Driving: how old's too old?
When is it time to hang up the car keys?
Last winter, an 86-year-old man, driving in the early evening darkness, crashed into the car behind Dr Melanie Simms. No one was seriously hurt, but her car was written off and visits to the osteopath followed.
Fault was established and compensation paid, but it left her concerned about the growing number of older drivers on the roads. She wrote to iPM,
The system for reporting concern in the UK is very weak...Contrary to popular belief, there is no requirement for older drivers to resit a test of any kind...In practice, then, it depends on family being able to persuade the person to stop. In many cases, that will happen. In many cases, it will not.
Melanie also feels this is a political issue, 'older people are hugely more likely vote than their younger counterparts. So politicians don't want to deal with it'.
And she thinks it's a problem for GPs and other professionals, who need support in making difficult decisions that will probably have a negative impact on people's lives.
This week, iPM is looking into the issue, getting the latest figures and asking -
Should older drivers be made to resit regular tests after a certain age?
How do GPs report an elderly person they're concerned about? Should they be able to?
How do you approach the subject with an elderly relative you're worried about?
What alternatives are there for older people who are no longer able to drive?
All thoughts and comments welcome. You can also email us.
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