3 in 4 people would report concerns on elderly family drivers

An IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) online poll has found that 73 per cent of people would report elderly friends or relatives to the authorities if they had concerns over their driving standards.

The poll of 1,628 IAM members and non-members also found that 68 per cent believed mandatory re-testing of drivers over the age of 70 would benefit road safety. However, conversely 77 per cent thought that young drivers presented a greater risk to road safety than older drivers.

Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research, said: “It is good news that most drivers are aware that young drivers are the demographic most in need of help, but worrying that the mandatory retest has a fairly high level of support - one in four polled agreed strongly that a mandatory retest at 70 would benefit road safety.

“The IAM believes we need to reassure the public that older drivers do not represent a disproportionate risk. Eight per cent of drivers are over 70 and they are involved in around four per cent of injury crashes. But 15 per cent of drivers are in their teens and 20s and they are involved in 34 per cent of injury crashes – a far higher number.”

The IAM recommends offering driver assessments so that the public and the authorities can report their concerns and know that they will be addressed. Advice and assessment can counteract the deterioration of some driving skills and means that we don’t have to take licenses away from perfectly safe older drivers.

“Retesting at 70 would be a mammoth administrative task with little road safety benefit and the Government and safety bodies must work together to communicate the facts about older drivers more widely,” said Mr Greig.

Some local authorities offer driving assessments for older drivers, but they are not widely available. The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) has a Classic Driver presentation. The IAM offers its own in-car assessment, called DriveCheck 55, which is available nationwide.

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