Road safety group warns hundreds of thousands of pensioners should RESIT driving test at 85

Hundreds of thousands of 85-year-olds should have to resit their driving test, a road safety charity has claimed.

IAM Roadsmart policy and research director Neil Greig said a ‘demographic time bomb’ was ticking and it was important to have an ‘urgent’ discussion on how to maintain safe mobility for those in old age.

It comes after the death of a woman, killed by a 95-year-old driver who had run through a red light in 2021, revived calls for reform to DVLA rules.

The present system, in place since 1976, puts the onus on the driver to reapply for their licence at 70 and every three years after.

But campaigners have called for tighter regulation and widespread ‘mature driver assessments’ for those over 75.

Hundreds of thousands of 85-year-olds should have to resit their driving test, a road safety charity has claimed. Stock image of elderly driver

The rate of collision for drivers aged 86 and over was 45 per cent higher than for the next most dangerous group, drivers aged 17 to 24, according to latest figures published by the Department for Transport.

Senior coroner for West Sussex Penelope Schofield has also given the transport secretary and DVLA until April 27 to respond with proposals to prevent deaths involving elderly drivers.

Mr Greig told the Times: ‘Older drivers have crashes when turning right, coming down slip roads and looking over their shoulders. 

‘They don’t tend to have ‘loss of control’ crashes on bends on roads, like young people going too fast.’

The charity has also suggested a public information campaign on giving up driving, and compulsory eye tests every three years from the age of 75, as well as widespread ‘mature driver assessments’.

The Department for Transport said: ‘Drivers must ensure they are medically fit to drive, and face fines if they do not notify the DVLA about a condition’.