Ban drivers from road at 70

Reporter

Monday 28 November 2011

MOTORISTS should give up driving by the age of 70 with calls for re-testing even earlier, a survey has found.

Custom byline text:

DEBORAH ANDERSON

More than three in five drivers think motorists should be forced to give up their licences at some stage in later life, and as many as 24% think drivers should hang up their keys at 75, 70 or even younger.

A spokeswoman for charity Age Scotland said yesterday the results were extremely worrying and that imposing an age limit would be discriminatory.International Longevity Centre and insurance company Rias found two thirds of 16 to 24-year-olds supported re-testing at 65, 60 or earlier, while only 23% of those aged 65 or over agreed.Drivers in the UK are not required to stop driving or re-take their test at any age. They are required to complete a medical questionnaire to confirm they are fit to drive, and when they reach 70 they must re-apply for their licence.The poll of 1005 adults showed 85% believed re-testing should be compulsory, with 40% suggesting this should take place at 65 or younger. However, 53% of over-55s said public transport was not a realistic alternative to the car, with unreliable, expensive and physically inaccessible services being blamed.Age Scotland spokeswoman Claire Connachan said: “With poor public transport provision in many parts of Scotland, driving is often the only option for older people. “Imposing an age-related limit on driving is discriminatory and would unfairly penalise older drivers. Ability, not age, should determine whether anyone is deemed safe to be on the road.”She said there was no evidence to show older drivers are less safe, with more than 11,000 teenage motorists hurt in accidents in 2004, compared to 1669 over 80s.The poll also found two-thirds supported the idea of self-selected licence restrictions, where drivers above a certain age would impose restrictions on themselves about where and when they drive. This may mean they agree to drive only in daylight or not in bad weather.Almost 70% backed lower car tax and insurance costs for those older drivers who had demonstrated they were safe and drove less frequently, while 89% agreed older drivers should obtain medical advice as part of the self-certification process.Sarah Howe, Rias marketing director, said: “The car is a vital lifeline for many older people. We know from our experience and official statistics older drivers have fewer accidents than younger drivers.”Dr Craig Berry, ILC-UK senior researcher, said that in an ageing society older drivers needed support. He added: “Older people today are driving further and more often than previous generations and are more reliant on their car than ever.”Simon Bottery, director of policy for charity Independent Age, said: “All research shows older drivers are among the safest on our roads and 18 to 25-year-olds are the greater risk.“All drivers, of whatever age, need to take responsibility for themselves and consider whether they are fit to drive. Evidence suggests that older drivers are already restricting their driving where necessary.”Last year calls were made for drivers to be assessed every 10 years after two teenagers were killed by an 80-year-old motorist. Holly Fulton and Jayde McVicar, both 19, from Greenock, died instantly last July after Frank Muir, of Paisley, crashed head-on into their Ford Fiesta on the A78 near Troon. Their friend, Chantelle Skirving, 18, lost her unborn child in the crash. Mr Muir, who is thought to have driven the wrong way down a dual carriageway for half a mile before hitting the Fiesta, died later.In March this year, Matthew Mackinnon, 86 was banned from driving after he drove for three miles the wrong way on the M9 near Stirling.

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Ban drivers from road at 70

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED