Our Road Safety Manager, England, Becky Guy highlights safety considerations for older drivers.

A BBC Freedom of Information request has shown a rise in the number of people worried about a driver’s ability behind the wheel contacting the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Last year, 48,754 notifications about concerns over a person’s fitness to drive were submitted to the DVLA from across Great Britain, up 82 per cent from 26,716 in 2021. These numbers – which cover England, Wales and Scotland – include self-declarations, those by medical officials and third-party notifications. 

This coverage has prompted concerns about older drivers, who are more susceptible to age-related conditions that could affect their fitness to drive. To address some of these concerns, here are RoSPA’s answers to common questions about driving safely for longer: 
 

Is there an age when I should retire from driving?

There is no set age to retire from driving. We all age differently and as long as we are fit and safe, there is nothing to stop us continuing to drive into old age. At the age of 70, you are 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. 

So how do you know when is the right time to retire from driving? RoSPA suggests considering the following to help you decide when the time is right for you: 

• Have regular eyesight tests with an optician to see if you meet the vision standards for driving 
• Take a regular driving assessment with an independent expert to brush up on your skills and make sure you’re still safe to drive 
• Seek medical advice relating to any medical condition or medicines you’re taking to make sure you’re safe to continue to drive 
• Sometimes the cost of owning, maintaining and running a car can steer us to retire from driving. 

Can I drive with a medical condition?

As we get older, we can often start to suffer from various medical conditions, some of which can affect our ability to drive safely. You must inform the DVLA or DVA (Northern Ireland) if: 

• You develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition or disability 
• A condition or disability has got worse since you last got your licence. 
• ‘Notifiable’ medical conditions and disabilities include epilepsy, strokes and other neurological conditions, mental health problems, physical disabilities, and visual impairments. 

Always check if your health condition is one that needs to be reported to the DVLA or the DVA (Northern Ireland).  If you’re unsure about your medical condition, consult your doctor, optician, pharmacist or other medical professional, and comply with any decision or recommendation they give you.  Many conditions will allow you to continue to drive, and some may require additional checks or more frequent licence renewals, so always check.
 

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