28th August 2007

LARSOA targets elderly drivers

Action needs to be taken now to stem a rising number of elderly drivers involved in collisions, according to LARSOA.

The Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association believes a recent study, which points to a dramatic increase in the number of older drivers, shows the need for more work in this area of road safety education and awareness.

The study was carried out in the North East in response to a rising number of older drivers being referred on to the National Driver Improvement Scheme (NDIS) which provides retraining for drivers after an accident in which they were at fault.

Older drivers made up a quarter of the total number attending the NDIS scheme over a two-year period. Over a four-year period (2002-2005) older drivers in County Durham have been involved in, on average, 100 accidents each year.

Ann Corbett, a road safety officer with Durham County Council, undertook the research and she says: "In 2005 there were 6,023 driver casualties in the North East region with those 60 and above accounting for around 8% of the total casualties.

"Although the number of people holding a full driving licence decreases with age, the percentage of these people who become driver casualties increases. With an ageing population, it is clear that if this were to lead to a similar increase in accidents and casualties, Government casualty reduction targets would not be met."

Alan Kennedy, Vice Chair of LARSOA, adds: "The ageing population is a national concern and these figures are likely to be mirrored across the UK which means more needs to be done now to tackle this issue.

"It is a fact that reaction times increase with age but keeping their independence and fear of losing it, often keeps older drivers behind the wheel for longer than is necessary or, in some cases, safe."

LARSOA wants to see more local authorities using the SAGE - Safer Driving with Age - scheme. SAGE is a programme for older drivers and provides drivers with the support, guidance and coaching necessary to continue driving for as long as it is safe to do so. It involves looking at health, medication and vision as well as the ability to drive. A one hour assessed drive is undertaken with an experienced driving assessor, in the drivers own car, on local roads. A confidential report is then given to the driver which covers areas in which they may need to improve their driving skills.

Alan says: "We also need to see older drivers targeted with specific educational campaigns which highlight the gradual loss of sensory functions and the need for regular eyesight checks. There also needs to be more promotion of alternative modes of transport in areas relevant to older people."

ABOUT LARSOA

LARSOA is a national road safety organisation representing road safety officers (RSOs) employed in local government across the UK.

LARSOA represents 185 of the 200 eligible local authorities across the UK, assisting RSOs to fulfil their statutory role to reduce the number and severity of road casualties through education, training and publicity programmes.

LARSOA publishes an up-to-date round-up of road safety news from across the UK on its website www.larsoa.org.uk .

LARSOA also aims to influence national debate - government policy and action together with public opinion. The association works to achieve national recognition for road safety issues, commissions research into behaviour which contributes to road collisions and develops national road safety campaigns.

The association assists in identifying achievable national targets to reduce the number of collisions on the country's roads.