Call for drivers over 65 to have regular reviews
· BBC NewsJane Douglas
BBC News, South West
A group which represents older drivers is calling on all motorists aged over 65 to consider a regular driver's assessment.
The Older Drivers Forum, which works with police forces across the UK, is urging older motorists to have a review of their skills and any medical issues.
It comes as figures from the Department of Transport show a 45% increase since 2010 in the number of motorists aged over 70 who have been hurt or killed in accidents in the UK.
Sgt Owen Messenger, of the Devon and Cornwall Police road casualty reduction team, said: "All too often we do see collisions and, when we look deeper, we think that person shouldn't have been driving and maybe someone should have picked up on that."
Sgt Messenger said Devon and Cornwall had a high population of elderly people who wanted to keep driving.
"They want to keep their driving licence for as long as possible because public transport isn't at times as good as it could be," he said.
"We want to keep them safe and driving longer but making sure they are safe on the roads. For us, it's about making sure that they are still fit to drive.
"Your eyesight deteriorates over time but you might not notice it. So it's really important that you go to the optician and you get your eyesight checked regularly. If you're on medication, check with your doctor."
Under current legislation, drivers aged over 70 must self-certify every three years that they are safe to drive.
'Not a significant risk to other road users'
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 said older drivers do not pose a significant risk to other road users but, due to increasing frailty as we age, they are over-represented in serious injury crashes.
It added that drivers who do less than 2,000 miles a year have an increased risk of collision at any age.
The forum also predicts the number of older drivers will treble in the next 20 years.
'Why not MOT yourself?'
Rob Heard, a former police traffic officer, who founded the forum, said older drivers accounted for about 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."
Sally Sedgman, who lives in Ottery St Mary, near Exeter, is in her early 80s and has been driving since she was 27. She said her car gave her freedom.
"I can run my own life, go where I want to, not get in the way of other people," she said.
She added: "I think you cut your own life back a bit. I don't do the length of journeys I used to."
Geoff Trewella, secretary and treasurer of the Cornwall County Car Club, is 75 and passed his driving test aged 17.
He said many older drivers were responsible.
"I knew one 96-year-old lady who was continuing to drive and I felt entirely safe with her," he said.
"She was an excellent driver, but she didn't drive very far. It meant all the world to her to be able to get to certain shops and so on."
He added: "I hope I am not dangerous. I hope I am safe. I like driving abroad as well.
"I don't think age is a barrier to driving per se. It very much depends on the individual concentrating on what they are doing when they are driving."