Group Advocates for Regular Driving Assessments for Motorists Over 65

An organization representing senior drivers is advocating for all individuals aged 65 and above to contemplate undergoing routine driver assessments. The Older Drivers Forum, collaborating with police forces throughout the UK, is encouraging elderly motorists to evaluate their driving abilities and any pertinent medical conditions. This initiative follows data released by the Department of Transport, indicating a 45% rise since 2010 in the number of UK motorists over 70 years old who have sustained injuries or fatalities in traffic incidents. Sgt Owen Messenger, from the Devon and Cornwall Police road casualty reduction team, commented: “All too often we do see collisions and, when we look deeper, we think that person shouldn’t have been driving and maybe someone should have picked up on that.” Sgt Messenger noted that Devon and Cornwall has a significant elderly population keen on continuing to drive. He stated: “They want to keep their driving licence for as long as possible because public transport isn’t at times as good as it could be.” He added: “We want to keep them safe and driving longer but making sure they are safe on the roads. For us, it’s about making sure that they are still fit to drive. “Your eyesight deteriorates over time but you might not notice it. So it’s really important that you go to the optician and you get your eyesight checked regularly. If you’re on medication, check with your doctor.” Existing laws mandate that drivers above the age of 70 must self-certify their fitness to drive every three years. The Older Drivers’ Forum reports that drivers over 70 are less prone to being implicated in accidents stemming from speeding, negligence, or reckless behavior. However, they are 38% more likely to be involved in crashes due to inadequate observation and 55% more likely to be involved in collisions by misjudging another vehicle’s speed or trajectory. The forum indicated that while older drivers do not present a substantial danger to other road users, their increasing physical frailty with age leads to their disproportionate involvement in accidents resulting in serious injuries. It also mentioned that drivers covering fewer than 2,000 miles annually face an elevated collision risk, regardless of age. Furthermore, the forum anticipates that the population of older drivers will triple within the coming two decades. Rob Heard, a former police traffic officer and the founder of the forum, stated that older drivers constitute approximately 17% of all license holders. He remarked: “They account for 11% of all miles driven but alarmingly also for about 23% of all fatalities on the road.” He clarified: “That’s not because they are dangerous and unsafe. It’s because, as we age, we become more frail and, therefore, when we are involved in a collision, we are much more likely to have a serious injury which could lead to fatalities.” Mr Heard commented: “We are always saying to people: ‘If you MOT your car every year. How about you MOT yourself?’ “So when you come to that licence renewal, maybe consider something like a mature driver assessment or a regular eyesight test.” Sally Sedgman, an early 80s resident of Ottery St Mary, near Exeter, who has driven since age 27, expressed that her vehicle provides her with independence. She stated: “I can run my own life, go where I want to, not get in the way of other people.” She further noted: “I think you cut your own life back a bit. I don’t do the length of journeys I used to.” Geoff Trewella, the 75-year-old secretary and treasurer of the Cornwall County Car Club, who passed his driving test at 17, asserted that numerous older drivers are responsible. He recounted: “I knew one 96-year-old lady who was continuing to drive and I felt entirely safe with her.” He continued: “She was an excellent driver, but she didn’t drive very far. It meant all the world to her to be able to get to certain shops and so on.” He also added: “I hope I am not dangerous. I hope I am safe. I like driving abroad as well. “I don’t think age is a barrier to driving per se. It very much depends on the individual concentrating on what they are doing when they are driving.”