THE long list of things that we can blame on COVID-19 has now been extended even further, after new research found the pandemic has caused more risk-taking on Australian roads by senior citizens.
The Flinders University study was published in the Journal of the Transportation Research Board HERE and concluded that "older Australians have taken more risks when driving since the introduction of COVID-19 lockdowns, as a result of decreasing travel volumes and congestion around the country".
The report found that has in turn affected the number and severity of traffic crashes, based on police-reported incident data for the over-65 population in metropolitan Adelaide.
During the lockdown period in 2020 there was a 20% reduction in the frequency of crashes involving older adults compared with the same period prior to the pandemic.
That seemed to be good news - however although the reduced traffic volume resulted in fewer crashes overall, the accidents which actually occurred were more severe, because the crash hotspots shifted to higher speed zones across the city.
The authors suggested digital connectivity could help prevent some unnecessary commuting, but "this would necessitate empowering the 65 age population by increasing their digital literacy and facilitating online shopping, recreation, medical and health services and employment options".
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