Helping older motorists

With funding from the Department for Transport, it provides advice and information for older drivers in a bid to help them to drive safely for longer.

It gives tips on how people can update their driving skills and knowledge to maintain their freedom and independence on the road, as well as advice for families or friends who are concerned about a loved one’s driving.

It will help drivers to:

Recognise whether and how their driving is changing;

Find out what they can do to cope with these changes, such as change when and where they drive, adapt their car or take driver assessment or training;

Find local driving assessment or refresher training;

Understand the law about health conditions and driving and how to renew their driving licence;

Plan for the need to change when and where they drive and, if it becomes necessary, to retire from driving.

The older we are, the more experience we have as drivers.

This is one of the reasons why older drivers tend to be safer and more considerate.

However, our health and fitness often begin to decline as we grow older.

Many older drivers recognise that their driving ability is changing and alter when and where they drive.

There comes a time when all of us need to reduce our driving or even stop.

The aim of the website is to help older people to continue to drive for as long as they are safe to do so.

Kevin Clinton,

RoSPA’s head of road safety,

Calthorpe Road,

Birmingham.