Road safety group warns hundreds of thousands of pensioners should RESIT driving test at 85
Rise of older drivers: Road safety group warns hundreds of thousands of retirees to resume driving test at 85 β amid fears of ‘time bomb’ in OAP driver numbers
- Investigator Neil Greig said an “urgent” discussion was needed to ensure safety
- It comes after a 95-year-old driver killed a woman while driving a car
Hundreds of thousands of 85-year-olds have to retake their driving test, says a road safety organization.
Neil Greig, policy and research director at IAM Roadsmart, said a ‘demographic time bomb’ was ticking and it was important to have an ‘urgent’ discussion on how to maintain safe mobility for the elderly.
It comes after the death of a woman, killed by a 95-year-old driver who ran a red light in 2021, rekindling calls for DVLA rule reform.
The current system, in place since 1976, places the responsibility on the driver to reapply for his license at age 70 and every three years thereafter.
But campaigners have called for tougher regulation and widespread “mature driver ratings.”
Hundreds of thousands of 85-year-olds have to retake their driving test, says a road safety organization. Stock image of elderly driver
The crash rate for drivers aged 86 and over was 45 percent higher than for the next most dangerous group, drivers aged 17 to 24, according to the latest figures published by the Department of Transport.
Senior coroner for West Sussex Penelope Schofield has also given the transport secretary and DVLA until April 27 to respond with proposals to prevent deaths involving elderly drivers.
Mr Greig told the Times: ‘Older motorists have accidents when they turn right, enter driveways and look over their shoulders.
“They don’t tend to have ‘loss of control’ crashes on road bends like young people who go too fast.”
The charity has also proposed a public education campaign on how to stop driving, and mandatory eye tests every three years from age 75, as well as widespread ‘mature driver assessments’.
The Department for Transport said: ‘Drivers must ensure they are medically fit to drive and could face fines if they fail to notify the DVLA of a condition’.