New campaign helps elderly drivers decide when to stop

Date posted: November 25, 2013

A new campaign launched by TV personality Valerie Singleton aims to help older drivers and concerned family members decide on how and when is the best time to give up their driving licence.

The campaign, called Stills Safe to Drive has been arranged by GEM Motoring Assist, and features a series of videos which highlights the dangers faced by older drivers, and also shows how to identify the risks.

The GEM says that it’s important to recognise changes in driving habits, especially those that compromise safety. “Even if we need to reduce our driving or we need to leave it to others, it doesn’t mean an end to an independent, active life.”

According to research from the Institute of Advanced Motorists, 30 years ago only a third of men and one in 20 women who were over the age of 70 had a licence. Today, 75% of men a third of women are licensed to drive.

Once a driver reaches the age of 70, they must apply for a new licence. They don’t need to take another test but they must declare any medical conditions.

The campaign speaks to professionals who explain that common conditions such as arthritis can affect driving. A police expert also says that as drivers get older they commonly fail to give way, stay in lane and daily misjudge stopping time.

GEM advises older drivers to get someone else that they trust to sit with them and assess their driving, to help them assess whether the time is right to stop driving.