Older drivers are being urged to take advantage of the help available to them so that they can stay safe on the road for longer.
This comes after a recent incident in Southampton in which a 70 year old man accidentally reversed down a slipway into a marina whilst completing a 3 point turn.
The driver was later diagnosed with vascular dementia, which presents as episodes of confusion. He can appear fine 1 moment but then experience confusion the next. It’s a gradual and deteriorating condition that affects many people every year.
Sergeant Nick Tucker, said:
“We all grow older, and our eyesight and some of our abilities diminish over the course of time. We do not always know, notice or realise that this is happening to us over the years. If you have an older relative or friend who drives, speak to them about their driving and how they feel about it. Remind and encourage them to have their eyesight routinely checked and if they have any concerns about their health, have them speak to their GP about driving.”
The Isle of Wight has seen similar incidents including 1 back in 2017 where a man drove his Nissan Micra into Ryde Boating Lake and more recently in 2020 where a 89 year old man hit 2 horses in Freshwater. Other incidents have seen a vehicle stung after a low-speed chase in Newport in February this year.
Mr Tucker also added:
“We work closely with The Older Drivers Forum whose work is all about keeping mature motorists on the road safely for longer. Whether that’s helping by giving practical and informative help and support to continue driving or pointing people in the right direction for an assessment to identify their driving needs – from wing mirror adapters to an elevated driving seat – the Forum’s here to help and signpost you to the people to help.
If you’re an older driver, or concerned for a friend or relative who is still driving, then the Older Drivers Forum may be able to help.
Please visit their website www.olderdriversforum.com for more information.
Why do you feel it is ok to single out older drivers, you don’t have to be old to suffer from dementia and there are also other medical conditions that can effect your driving ability at any age. Ageism ?
Ageism ? YES.
WHY ? Because it is the truth.
Not at all. Young people are targeted every day over apparent speeding and crashes.
Yet the big issue is the OLDER drivers.
When I am older I would not mind taking a test every 5 years just to make sure I am still driving safe as I would hate to cause a accident.
I’m am an older experienced driver and i dont mind taking a test every few years, as long as everybody else does
Any chance of educating and helping younger drivers that course the vast majority of crashes??
Fake News,where’s your Proof?
Where’s your proof when you say its only older drivers that course crashes???
Where’s your proof??
In 2018 6,132 divers aged 20-29 were involved in serious injury crashes compared to 1,988 70 -79 year age group
According to the AA Charitable Trust, 40% of UK drivers have crashed by the time they are 23 years old, and 26% of drivers have crashed within two years of obtaining their licence. As mentioned in the Driving Injuries and Fatalities section, drivers aged 16–19 were 38% more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 40–49, and drivers aged 20–29 were 65% more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 40–49. (Source: https://toptests.co.uk/driving-statistics/)
Thatt do yah…..
How many in the 17 /35 age group were done for drink or drug driving? Compared to those classed as older, and how many in that age group A) had a licence B) insurance C) a shred of common sense hiding anywhere? Compared again to the older demographic? You can throw stats all day long diesnt help or diminish bad drivers of any age, especially on The Island!!
Cause.
We are educated and trained to the current UK driving standard. Most older drivers have a shocking and lazy method of driving and should re-take tests every 5 years.
How about stick to travelling only as passengers.
TOLD YOU SO …..about 1000 times.
Old people are dangerous.
Sad but true.
I am 73 and have driven since passing my test in 1970….Imhave never had an accident or caused one..how dare you single out OAPS…The most accidents on our roads are motorcycles and youths.
Actually there not motorcycles or young where did you get that from
The reason that you have never had an accident is becouse you never go faster than 20mph.
Motorcyclists and young people (or ‘youths’ as you insist on calling them) are often killed on island roads. But many accidents involve older drivers. The reaction to this article shows the problem. A lot of older people think everyone else is the problem and consider themselves better drivers than they actually are.
Different risks for different ages, young it’s speed, drugs and just idiot driving and for the elderly it’s drink and onset of age conditions like lack of concentration. Like most aspects in life there are good and bad ways to drive and none of us are immune from them.
I feel so sorry for these kiddies who seem to think they are the only age group to have the right to be on the roads.
Make the most of it children, as well before you get to my age your freedom to drive anywhere at any time will be taken away from you. It is already happening with the demonising of fossil fuel cars, then the onset of EV’s, road pricing (you have read about the governments proposals to scrap car tax and charge you per mile?). Then, of course, where do you think you will be able to charge your cars? Not at home if you have to park on the street (which Councils are already eroding the availability with yellow lines)
you don’t need to be old or young. you just need to be a island diver
What help is out there for younger drivers without the necessary driving skills? I’d take a guess that there were far, far more accidents involving young people than elderly people.
There’s an obvious reason why young people’s insurance is so high.