An Older Drivers Forum is being held in Newport next week to help keep mature motorists on the road safely for longer.
There are currently just over 4.3 million people in the UK aged 70 and over driving on our roads and the expectation is that this will double, if not treble, in the next 20 years as we all live longer. The oldest person who holds a driving licence is a man aged 107.
We know that older motorists have a wealth of experience, confidence and tolerance. However, sight, hearing, reaction time and judgement of speed and distance may not be as sharp as it once was and, particularly on the Isle of Wight, older drivers are often involved in road traffic collisions.
The Older Drivers Forum is about keeping mature motorists on the road safely for longer. Whether that’s giving you practical and informative help and support to continue driving or pointing you in the right direction for an assessment to identify your driving needs – from wing mirror adapters to an elevated driving seat – they are there to help.
The forum is a not-for-profit organisation made up of experts in road safety from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – from representatives from the emergency services, to charities, local authorities and businesses specialising in keeping older people on the road.
If you know an older driver, have contact with them regularly in your job or are perhaps just concerned for a friend or relative who is still driving then the Older Driver Forum may be able to help.
From tomorrow (Monday) until to Saturday (3rd October), and in support of Older Peoples Day (Thursday 1st October), the forum is holding an Older Driver Awareness Week, offering advice and tips that will help older drivers continue to drive safely or help them to decide when to stop.
Thursday 1st October – St Thomas’s Square and Newport Minister, Newport, Isle of Wight
The event is free to attend and open between 09:30-15:00, no appointment is required and people can pop in anytime during these hours. The event is aimed at anyone with an interest, from older drivers themselves, to friends and relatives.
Advice will be available on:
– Brushing up your skills
– Booking a driving assessment
– Arranging a regular eyesight test
– Getting advice on health and well-being issues that could affect driving ability
– Renewing your licence at 70
– Learning about road safety and consequences of not being fit to drive
– Discover alternatives to being independent without a car
Visit the website www.olderdriversforum.com for more information.
