Fit to drive?
Each year hundreds of thousands of drivers could be making the wrong decision about their ability to drive because they lack the tools or advice to adequately assess their skills behind the wheel.
At the age of 70 – and every three years thereafter – drivers must declare whether or not they are fit to drive. This self-declaration is not made on the basis of any formal medical or driving test, but relies on the judgement of the individual.
While no similar study has been completed in this country, if the picture in the UK is similar to that in the US and Australia then of the estimated 500,000 motorists turning 70 this year, up to 170,000 might eventually stop driving too early and some 50,000 continue driving with poor levels of ability.
There are currently 3.9 million driving licence holders in the UK aged 70 or over.
This number is set to increase dramatically. The Government has predicted that of the UK citizens alive today, around ten million will reach their 100th birthday.
A new report by TRL (the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory) for the RAC Foundation – Driving Choices for the Older Motorist – analyses data from several countries and finds that self-assessment tools can give older drivers useful feedback about their skills, but they cannot replace the professional assessment of driving abilities. Further validation of self-assessment tools would be needed before they were promoted more widely.
Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said:
“All drivers should regularly consider their fitness to drive, but matters really come to a head when we reach 70 and have to declare that we are fit to be on the roads. In general older drivers have an enviable safety record but it is clear that faced with this critical yes or no decision many motorists simply do not have a realistic view of their capabilities.
“While this will mean there are drivers who are unfit to be on the roads there will be many others who have prematurely hung up their keys. This will have a huge impact on their ability to live an active life, access essential services and take part in social activities.
“The RAC Foundation does not support compulsory retesting at a certain age because this presumes that on reaching a particular birthday people’s physical and mental capacities change radically. But we do see an important need for an ongoing dialogue with motorists and encouragement from officials and the medical profession for all of us to regularly consider our abilities – whatever our age.”
Currently there is no regular or systematic use of self-assessment tools across the UK though some local authorities, including Devon, Suffolk and Sussex promote their use.
END
Contacts:
Philip Gomm – Head of External Communications – RAC Foundation
020 7747 3445 | 07711 776448 | 020 7389 0601 (ISDN)
Note to editors:
The RAC Foundation for Motoring is a transport policy and research organisation which explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and their users. The Foundation publishes independent and authoritative research with which it promotes informed debate and advocates policy in the interest of the responsible motorist.
According to the report (p. ix-x):
“Results from a large American survey suggested that the majority of drivers felt that they had timed their decision to cease driving correctly, whilst about a third (mostly women) felt that they had stopped too early, and 9% felt that they had stopped too late. Australian research suggests that approximately 10% of current older drivers may have unacceptable levels of driving fitness”
In December 2010 the Department for Work and Pensions (using Office for National Statistics data) predicted 17% of the then UK population would live to see their 100th birthday.
