Elderly drivers could get 'dobbed in' and face refresher courses over safety concerns
Some experts are calling for refresher courses to be encouraged
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There have been proposals put forward for older motorists to undergo refresher courses to ensure they are still able to drive in a safe manner.
These normally involve sessions where an instructor can observe an elderly person driving and give them advice and tips on how they can improve.
Commenting on the topic on Britain’s Newsroom this morning, Martin Daubney and Bev Turner said there had been a surge in people referring others to the authorities because of concerns with their driving.
The two presenters said they were “uncomfortable” with the trend of drivers being “dobbed in” to the DVLA if they fear they are being unsafe.
Elderly drivers need to renew their licence every three years
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Seb Goldin, CEO of RED Driver Training, spoke to GB News about people speaking to elderly drivers about the possibility of “hanging up their driving gloves”.
He said: “In terms of relatives and friends dobbing people in, that’s just a process where if people are concerned about the driving capability of a friend or more likely a relative, they can write to the DVLA or the GP and suggest that person no longer has the capability to keep driving.
“In the current model, there is no mandatory age, which seems about right, and people self-select so there will come a moment when a relative suggests that driving is a thing that some people cannot continue to do.
“People could be in denial when they perhaps get to the point where their faculties are no longer at the level.
“What we’re suggesting as an organisation is that when you get through the driving test, it doesn’t mean you’re a safe driver.”
Mr Goldin said the proposal of RED Driver Training was that people should view driving as being something they continue to learn about and develop their skills.
He added that most people think they are great at driving, but this might not be the case for all, with people able to always get better at driving.
There have even been some suggestions that there should be a cut-off or maximum age limit for motorists to stop driving.
Mr Goldin said: “Should there be an age cut-off? We don’t think so. There could be someone in their early 80s who is far more capable and a lot more competent than someone far younger. It very much depends on how people do.”
Martin Daubney questioned whether compulsory retesting could become a trend, especially with an ageing and growing population.
Mr Goldin said this would be unlikely, although there are always people suggesting that this should be changed to adapt to changing road habits.
He said: “It’s not something that we see in other countries around the world and having a specific age or time that you have to toss your licence in seems plainly wrong based on the differences in people’s capabilities.
“Our proposal is that people self-select and brush their skills up. Particularly if they’ve had time out of driving as well."
Drivers over the age of 70 are required to renew their licence every three years, rather than every 10 years for all younger age groups.
Drivers under 25 are the cause of the highest rate of collisions on the road, particularly young male motorists.
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Motorists are being urged to "self-select" when it comes to their driving ability
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Bev Turner concluded, saying: “I have to say anything that is pro-motorist and pro-driver, I’m on board. More power to our elderly. If that means getting a refresher course, then so be it.”