OLDER drivers are as safe as those from other age groups due to a better attitude to risk and experience in reducing errors on the road, new research shows.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) found that the more cautious approach taken by motorists aged over 70 corresponded with a lower rate of accidents, especially compared to drivers under 30, who are the highest risk group.
As well as dispelling a popular myth about older drivers being more dangerous, the road charity's research also sheds new light on how the causes of accidents differ significantly for those aged over 70.
The group is less likely to be involved in accidents caused by being careless, reckless or in a hurry. Travelling too fast for the conditions, sudden braking, exceeding the speed limit or being over the alcohol limit also accounted for a relatively low level of crashes, the IAM found.
By comparison, "failed to look properly" – the most common factor in crashes for all age groups – was particularly high for the 70-plus age group.
Other causes that featured more prominently were failing to judge speed, poor turn or manoeuvre, loss of control, illness or disability, dazzling sun and nervousness, uncertainty and panic.
Overall, people over 70 made up 9% of drivers in 2011 but 6% of driver casualties. The proportion of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents who were aged over 80 was high – second only to those aged between 16 and 19.
The findings are particularly important for road safety given the dramatic increase in driving licence holders aged over 70 that is expected over the next 20 years.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article