Older drivers told when ‘it could be time to stop’ in road warning

Older motorists have been told to "stop driving” if they notice one key thing. Leading road experts at Roadwise said elderly road users should consider giving up their driving licence and retiring from the roads when they notice their "reactions are slower”.

Road users who “feel less in control” and “more stressed” while behind the wheel are also major warning signs that something isn’t right. Despite this, specialists and the DVLA have reiterated that there was “no legal age” to stop as long as drivers felt safe and competent. Roadwise issued the tip as they warned older drivers of the safety risks on the roads.

older driver

They said: “There is no legal age for you to stop driving. The responsibility lies with you to determine when it is right for you to stop.

“However, don’t wait for an accident to convince you to stop. If your reactions are slower, you feel less in control and more stressed when driving then it could be time for you to stop.

“You may have to stop driving if you have any of the medical conditions listed in the DVLA leaflet ‘What you need to know about driving licences’ under ‘the law and the older driver’.”

Breakdown experts at the AA have previously warned there is an average age when motorists tend to hand over their licence.

Experts admit recent surveys show that 75 years old is the most common time road users give up their freedoms.

The Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) also admitted drivers start to have problems behind the wheel when they reach their mid-70s.

They wrote: “There’s no set age to retire from driving. We all age differently and as long as we’re fit and safe, there’s nothing to stop us continuing to drive into old age.

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“At the age of 70, you’re no more at risk of being involved in a collision than any other group. In fact, younger drivers are at a higher risk on our roads.

“However, research has shown that in their mid-70s, drivers sometimes start to have problems assessing complex or high-speed traffic situations.

“Fragility increases with age, so if older people are involved in a collision, their injuries tend to be more serious, and recovery takes much longer.”