No matter how old we are, we all enjoy motoring and looking at new car deals always brings some level of excitement.
However, we are all ageing and new figures have revealed that the UK's driving public is older than ever before.
According to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), more than seven million people over the age of 65 now regularly drive on UK roads and this makes up one-fifth of all driving licence holders.
The road safety charity has taken its statistics from the driving licence data published by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in December 2013. The figures also reveal the UK has 4,068,498 drivers who are older than 70, 1,101,779 drivers over the age of 80 and even 195 drivers who have passed 100
years
old.
IAM noted that older drivers on average have fewer points on their licence, as both middle-age drivers and newly-qualified youngsters have more infringements on their record. People who are 42 are the most likely to have points on their licence because of the 816,915 licence holders in that group, 82,929 – or ten per cent – have points.
According to the charity, these statistics show that older drivers are in fact some of the safest on the roads. The IAM explained that reaction times may be slightly lower, but older drivers use their experience to compensate and often drive at more sensible speeds.
Chief executive of the IAM Simon Best said: "In 20 years' time, one in ten people will be over 80 years old. Responding to an older population is a significant policy issue for government, health and transport agencies – a greater number of people will require help with their mobility and acting now can ensure the right support networks are in place as numbers increase."
He called for easy access to driving assessments, improved advice from doctors and the medical profession, and intelligent car and road design, which has a safety focus.
"The overarching policy aim should be to keep people independent and driving safer for as long as possible," Mr Best added.
Posted by Bob Fletcher