A study of senior driving policy and issues in Hong Kong : new challenges

Abstract

With the increasing influence of ageing population as well as the number of senior drivers on the road, more policies and recommendations should be considered and given to cope with this emerging situation. This paper aims at studying the importance and feasibility of senior driving policies and road traffic safety issues under the trend of the growing concern of ageing population. The extent of the effects and the challenges of senior driving road safety will also be discussed. Examples of foreign countries and views of experts are collected and analysed. Delphi method which includes two rounds of survey is used in this study. Face-to-face interviews in the first round survey were conducted to investigate the policies or issues on senior driving of the transport situation in Hong Kong. Fifteen experts and respondents were interviewed in total and the interviewees include decision makers and officials in government departments, academic scholars in transport field and social science field, experts in medical field, elderly parties, experts in transport and logistics industry as well as insurance field so that a thorough view can be obtained in this research. After preliminary analysis of the first round survey, questionnaires were distributed to the expert panels in the second round survey to review the recommendations and ranked the top five most important and feasible policies on senior driving. It was found that nearly all the respondents agreed that promoting alternative public transport to senior drivers was important and practicable to implement. This policy has greatly altered the driving and travelling pattern of senior citizens. Concerning senior driving, policies or issues that facilitating senior driving in Hong Kong were ranked higher than those policies with restrictions. Indeed, more detailed research, proof and analysis are needed to be done in regulating senior driving policies or legislation. The five most important and feasible policies or issues concerning senior driving in Hong Kong were identified and ranked by the panel experts. The conclusion pointed out the five most important and feasible policies or issues which can be discussed or implemented in a higher priority in the society under limited resources and time. This study can give a whole picture and blueprint in a macro view and serve as a direction for further study of senior driving policy in Hong Kong.