A majority of B.C. residents are worried about the safety of aging drivers as the number of seniors grows in the province, but say they don鈥檛 know how talk about the issue with loved ones, a new poll suggests.
The survey, conducted for the British Columbia Automobile Association by Insights West, found 71 per cent of respondents, including senior drivers, said more education on road safety for aging drivers is needed.
Nearly half of those surveyed with a senior in their lives said they didn鈥檛 have enough information to know whether their aging loved one is able to drive safely, while 32 per cent said they feel anxious whenever their loved one gets behind the wheel.
Although most respondents reported being concerned about senior drivers, 63 per cent said they have not talked to an aging family member about their driving. The survey also suggests that many people are afraid to broach the subject, with 41 per cent reporting they don鈥檛 know how to have a conversation about driving and safety with a senior.
The survey also found that most seniors (94 per cent) have taken at least one step to adjust their driving habits to stay safe including, no longer driving at night, avoiding high traffic hours and getting regular eye and hearing exams, but only five per cent said they have talked to a doctor about it.
Results of the poll are based on an online survey conducted from March 25 to 27 of 801 adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Meantime, BCAA released the poll Tuesday, as it launched a senior drivers tool kit, an online resource to keep senior drivers safe on the road. The tool kit can be found at bcaa.com/seniordrivers and is meant as a conversation guide to help people discuss the issue. According to BCAA, the number of seniors in projected to grow by 30 per cent over the next couple of decades.
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