The Older Mobility website has now gone live. Older Mobility brings together research and evidence to help address the needs for an ageing population. In recent years the emphasis in research and among practitioners has often focussed on interventions for drivers as they age. In 2019, the Department for Transport awarded a grant to the leading road safety charity, RoadSafe, to develop a knowledge transfer programme to take forward the work on older drivers by widening its scope to address the risks to older road users, concentrating on the most vulnerable.
Combining a series of reports created specifically for the project and a library of research evidence OlderMobility.com is a valuable resource for those working in road safety, public health, transport planning, civic leadership and age-related charities.
This week we have visited 5 different venues across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with our partners from many agencies. We gave help and support to over 1300 older drivers, advising on voluntary driving appraisals, health and well being, cyber crime and how to protect themselves from fraud and much more. We will be posting more pictures from the weeks activties in the next couple of weeks. If you missed being able to attend, then don’t worry have a look through our web site for advice.
Sgt Rob Heard – Chair of Older Drivers Forum – with Hampshire Chief Constable Andy Marsh
It is with great pride that we announce that our Older Drivers Forum chair, Sgt Rob Heard, has after years of dedication to keeping the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safe on our roads has been awarded the ACPO and Police Federation Outstanding Contribution to Roads Policing Award 2014.
Rob, who has worked within the Roads Policing Unit for 22 years and is currently the force lead on road safety, was presented with the award on Thursday night (January 15) in recognition of his work creating and establishing the Older Drivers Forum.
Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “I am very proud of the work Rob has done in helping to keep older drivers stay on the road, safely”.
“At some stage, we ourselves will be older drivers, and most of us know older drivers now. This forum and its website are a fantastic resource to help inform and reassure. This award is very well deserved recognition.”
The Older Drivers Forum was set up in 2013 with the aim of keeping older drivers safely on the roads for longer, and helping relatives and carers deal with the issues that can be associated with older drivers.
The forum was Rob’s idea, and he has worked tirelessly to liaise with partner agencies including local authorities, health, Age Concern and Age UK, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Forum of Mobility Centres and Institute of Advance Motorists to co-ordinate its many activities and support services.
“It is basically about raising awareness of the services available to drivers aged 60 plus to help keep them driving safely for longer, and to encourage people to have regular eye-sight tests and, especially, take voluntary assessments to help build confidence and understand whether they remain fit to drive”.
“The forum can also provide assessments to check, following a collision, whether a person is safe or not to continue and, where appropriate, signpost refresher training. There are currently just over four million people aged 70 and above driving on the UK’s roads, the oldest person to hold a driving licence is a man aged 106″.
“Research predicts that, with people living longer, these numbers will double if not treble in the next 20 years”.
“I feel greatly honoured to have received this award. It feels a bit like winning an Oscar in the roads policing world. I would like to dedicate this award to Neil Colquhoun and his mother Patricia, who were the inspiration behind the creation of the forum”.
“Neil tragically died in a collision in 2011 when an 89-year-old man drove the wrong way for over a mile along the A30 at Old Basing. His car collided head-on with Neil’s. Neil died at the scene and our investigation found that the 89-year-old man was blind in one eye and below the legal eyesight limit in the other. However, he felt he was genuinely fit to drive. From that, we came up with the idea of the forum, and we hope by doing so we can prevent another tragedy like this. We are not about taking people off the road – we are about trying to help people keep their independence and carry on driving safely, for longer.”
In the 18 months since it was established, the forum’s website has had in excess of 20,000 hits and is used as a resource nationally. It has also run two weeks of awareness events across both counties which have been attended by more than 1000 people.
Rob is also now a national lead on older driver issues and is helping the Department for Transport and Road Safety Foundation develop national strategy in this growing area.
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
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
FREE webinar – ‘2025 Top Mature Driver Questions – Answered’
As the year draws to a close and we look forward to a safe start to 2026, join us for this special milestone 50th webinar where we answer the most common mature-driver questions we have been asked in 2025 To find out more and register for the webinar click here
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
Your opinions on this website wanted!
We are planning improvements to our website and would like your views on what you like or don’t like about the current layout and content. If you are interested, please click on this link to take our survey which should take 10 – 15 minutes to complete: https://warwick.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBYxecxizOKhF8q or click here
Chair off Older Drivers Forum awarded MBE
Yesterday our chair, Rob Heard, attended Windsor Castle for the investiture of my MBE, which was awarded by Prince William. To read more click here
Gloucestershire Older Drivers Forum webinars
Gloucestershire 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
Call for compulsory Eyesight testing after Fatal Collisions
Our Chair. Rob Heard MBE, this week attended an inquest in Preston as an expert witness for the death of 4 people who were killed by drivers with defective vision. As a result the Coroner has called for changes to be made. Our chair appeared on BBC Breakfast to
Older Drivers Forum on BBC Morning Live – Retiring from Driving
On 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
We 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?”
On 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
Older Drivers Forum Chair receives MBE
We are pleased to announce that our chair, Rob Heard, was awarded an MBE for Road Safety and particularly for his Older Drivers work in the 2025 New Years Honours List. Click here to read more and what Rob has said about receiving the award.
Click here to listen to a BBC Radio Solent interview with him shortly after the list came out.
Is Your Vision Roadworthy?
Read all about a recent campaign looking at Vision and Driving and the worrying number of motorists driving on Britain’s roads with sub-standard vision. This was covered on the BBC Morning Live on 5th December 2024 and can be also viewed on this article. Click here to read all about this
Rural Road Safety – NFU Mutual
To help guide and advise everyone on how to use rural roads safely, we’ve assisted NFU Mutual along with the four UK farming unions, Farm Safety Foundation – Yellow Wellies, The British Horse Society, RoSPA to create a Code for Countryside Roads for everyone to use. With the number of lives lost on rural roads 70% higher than on urban highways, we hope the Code can help to tackle the tragic and disproportionate loss of life on the UK’s rural roads. Click here to find out more
Media Interest on Mature Driver Assessments
There is a lot in the press at the moment about Older Drivers and Mature Driver Assessments in this post we discuss why and what is happening. Click here to read
Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooter riders are more than two and a half times more likely to be killed in a road crash compared to other road users, data has revealed. Surewise have created a Mobility Scooter Safety Guide which can be found by clicking here
Reported Road Casualties released
The Department for Transport have released the 2023 statistics for Reported road casualties in Great Britain for 2023, comparing them as well from previous years results. To read all about this click here
LBC Radio Interview – Older Drivers 1st January 2024
Listen to our chair speaking to David Lammy on LBC Radio about Older Drivers and particular concerns raised about drivers over 90 years of age. Click here to listen to the interview.
BBC Radio Gloucestershire interview on Winter Driving Tips
Listen to Nigel Lloyd-Jones from the Older Drivers Forum for Gloucestershire talking about Winter Driving with some excellent tips to be safe on the road as we enter into Winter. Click here to find out more
Government launches plan to put drivers back in the driving seat
The Government has announced a new 30-point plan it says will support drivers with easier parking, smoother journeys and fairer traffic enforcement. Click here to read more
Car Insurance premiums rising
Have you recently noticed that your Car Insurance premium has gone up and thought:
‘Why has my Car Insurance premium gone up?’
‘What can you I do to keep my premiums as low as possible?’
Visit our page on Car Insurance to see the answers to those questions – Click here
BBC News – ‘Fitness to Drive’
Today (4th July 2023) the BBC have been covering across it news channels the subject of ‘Fitness to Drive’. To read the article and listen to our chair being interviewed on the subject on BBC Radio Somerset click here
Older Drivers Forum supports Project EDWARD
In May we have been supporting Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death) week of Action. To see more watch the video by clicking on this link
Podcast – ScORSA
Listen to this Podcast involving our Chair Rob Heard talking with Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance. Click here to find the Podcast and scroll down to Older Drivers
BBC Radio 2 Interview with Jeremy Vine
On Friday 24th March the chair and founder of the Older Drivers Forum, Rob Heard, was interviewed by Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 talking about Family and Friends and how to have and start those difficult conversations when we maybe concerned about a loved ones driving. To listen to the interview click here
In March 2022 we ran a webinar all about the new changes to the Highway Code and road safety tips. This webinar starts by giving an update on the findings from the Older Drivers Task Force report published in November 2021. The webinar then goes on to cover the new Highway Code and particularly the new changes, as well as giving you useful road safety tips.
To view the Webinar visit our Highway Code page by clicking 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
IMPORTANT NEWS
Highway Code – Changes
As of the 29th January 2022 the Highway Code has a number of key changes. To find out more about theses changes, Click Here
Older Drivers Task Force Report published
In November 2021, the Older Drivers Task Force via Road Safety Foundation published a review of older driver road safety. To find out more about this click here
National Highways teams up with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
Click here to find out more and listen to our chair talking on a podcast to Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
For an introduction in British Sign Language, please see below.
In the meantime, got a question? Post a comment below or contact us here.
The Older Mobility website has now gone live. Older Mobility brings together research and evidence to help address the needs for an ageing population. In recent years the emphasis in research and among practitioners has often focussed on interventions for drivers as they age. In 2019, the Department for Transport awarded a grant to the leading road safety charity, RoadSafe, to develop a knowledge transfer programme to take forward the work on older drivers by widening its scope to address the risks to older road users, concentrating on the most vulnerable.
Gloucestershire Older Drivers Forum run regular webinars on numerous subjects to find out more 
On 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 
We 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 
On 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 
Read all about a recent campaign looking at Vision and Driving and the worrying number of motorists driving on Britain’s roads with sub-standard vision. This was covered on the BBC Morning Live on 5th December 2024 and can be also viewed on this article. 
There is a lot in the press at the moment about Older Drivers and Mature Driver Assessments in this post we discuss why and what is happening. 
Mobility scooter riders are more than two and a half times more likely to be killed in a road crash compared to other road users, data has revealed. Surewise have created a Mobility Scooter Safety Guide which can be found by 
The Department for Transport have released the 2023 statistics for Reported road casualties in Great Britain for 2023, comparing them as well from previous years results. To read all about this 
Listen to our chair speaking to David Lammy on LBC Radio about Older Drivers and particular concerns raised about drivers over 90 years of age. 
Listen to Nigel Lloyd-Jones from the 
The Government has announced a new 30-point plan it says will support drivers with easier parking, smoother journeys and fairer traffic enforcement. 
Have you recently noticed that your Car Insurance premium has gone up and thought:
Today (4th July 2023) the BBC have been covering across it news channels the subject of ‘Fitness to Drive’. To read the article and listen to our chair being interviewed on the subject on BBC Radio Somerset 
In May we have been supporting Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death) week of Action. To see more watch the video by 
Listen to this Podcast involving our Chair Rob Heard talking with Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance. 
As of the 29th January 2022 the Highway Code has a number of key changes. To find out more about theses changes, 
In November 2021, the Older Drivers Task Force via Road Safety Foundation published a review of older driver road safety. To find out more about this 
Older Drivers Forum 