Older motorists could be offered the chance to take part in voluntary assessments to ensure they stay safe on the roads and support them in being more confident.
Last month, it was announced that road safety organisations would set up “an independent evaluation of the implementation and delivery of standardised mature driver assessments”.
This is being organised to measure the road safety benefits of such schemes and inform a wider rollout of such schemes around the UK to help mature drivers.
Local authorities around the country have developed voluntary older driver on-road assessment schemes, but there is no standardised guidance to help operators or drivers adjust to the schemes.
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Standardised driving assessments are already taking place across the UK
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The project will evaluate the standardised assessments in Buckinghamshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Gloucestershire, Leeds, and Warwickshire, and analyse how the schemes can be improved and roll out recommendations.
Taking to the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, the Older Drivers Forum said it was “pleased to announce” that it had received funding to evaluate the Standardised Mature Assessment.
The Assessment, which has been developed by the Older Drivers Forum and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), was boosted by investment from The Road Safety Trust to evaluate the scheme.
It clarified how the standard was for “voluntary” mature driving assessments to help bring a standard across the country for all providers.
The Older Drivers Forum said it wanted to help and support older motorists with consistency behind the wheel and ensure they have the correct support.
One commenter said that it was a “brilliant initiative driven by passionate people” helping people stay on the road safely and for a longer period of time.
According to the most recent information from the DVSA, there are 5.68 million driving licence holders in the UK who are 70 years of age and older.
Speaking previously to an ITV documentary about elderly drivers, Rob Heard, the Chair of the Older Drivers Forum, estimated there are around 900,000 people on the road with defective eyesight, calling this “shocking”.
He called on people to check on their friends and family to ensure they are safe behind the wheel, especially when it comes to issues with their eyesight, as this is a leading contributor to accidents.
The majority of drivers would likely feel like they have lost a part of their identity if they were made to stop driving, as pointed out by Professor Charles Musselwhite from Aberystwyth University.
If someone requires the use of glasses or contact lenses, they must wear them every time they drive to ensure they meet the “standards of vision for driving”.
At a minimum, drivers must be able to read a car number plate manufactured after September 1, 2001, from 20 metres, whether this is with glasses or contacts, or not.
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Motorists are required to meet the minimum eyesight standards for driving
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Rules are slightly different for those who operate lorries and buses as they must have an “uninterrupted horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees with an extension of at least 70 degrees left and right and 30 degrees up and down”.
Drivers must also tell the DVLA if they have any problems that could impact their eyesight, whether it is one eye or both eyes.
