We continue to support Victoria’s approach, which emphasises your behaviour and medical fitness to drive. Driving should be based on ability, not on age.

“Older drivers do not inherently pose a greater safety risk on roads compared to other age groups.”

Council on the Ageing Victoria cheif Ben Rogers opposes the checks.

Mr Rogers said older Victorians are in fact at greater risk on our roads — particularly as pedestrians — which has been a key issue he has repeatedly raised with the Victorian government.

“We don’t need to protect the state from older drivers – but we do need to do better at protecting our older road users.’’

Opposition Road Safety spokesman Danny O’Brien said no changes to the regulations were needed while the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners urged those 65 years and older to check with their GP to see if they should continue driving.

Originally published as Number of Victoria’s aged over 85 with a drivers licence up 75 per cent over past decade