Aged Care Insite Issue 92 | December 2015 - January 2016 | Page 10

news

QBE: tag, monitor senior drivers
Reports of deaths on Victorian
roads prompt insurer to
renew push for ‘S-plates’.

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leading insurer has renewed calls
for so-called S-plates for senior
drivers, amid fresh data indicating
about 50 older Victorians died behind the
wheel in 2013 and 2014.

The reported figures suggest the drivers
– all between the ages of 49 and 85 – died
while driving and with their “feet still on the
pedal”. And in 2015, so far, the number of
drivers over the age of 49 who have died
on the state’s roads is 87, the latest data
from the Victorian Transport and Accident
Commission has indicated.
The numbers prompted QBE Insurance
to make fresh calls for ‘S-plates’ for senior

Natural high for all
Young and old enjoy Laughter
Garden, which brings together
art, wildlife and familiar
settings for residents.

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dementia-friendly garden has
opened to residents at the IRT
Sarah Claydon Care Centre.
The space, dubbed The Laughter
Garden, resembles an Australian backyard
and streetscape and aims to provide a
familiar environment for residents.
10 agedcareinsite.com.au

IRT area manager Southern Shoalhaven,
Cheree Howe, said: “The garden provides
activity areas as well as a walking track for
discovery and exploring. Along the way
are a bus shelter, clothesline, outdoor
washing-up area and undercover seating.
There is even a stylised creek, plus statues
of Australian wildlife.”
The $120,000 expansion and upgrade
of the garden was designed by IRT
in collaboration with the Dementia
Training Study Centre at the University
of Wollongong. Staff and students from

drivers. Company spokesman Frank
Peppard told News Ltd that an opt-in
model might help maintain mobility for
older Australians while making roads safer.
Under the scheme QBE reportedly
touted, at-risk seniors seeking to retain their
driving licences would have electronic data
recording devices installed in their cars. QBE
said such a system could be used to restrict
the times senior motorists were able to drive
and even limit them to specific areas.
“This will save lives,” Peppard told News.
“Older people should not fear this; it’s to offer
them greater options to retain mobility while
providing a safety net for the community.”
VicRoads, which requires every driver
over the age of 75 to renew their licence
every three years and report any medical
condition that affects their ability to drive
safely, has not supported such a scheme.
Previous calls for similar programs
led to concerns from senior Australians
and advocacy groups that some drivers
would be “tagged and harassed”. In 2008,
Combined Pensioners and Superannuants
Association policy co-ordinator Paul
Versteege told Fairfax Media: “²‘S’ plates will
give rise to harassment if elderly drivers are
marked out … It will lead to an increase of
targeted road rage incidents.” ■

Ulladulla High School attended the
opening ceremony after painting a wall
mural for the garden courtyard.
Sarah Claydon manager Frances Muir
said the art was added to entice residents
into the garden area. “As part of their
curriculum, the [students] researched
dementia, including the kinds of colours
and artwork that would be suitable.”
She added H