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  The 'Carfit' system is about safety and allowing older drivers to keep driving in a vehicle that 'fits' them.

A driver safety program for older drivers in North America could be adopted here.

Called Carfit, the system has been pioneered by US-based occupational therapist, Elin Schold Davis. Schold Davis has been visiting Australia and New Zealand to help the RACV and NRMA put ageing drivers on the health agenda with governments. The NRMA is keen adopt a similar system in Victoria to keep older drivers on the road. Schold Davis, says Carfit could easily be adapted for Australians.

"There are strong similarities between our ageing populations," she says. "Australia is a car culture, demographically you are sprawling and depend on your vehicles to get into the city. We have the same problem in the US."

She says Carfit is about safety and allowing older drivers to keep driving. "It is important to continue to provide mobility for older people and recognise their needs - it lessens the drain on infrastructure and resources." Carfit allows older adults to check out how a particular vehicle 'fits' them. "Something as simple as the correct seat height adjustment is important for an older driver," she says. "Many elderly people rank vision as critical."

For an elderly person, a driver's licence is important for their self esteem. "It's a mark of mobility and independence," she says.

Schold Davis's views are borne out by the Federal Government's 2010 Intergenerational Report, which shows that the number of Australians aged between 65 and 84 will double over the next 40 years. By 2050 the population will hit 35 million. Of that number almost 23 per cent will be over 65 and 21 per cent will be between 15 and 24. Schold Davis also wants to remove the stigma associated with older motorists.

Compared to younger drivers, who are over represented in crash data, elderly drivers "tend to be wiser, drive more safely and drink and drive less", she says. "Seniors are a really important resource to our communities too. They do meals on wheels, they drive each other to medical appointments."

US ageing forecasts show that in future almost have the population over 85 will have a dementia problem. "If we look at the number of people over 85 still driving we need to assess this and prepare for it," she says. "But it's not about age, it's about function and abilities."