Older drivers have been urged to take one test to brush up on their skills behind the wheel later in life. Experts at a charity aiming at improving road standards stressed that an “independent older driver assessment” was vital as road users age.
Older driver assessments are usually voluntary checks, but can inform road users of their skills behind the wheel and any areas of improvement. Some elderly individuals may even be encouraged to hand over their driving licence and retire from the roads altogether after being told their skills are not up to scratch. Voluntary assessments can be booked across the country with many local areas offering the checks for free or a small fee.
IAMRoadSmart explained: “Having an independent older driver assessment can help to top up the driving skills you first learned when passing your test. For many older drivers, a review of their driving results can give them a renewed sense of confidence to carry on driving safely for years to come.”
Driving assessments will typically last around three hours with road users behind the wheel for about 50 minutes. After the test is complete, assessors will put together a comprehensive report looking into the positives and negatives.
The check is pivotal for those seeking confirmation they are still able to drive safely after a medical diagnosis.
According to The Older Drivers Forum, individuals who take part in driving assessments may receive some insurance discounts which may act as an extra incentive.
The group added: “Everybody's driving changes over time, in different ways and for different reasons. A driving assessment can help you to identify how and why your driving is changing and what can be done to help you to continue to drive safely for as long as possible.”
Experts from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) are looking at introducing a set of rules for a “standardised mature driver assessment” across the UK. Currently, each test and local area runs their own programme with no formal rules set as standard.
However, experts alongside The Older Driver Task Force (ODTF), the Older Drivers Forum and the University of Warwick are working on plans as part of a multi-year study.
Specialists claim that the new checks aim to look at the road safety benefits of mature driver assessments in a bid to improve standards across the country.