Australia’s population is aging. According to the 2016 Census, there are almost eight million Australians over 50 years of age, and five and a half million aged between 50 and 69. Baby boomers make up almost 40 percent of the population.
However, most car reviews are written by 20-somethings and concentrate on issues irrelevant or unimportant to seniordrivers. Most over-50s drivers don’t care how fast a car can get to 100km/h, or that its top speed is 240km/h in a country where such speeds are illegal (except on race tracks). Instead, over-50s need to know if their new car can tow a caravan, how long its warranty will run, how much it will cost to service and own, whether child seats for the grandchildren can be inserted and removed easily, and a whole host of issues a 20-something reviewer couldn’t even imagine.
seniordrivers have concerns with issues about health and licence surrender and the increasing pressures brought to bear on older drivers by conditions, authorities and the law. They wonder whether changing and developing technology will be easy to use and understand, how easy a car will be to get into and out of, and whether the safety features will make driving more pleasurable or more onerous.
seniordrivers are worried that authorities, lawmakers and manufacturers aren’t listening to them, or taking their specific needs into account. They feel increasingly marginalised and concerned that their opinions aren’t important.
seniordriveraus.com will air their views, raise issues and concerns with the appropriate bodies, from the car industry to policiticians and lobby for the rights of older drivers. We will be a two-way street of communication.
Naturally, we’ll need your input and feedback to ensure we continue to review new cars in terms that are relevant and appropriate; we’ll need to hear from you about your concerns and how issues affect you as an over-50 driver; and we’ll have some fun with mid-life crisis cars (old and new) and the investment potential of classic cars (if you can’t spend the kids’ inheritance now, then when?)