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About us:

We know that older motorists have a wealth of experience, confidence and tolerance. However, sight, hearing, reaction time and judgement of speed and distance may not be as sharp as it once was.

Fragility increases with age, so injuries tend to be more serious and recovery takes much longer. Casualty rates do increase for car drivers aged over about 65, and the fatality rate increases significantly.

The Older Drivers Forum is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers to support mature motorists on how to continue driving safely for longer.

The Forum is passionate that none of us become complacent about our driving but take steps to make sure we are safe to drive, as long as we are fit to do so.

The Forum’s website is full of practical information and tips including how to renew your licence, how to identify eyesight and medical conditions, and where to book a confidence boosting assessment to refresh driving skills.

We regularly run events and webinars, many are recorded and can be found on our website for you to watch in the comfort of your home.

So do dip in and take a look! Also register to receive regular updates on our activities.

The Forum does not perform any legal function, and we do not have the authority to revoke driving licences.

We work nationally with Road Safety Organisations, Department for Transport and Government departments, constantly seeking the most effective means to support safer driving into old age.

The Older Drivers Forum are here to help:

  • With practical advice on how to keep driving safely for longer
  • Plan an independent life without a car
  • Families and carers concerned about a mature driver

We’ll be constantly adding advice and news for older drivers to our page so please keep coming back for all the latest updates and click on our ‘FOLLOW’ button, enter your email and we will send you updates on what we are doing.

Why not explore the web site and see all the advice, videos, brochures, recommendations on driving assessments and much more we give to help you, or someone you know, carry on driving safely for longer.

Useful Links:

  • Click here to find a Mature Driver Assessment in your area for your needs
  • Click here to find a Specially Trained Approved Driving Instructor for Mature Drivers
  • Click here to see our recorded Webinars
  • Click here to find advice for Older / Mature Drivers
  • Click here to fin advice for Family and Friends of a Mature Motorist
  • Click here to see Videos to help mature motorists
  • Click here to find see range of useful Advice

In the meantime, got a question? Click here to contact us.

Below are just some exciting things going on:

FREE WEBINAR – Winter Driving – Are you prepared?
As the clocks go back, a familiar journey may mean driving in the dark. Low sun, headlamp glare, rain, fog and icy mornings can make driving more demanding. So, before the first frosty morning or a challenging drive home, ask yourself: “Am I prepared for winter driving?” This practical webinar will invite you to think about how you, your vehicle and your journeys are prepared for winter driving. Click Here for more information and how to register

Lancashire Older and Mature Drivers Webinar

Lancashire County Council is hosting a free webinar for professionals working to support older road users to remain safe, active and independent for longer. ‘Fit to Drive? How do we keep our older road users safe on the road as professionals?’ will take place online on Wednesday 16 September 2026, from 9.30am to 12.30pm. To find out more Click Here

New road casualty figures highlight the growing importance of older road-user safety – Dated 30th July 2026 

New Department for Transport figures show that 3,382 people aged 70 and over were killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads in 2025. While younger age groups still account for more casualties overall, serious injuries among older people have not reduced at the same rate, highlighting the need for better eyesight checks, medical fitness awareness, safer roads and practical support to help older people remain safe and mobile. Read our full analysis of the findings and what they mean for older drivers and older road users by clicking here

New Road Safety Strategy – Information for Mature and Older Drivers

We recognise that many older drivers may have questions or concerns about the New Road Safety Strategy 2026 and what the proposed changes may mean for them. We want to offer reassurance that these measures are intended to make Britain’s roads safer and fairer for everyone, including those of us in later life. They are not designed to undermine independence or unfairly single out older drivers. To read more about the changes and overview then click here

The Do’s and Don’ts of Clearing Frosted Windscreens & Winter Driving

Cold winter mornings are a familiar challenge for UK drivers. Frosted windscreens can tempt even experienced motorists into bad habits that risk fines, damage to vehicles, or serious collisions. Knowing the correct way to clear your windscreen—and how to drive safely once you’re on the road—is essential during winter months. Click here to read a practical guide to the do’s and don’ts of clearing frosted windscreens and driving in winter conditions.

ADAS – Understanding Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 

Road collisions remain a leading cause of death and serious injury in the UK. Each year, around 1,700 people begin journeys they tragically do not complete and many of these incidents are entirely preventable. Advanced driver assistance systems, also referred to as ADAS are a range of technologies fitted to modern vehicles that enhance safety, improve awareness, and support drivers in both routine and emergency situations. Some features are always active, some require driver input, and others only engage in critical moments. Understanding how they work can help you get the most out of your vehicle and stay safer on the road. Click here to read more and see explanatory videos

Is Your Vision Roadworthy? – Vision and Driving Campaign

Today our chair Rob Heard MBE, Eye Health UK and University of Warwick have launched our third annual roadside vision screening campaign to raise awareness of eyesight rules for motorists called the ‘Is Your Vision Roadworthy?’ To read more CLICK HERE

 

 

Gloucestershire Older Drivers Forum webinars

2462862---ODF-logo-for-Gloucestershire-1Gloucestershire Older Drivers Forum run regular webinars on numerous subjects to find out more click here

Channel 5 Documentary – ‘Cause of Death – Licence to Kill’

We would urge everyone to watch this documentary on Channel 5 which highlights the death of 4 pedestrians due to drivers with defective vision who knew they have defective vision but still drove causing devastating consequences. When 90% of driving is visual, we all need to make sure our vision meets the standards for vision for driving. Click here to read more and get the link

Older Drivers Forum on BBC Morning Live – Retiring from Driving

IMG_1137On Wednesday 26th March 2025 BBC Morning Live ran a piece about retiring from driving. This featured 85 year old Rose who decided to retire from driving after attending one of the Gloucestershire Older Drivers Forum brilliant and informative webinars. To read more and see the piece click here

Gloucestershire Older Drivers Forum win award

Impact Awards 210325We are so pleased to announce that Gloucestershire Older Drivers Forum has been recognised and they have been given an award for the differences they have made to many. To read more about this click here

ITV Tonight programme – “Older Drivers: Danger at the Wheel?”

IMG_1431On Thursday 23rd January 2025 the ITV Tonight programme ran a 30 minute documentary on Older Drivers and is very well balanced and worth watching. To watch the programme and learn more click here

 

 

 

NATIONAL WEB SITE
For advice, support and courses nationally then visit:
www.olderdrivers.org.uk

SITE OWNERSHIP
This site is supported by Hampshire Constabulary Road Safety Team as such follows the same Privacy requirements as them.

PRIVACY NOTICE
To find out more about how we treat personal data and how to exercise your data rights, see our privacy notice

For an introduction in British Sign Language, please see below.

In the meantime, got a question? Post a comment below or contact us here.

Thank you.

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Winter Driving – Are you prepared?

WINTER DRIVING  Are you prepared?

Saturday 31 October
10:00am – 11:00am

 Join us for our free Community Zoom webinar

 Reserve your free place: https://tinyurl.com/2w9964yw

We hope you can join us, please save the date.

If you are not familiar with participating in Zoom webinars, advice is available here: https://tinyurl.com/5ywnp9r7

Why this webinar matters

As the clocks go back, a familiar journey may mean driving in the dark.

Low sun, headlamp glare, rain, fog and icy mornings can make driving more demanding.

So, before the first frosty morning or a challenging drive home, ask yourself: am I prepared for winter driving?

This practical webinar will invite you to think about how you, your vehicle and your journeys are prepared for winter driving.

We will share useful tips to help make these journeys safer, and more relaxed.

If you joined our autumn Driver MOT webinar, there is plenty of fresh content including information about prescription medicines, winter tyres, gritted routes, headlamp glare and advice for EV and hybrid owners preparing for their first winter.

Our aim is to help you stay safe and confident and keep enjoying the independence that driving brings.

____________________________________

 Your presenters: Alexandra and Nigel Lloyd-Jones, Co-Leads of the Older Drivers Forum in Gloucestershire. Nigel also leads the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership’s work to support mature drivers.

Join them for practical advice, followed by time for your questions and tips.

During the webinar we will cover

 The Driver: eyesight, medicines and recognising how winter conditions can affect your confidence behind the wheel

 Headlamp glare: what the latest research tells us and practical ways to reduce its impact

 The Vehicle: batteries, lights, tyres and whether winter tyres could suit your driving

 EVs and hybrids: preparing for your first winter, including range, warming the car before departure and keeping an eye on tyre wear

 Clear visibility: de-icing, demisting and keeping vehicle cameras and sensors clean

 The Journey: choosing the time and route, finding gritting information and knowing when to change your plans

 Preparing for delays or a breakdown: useful equipment and how to explain your location when you need help

 Sharing winter roads: allowing for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users in difficult conditions

Summary notes will be available on our website in the week following the webinar.

 Reserve your free place: https://tinyurl.com/2w9964yw

 Please share this invitation with family, friends, clubs and community groups.

 All our work is voluntary. If you would like to support us, please consider donating: https://tinyurl.com/fr9wktvf

FREE Webinar – Driving Safely in Autumn

🍂 DRIVING SAFELY IN AUTUMN
🚗 Time for a Driver MOT?
📅 Saturday 26 September 2026
🕙 10:00am – 11:00am
🌟 Join us for our 60th Community Zoom webinar
👉 Reserve your free place: https://tinyurl.com/5n6hhbyn

  You may wish to add this to your diary now.

If you are not familiar with participating in Zoom webinars, advice is available here https://tinyurl.com/5ywnp9r7

Why this webinar matters

Autumn can bring some of the most challenging driving conditions of the year.

Shorter days, low sun, glare, heavy rain, wet leaves, fog and the first frosts can  make familiar journeys more demanding.

We make sure our cars receive an MOT when required – but when did you last give yourself a Driver MOT?

Don’t worry – there is no test!

Instead, this practical webinar will invite you to think about three things: the Driver, the Vehicle and the Journey.

We will ask some simple questions to help you identify whether there are one or two things you could do to make your driving safer, more comfortable and more confident this autumn.

🎤 Special guest contributor: We are delighted to welcome Mike Addis, IAM RoadSmart Examiner and Advanced Driving Instructor. Mike has undertaken many of the Mature Driver Reviews we have facilitated in Gloucestershire and will share some of the driving themes emerging from those sessions.

During the webinar we will cover:

👓 Driver MOT – eyesight, mobility, medication and driving confidence
🌧️ Driving in heavy rain – visibility, following distances, aquaplaning and flooding
🔋 Vehicle MOT – battery, lights, wipers, tyres and autumn preparation
🗺️ Journey MOT – weather, timing, route planning and knowing when to postpone
🚘 Mature Driver Reviews – what happens and what drivers can learn from them
💡 Useful practical tips and resources to make autumn driving easier and safer

👉 Reserve your free place: https://tinyurl.com/5n6hhbyn
📣 Please share this invitation with family, friends, clubs and community groups.

❤️ All our work is voluntary. If you would like to support us, please consider donating: https://tinyurl.com/fr9wktvf

Lancashire Older and Mature Drivers Webinar

Lancashire Older and Mature Drivers Webinar

Wednesday 16th September at 9.30am

Fit to Drive?
How do we keep our older road users safe on the road as professionals?

Did you know that older drivers are increasingly involved in fatal collisions — and you could play a vital role in preventing them?

You are warmly invited to attend our Lancashire Older and Mature Drivers Webinar, a free online session designed to help professionals like you support older people to remain safe, confident, and independent behind the wheel. The webinar is open to everyone, so please feel free to forward this invitation to colleagues, members, and networks who you think may find it useful or would like to attend.

Why Attend?

With an ageing population, understanding the challenges faced by older drivers has never been more important. This webinar will equip medical professionals, road safety professionals, public health practitioners and emergency services with vital knowledge and tools to make a real difference in your community.

What you’ll learn:

✔ How eyesight, health and medication affect driving.

✔ Key road safety updates for older drivers.

✔ How we can work together to support safer journeys.

Hear From:

  • Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health and Wellbeing at Lancashire County Council
  • Ruth Purdie OBE, Chief Executive of UKROEd and The Road Safety Trust
  • Rob Heard MBE, Road Safety Consultant
  • DS Helen Parkinson, Lancashire Constabulary
  • Deborah Hall and Alison Hankinson, Lancashire County Council

Who Should Attend?

  • Healthcare professionals
  • Road safety teams
  • Local authorities
  • Emergency services
  • Anyone working with older people

To Register click here

Hosted by Lancashire County Council Road Safety Team