Voluntary Mature Driver Assessments

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There is a lot in the press at the moment about Older Drivers and Mature Driver Assessments.

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. Our biggest issue as we age is often complacency, especially with our driving. We are therefore encouraging all to make sure you are still safe to drive. We MOT and Service our vehicles as they age, how about checking ourselves?

Statistics released by the Department for Transport  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-older-and-younger-driver-factsheets-2022/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-older-driver-factsheet-2022 do show fatalities involving young drivers is steadily decreasing, unfortunately older drivers are increasing, probably due to the older driver licence numbers increasing on average around ¼ million every year. We have an ageing population so expect huge increases in licences held by older drivers, so older driver deaths will increase, but there is plenty we can do to reduce this risk, which is why we are raising awareness of this and trying to make sure we are all fit and healthy to drive.

The article below by the BBC shows what we are doing to help and support mature motorists to carry on driving safely for longer and encourage us all to consider a mature driver assessment.

Click here to read article from the BBC 

 

Is Your Vision Roadworthy?

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As we age our sight can deteriorate, often without us being aware of it. We are therefore working with Eye Health UK and the National Police Chiefs Council over the next two weeks to help raise awareness of the importance of having good vision for driving. More than 90% of information a driver uses is visual so ensuring your eyesight is up to scratch is crucial.

Please therefore get your eyes tested every 2 years & wear eyewear prescribed for driving EVERY time you get behind the wheel.

With the clocks having gone back means fewer daylight hours over the coming months. so Please make sure your eyesight meets the minimum standards for driving.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

The below video really empathies why this is so important. You MOT your car every year, so why not MOT your sight regularly for driving.

‘DRIVING SAFELY IN WINTER. TIME FOR CHANGE’

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Saturday 26 October 10:00am Community Webinar
‘DRIVING SAFELY IN WINTER. TIME FOR CHANGE.’  

With the clocks going back on 27 October and temperatures dropping drivers need to prepare for the challenges of winter driving.

A 2018 RAC report of five years of collision data identified a 5% increase in collisions in the two-week period after the clocks go back. Surveys of car rentals and insurance companies suggested this is because more people are driving  in poor light conditions.

This webinar provides advice for mature driver on how to sharpen driving skills, prepare their car and plan journeys to reflect winter driving conditions.

At this event we will be making an important announcement about a national trial of standardised mature driver assessment for which we need the support of mature drivers in Gloucestershire.

To register for this event, click on this link https://tinyurl.com/4auhy6wv

This information is of value to any driver so why not ask your family to join you!

Also please share this information with anyone you think it would be of value.     

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All our work is voluntary. To donate email odfglos@gmail.com and we will provide bank details of Gloucestershire Older Persons Association (charity number: 1124977) under whose charitable status we operate. 

In Other News 

Future events include:

  •       17 November  Road Victim Remembrance Day https://tinyurl.com/3t42ex2m
  •       21 November  WI Kemble & Ewen
  •       30 November  Community webinar ‘Driving Safely in Winter. Highways Special.’                               https://tinyurl.com/364nkx8s
  •   3 December    Probus Tewkesbury & Bredon
  •      14 December    Community webinar ‘Concerned about a mature driver?                                We can help’. https://tinyurl.com/2atvxuzd

GEM Webinar – Safer Driving Update

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GEM Webinar 2024 – Number 3 – Safer Driving Update

Today we ran our third webinar in 2024 to help and support safer driving. This webinar explored a wide variety of subjects to help you make informed decisions and stay safe on your road journeys. The webinar is expertly guided by Valerie Singleton OBE and lasts 60 minutes. During the webinar Valerie interviews a number of experts in their fields.

Topics covered were:

  • Driver eyesight
  • Winter checks
  • Worried about someone’s driving?
  • Car insurance: money-saving tips
  • Dashcam: road  safety benefits
  • and more…