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Motoring news

Majority would report elderly drivers, says IAM

12/03/2010

Three in four people would report an elderly friend whose driving they were concerned about to authorities, an online poll by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has suggested.

According to the organisation, 73% of the 1,628 members and non-members polled said that they would inform on older people whose driving they perceived to be 'bad'. A further 68% said that the mandatory re-testing of drivers over 70 would be of benefit to general road safety.

However, 77% of those polled believed that, overall, younger drivers posed more of a risk than their older counterparts.

The IAM is now highlighting its position - established in January - that older drivers are among the safest on the road.

It accompanies the publication of a new report by the organisation, Older Drivers - Safe or Unsafe? This aims to stimulate a discussion about how the increasing numbers of older people can be helped to drive safely "for as long as possible".

Stating that the level of support shown for mandatory re-testing of the elderly was "worrying", the IAM said there was a need "to reassure the public that older drivers do not represent a disproportionate risk".

"Re-testing at 70 would be a mammoth administrative task with little road safety benefit and the Government and safety bodies must work together to communicate the facts about older drivers more widely," the organisation added.

The IAM position appears to be supported by research published last month by Admiral car insurance, which suggested that drivers aged between 17 and 18 were twice as likely to be involved in an accident as the average.

However, road safety charity Brake has recently been calling for a change in the rules which allow elderly drivers to self-certify their fitness to drive. In February the charity suggested annual "fit to drive" health checks should be carried out by professionals on motorists aged over 70. In addition, Brake said that those under 70 should face a similar mandatory check every five years.