Call for drivers over 65 to have licence reviews

According to The Older Drivers’ Forum, motorists aged over 70 are less likely to be involved in collisions involving speed, carelessness, or recklessness.

But they are 38% more likely to be involved in collisions where they have failed to look properly and 55% more likely to be involved in collisions by failing to judge another person’s speed or path.

The forum also predicts the number of older drivers will treble in the next 20 years.

Rob Heard, a former police traffic officer, who founded the forum, said older drivers accounted for around 17% of all licence holders.

“They account for 11% of all miles driven but alarmingly also for about 23% of all fatalities on the road,” he said.

“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 said: “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.”