BRITAIN: Elderly Drivers Should Re-Sit Driving Test, Says Survey

KENDAL (Westmorland Gazette), May 10, 2006: CUMBRIANS believe that elderly drivers should have to re-sit a driving test, according to results of the latest survey carried out by the county's safety camera partnership. Sixty four per cent of residents in the Cumberland region questioned felt older drivers should re-sit the test, with half of those believing that this re-sit should take place when drivers reach their 70s. A further 33 per cent told the survey they felt drivers in their 80s should not be allowed to drive. "While young drivers in the 17-20 year old age group continue to be a key concern, countywide we have noticed a worrying rise in the number of fatal accidents in elderly drivers," said Cumbria Safety Cameras communications manager Kevin Tea. "In the 60-70 year age group there were seven fatalities in 2005 and we also saw a further 10 people over 70 killed on Cumbria's roads last year. In Cumbria we have a large number of elderly residents living in rural isolation who rely on their cars to get them into towns in order to do their shopping and enjoy social activities." He said everyone should be aware that eyesight diminishes and reflexes get slower as people get older and suitable allowances should be made. "Older bodies are more frail and unable to take the stress of impact accidents even at low speeds so the slightest accident, even if not caused by a pensioner, could have serious or fatal consequences." Other findings in the survey revealed that: * 44 per cent of those questioned knew someone who had been killed or seriously injured in a crash; * 52 per cent of respondents believed that vehicles should be fitted with speed regulators; l The panel was evenly split on the question of roadside tributes at crash sites; l 83 per cent agreed that the use of safety cameras should be supported as a method of reducing casualties; * 51 per cent of drivers said that the presence of safety cameras had changed the way they drive and were more aware of their speed; * 62 per cent in the 16-24 age group said safety cameras had changed the way they drove; and * 48 per cent said awareness of the dangers of speed had altered in the last 12 months. By South Lakes Citizen Newsquest © Copyright 2001-2006