Almost one in four (24%) Brits – equivalent to 11.9 million consumers – think that drivers should hang up their keys at age 75, 70 or even younger than 70, despite there being no evidence to suggest older drivers up to the age of 80 years old, are less safe behind the wheel than younger drivers.

The ‘Staying Safe and Mobile: Older Drivers’ report from the International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK) and over 50s motor insurance provider RIAS1, launched at an round table event at the House of Lords, reveals that older drivers could face losing vital years of independence – potentially up to 10 years – before they may need to. Consumers seem to fear that older drivers may not be safe or confident on the roads after the age of 70.

According to the study, 63% of British people believe that drivers should be forced to give up their driving licence at some stage in later life.

Sarah Howe, Marketing Director at RIAS, comments: “The car is a vital lifeline for many older people and keeping mobile is essential for physical and mental wellbeing.  We know from our experience and official statistics that older drivers have fewer accidents than younger drivers.  This is partly because older drivers are more likely to self-regulate their driving behaviours, avoiding risky driving conditions for example.  We need to encourage and support self-regulation so that older people can maintain the independence they need for as long as possible and recognise when it is appropriate to acknowledge when they are putting themselves and others at risk.”

The research, discussed on Wednesday at the House of Lords by a range of interested parties including Baroness Greengross OBE and Shadow Transport Minister John Woodcock, examines attitudes towards older drivers and the feasibility of self regulation versus enforced re-testing or surrendering of their licence.

Fit for purpose

Under UK regulation, drivers are not currently required to cease driving or re-take their driving test at any age.  Drivers are, however, required to complete a medical questionnaire to confirm whether they are fit to drive, and when drivers reach 70 years old they must re-apply for their driving licence.  The research revealed that 85% believe that re-testing should be compulsory, with 40% suggesting that this should take place at 65 or younger.  It seems that younger age groups seem even keener on the idea of re-testing: two-thirds (66%) of 16 – 24 year olds support re-testing at 65, 60 or at an earlier age, versus only  one quarter (23%) of those aged 65 or over.

Public transport not an alternative

The research also reveals that for many older drivers, public transport is not a viable alternative to their private vehicle – with just over half (53%) of drivers over 55 claiming that public transport is ‘never’ a realistic alternative for them.  Reasons for this include the expense (63%), unreliable services (64%) and the services being physically inaccessible (57%).

 In the ‘Staying Safe and Mobile: Older Drivers’ report the ILC-UK calls for the DVLA to allow older drivers to voluntarily restrict their driving licenses, helping people to make earlier and better informed decisions around driving in later life.  The ILC-UK also suggests that the government should offer a 10% discount on car tax for older drivers who self-select their individual licence restrictions, for example, not driving at night or in extreme weather conditions, to act as an incentive for self-regulation.

Support for self-regulation

Two thirds of people (66%) support the idea of self-selected licence restrictions, where drivers above a certain age would impose restrictions on themselves about where and when they drive – for example only driving during the day and not in adverse weather.  Seven out of 10 (69%) are in favour of lower car tax and insurance payments for those older drivers who have demonstrated that they are safe and drive less frequently.  And nine out of 10 (89%) of those surveyed agree that older drivers should obtain medical advice as part of the self-certification process.

Dr Craig Berry, Senior Researcher at ILC-UK and author of the report said: “In an ageing society, there is a need to support drivers as they get older.  Older people today are driving further and more often than previous generations and are more reliant on their car than ever.  Our report shows that there is strong support for punitive measures around driving in later life but there is little evidence that these will lead to safer roads.

“We strongly support self-regulation and suggest that at the point of licence renewal, older drivers should be required to declare that they have sought the advice of a medical professional before self-certifying their fitness to drive.  The decision to surrender a driving licence should remain with the individual as far as possible, as clearly views vary amongst different age groups.”