Half of Brits think older drivers should be banned from the roads

Many suppose obligatory driving checks must be carried out (Image: Getty Photographs)

Driving is probably one of the vital divisive subjects for Brits.

A debate has long-since surrounded whether or not the nation’s older inhabitants must be compelled to re-take checks to chop down on crashes.

A brand new survey, from CarTakeBack.com and YouGov, has discovered that just about half of Brits (49%) reckon older drivers must be banned from the roads completely.

And a staggering 69% suppose they need to should retake their driving check at a sure age.

The most typical motive why respondents thought senior drivers must be banned or re-take their check was as a result of ‘older drivers don’t have quick sufficient response occasions’.

The bulk thought the obligatory check retakes ought to happen between the ages of 71 and 75.

These in favour of the extra drastic higher age restrict measure and full ban, selected a a lot older age for this – 86-90 (10%) and older than 90 (14%).

And youthful individuals who took the survey, these between the age of 18 and 24, mentioned a re-test ought to come far earlier.

The bulk suppose a compulsory check ought to come between the ages of 71-75 (Image: Getty Photographs/Maskot)

Greater than 1 in 3 (37%) thought it ought to happen between 60 and 70, in comparison with simply 13% of these aged 55+ who mentioned the identical.

The survey has indicated that the British public ‘don’t belief older drivers on the highway’, in response to CarTakeBack.com.

They cited excessive profile crashes, equivalent to Value Philip’s collision in January, as a motive why distrust of older drivers has grown.

However organisations equivalent to IAM Roadsmart say ‘older drivers are safer than younger drivers.’

Neil Greig, director of coverage and analysis on the highway security charity, mentioned: ‘In actuality, new drivers are probably the most in danger group and older drivers are among the many most secure. 

‘Statistics do nevertheless present that drivers over 85 do begin to have extra crashes as their colleges fade and their expertise is not any  longer sufficient to compensate.’

Youthful folks nonetheless trigger extra crashes, campaigners have mentioned (Image: Getty Photographs/iStockphoto)

Beforehand, researchers at Monash College in Australia discovered ‘monumental’ proof that obligatory testing of older drivers didn't make roads safer.

They mentioned: ‘One examine in contrast the protection implications of the Finnish and Swedish licensing practices. Finland requires annual medical checks beginning yearly at age 70 for licence renewal, whereas Sweden has no age associated controls.

‘The Finnish program didn't lead to fewer crashes than in Sweden – however importantly it was discovered that Finland had a better older pedestrian fatality charge, presumably the results of a rise within the variety of older folks counting on strolling as their predominant transport choice.’

Some concern that, amid rising loneliness amongst the UK’s ageing inhabitants, shedding entry to a automobile might have extreme results on psychological well being.

The controversy over obligatory testing comes two weeks after it was revealed the variety of UK drivers over 100 years previous has almost trebled within the final decade.

The variety of centenarians with full licences has reached 505 – up from 162 in 2012.

A report by the Older Drivers Job Pressure not too long ago really helpful the age at which licences should be renewed each three years must be hiked from 70 to 75.

Spokesman John Plowman mentioned: ‘Age itself shouldn't be a barrier to protected driving. However older motorists must be medically match to drive and search recommendation when a limiting situation develops or will get worse.’

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