Older drivers ‘willing to undergo extra driving checks’

10.23 | 30 November 2021 |

The findings of a new survey suggest that older motorists are more willing to prove how safe they actually are on the roads than perhaps first thought, IAM RoadSmart says.

The survey, commissioned by the road safety charity, sampled the views of more than 3,000 motorists ages 60 years and over.

More than half (55%) of respondents agreed with the statement that senior drivers should be retested every five years after their licence renewal.

In fact, many are willing to conduct such tests independently, with nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) claiming that if there was a DIY kit available to test their driving fitness, they would use it.

Nearly half (46%) were in support of a flexible licensing system which might, for example, restrict drivers to only using local roads or driving in daylight hours.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Far be it from being driven off the road, our research shows that many older drivers are confident in their driving and happy for their health and driving skills to be periodically tested to determine that they are still up to scratch.

“The fact that over half of older drivers are willing to undergo extra driving checks bodes well for the policy changes we advocate. These include an immediate review of driver licensing, offering mature drivers reviews on prescription and a joint education campaign to help drivers start to plan for their future mobility needs. 

“With everyone moving in the same direction, we can drive down accidents on the road, making Britain’s roads an even safer place to be.”


 

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