Older Drivers Road Safety Conference: Stay Safe & Stay Driving for Longer.

Description

In 2024, Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Office launched a series of road safety campaigns, with the lead conference aimed at older road users and aligning with ‘Transportation’ a World Health Organisation Age Friendly Theme. This event was delivered in partnership with Age Friendly Kerry and Older People’s Council Kerry and in association with An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority.
The conference addressed changes in road layouts, signage, speed limits, road traffic laws, and how vehicles and driving habits have changed. It focused on promoting safer driving behaviour. Presentations were delivered in plain language to ensure all attendees could fully engage.

The event offered older drivers an opportunity to share their experiences and raise concerns about their safety on the roads. The event served as an information session and a valuable opportunity for engagement with older road users.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the conference was to provide older road users, whether drivers, passengers, pedestrians or cyclists, with an insight into staying on the road for longer and staying safe on the road.

The objective was to increase awareness and knowledge of:

• Changing road layouts, signage and speed limits
• Road traffic laws
• How vehicles and driving habits have changed
• Focusing on promoting safer driving behaviour

The aim and objectives were achieved by way of informative and engaging presentations from the following organisations:

‘Mobility Matters’ for Older Drivers – Road Safety Authority

‘Policing the Roads’ – An Garda Síochána

‘Keeping an eye on the road’ – Specsavers Opticians and Audiology

‘Older Driver Mobility – Results Driving Assessment Services

‘Keeping Active and Physiotherapy’ – Physiotherapist, Bons Secours Hospital

‘Positive Ageing and Driving for Longer’ – Keynote Speaker, Ms. Anna May McHugh, Age Friendly Ambassador Laois

‘Talking Point’ – Panel discussion and interaction with participants.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative was aimed at the diverse over-55s population in Kerry which at 49,931 accounts for 31% of the county’s population. The targeted demographic of the conference included active retired groups, community centre services and meals on wheels services.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Collaboration and consultation: Kerry County Council supported by Age Friendly Kerry programme and Older People’s Council Kerry, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority collaborated to deliver a road safety conference targeted to older road users. Consultation between the key stakeholders when preparing for the conference ensured it was tailored successfully to the target audience.
2. Engagement and delivery: Active engagement with the attendees helped to connect the participants with the key message delivered at the event which sought to ensure older road users could continue to utilise roads as drivers, passengers, pedestrians or cyclists while staying safe.
3. Review and evaluation of the event was critical to understanding its success. Participants found that it provided a platform for two-way communication between older people and the stakeholders involved in road safety. Participants expressed the sense of freedom and independence that driving gives, and how it enables key social interactions with their community that many others take for granted in their younger years.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. The over 55s account for 31% of the population in Kerry and is a diverse group comprising people spread across all socio-economic backgrounds both Irish and non-National. Previous Age Friendly events have seen conferences being undersubscribed or oversubscribed and a key challenge to this event was ensure that participants were engaged via a targeted communication strategy. A series of online, social media, print and radio communication was utilised to ensure participants were engaged and that the event was well attended. Tailoring an effective communication strategy was key to promoting this event.
2. The conference was delivered by Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Office in partnership with Age Friendly Kerry and Older People’s Council Kerry and in association with An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority. Effective communication and collaboration between these stakeholders and their various programmes of work was key to ensuring a consistent message was delivered to participants at the event.
3. Simply hosting an event does not guarantee a lasting impact. Active engagement fuels participation, fosters learning and ignites meaningful connections. Creating opportunities for attendees to interact was crucial to ensuring that participants at the conference felt connected to the event and that the message delivered was well received.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. The conference brought better access to the local government services, Road Safety Office and Age Friendly Kerry Office, highlighting the services and events delivered by these offices. It provided a platform for two-way communication between older people and the stakeholders involved in road safety in Kerry.
2. Older people want to maintain their independence. The conference informed and gave insights to older people into staying on the road for longer and staying safe on the road. The confidence and ability to stay driving also gives great freedom and independence and contributes to social inclusion.

   This is very relevant to the goals of the Age Friendly Kerry programme, which supports making communities better places for everybody at all stages of life, as well as aligning with the County Kerry Road Safety Action Plan 2024.

3. Participants involved a spread across older people’s groups including Active Retired Groups, Sean Cháirde and Meals on Wheels groups. These groups cater for and respond to the needs of Older people including people from different nationalities with varying abilities. The social interaction element of the conference was welcomed by participants and provided an opportunity to promote the Age Friendly Kerry programme and how older people can become involved with the Older People’s Council Kerry.