Have an older driver in your life, then why not get them or yourself to pop down anytime between 9.30am and 3pm to Haskins Graden Centre in West End on Tuesday 3rd Ocrober 2017 and get advice on Driving Safely for Longer and much more. Its free to attend and lots of great support and advice. You can’t miss it. Find us near the restuarant area
Tag Archives: older drivers awareness week
Awareness event – Milford on Sea
Have an older driver in your life, then why not get them or yourself to pop down anytime between 9.30am and 3pm to Milford on Sea Community centre on Monday 2nd October 2017 and get advice on Driving Safely for Longer and much more. Its free to attend and lots of great support and advice. You can’t miss it.
Older Drivers Awareness week
Monday 2nd October to Friday 6th October 2017
There are currently just over 4.75 million people in the UK aged 70 and over driving on our roads and the expectation is that this will double if not treble in the next 20 years as we all live longer. The oldest person who holds a driving licence is a male aged 109 years. Hampshire is shown as having the highest number of older drivers outside London.
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.
That’s where we come in. The Older Drivers Forum is about keeping mature motorists on the road safely for longer. Whether that’s helping giving you practical and informative help and support to continue driving or pointing you in the right direction for an assessment to identify your driving needs – from wing mirror adapters to an elevated driving seat – we’re here to help.
We’re a not-for-profit organisation made up of experts in road safety from across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight – from representatives from the emergency services, to charities, local authorities and businesses specialising in keeping older people on the road.
If you know an older driver, have contact with them regularly in your job or are perhaps just concerned for a friend or relative who is still driving then the Older Driver Forum may be able to help. Please visit their website www.olderdriversforum.com for more information.
Events
To find out about date and venues in Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Dorset then click here
The events are is free to attend and open, no appointment is required and people can pop in anytime during these hours. The events are aimed at anyone with an interest, from older drivers themselves, to friends and relatives.
Advice will be available on:
- brushing up your skills
- booking a driving assessment
- arranging a regular eyesight test
- getting advice on health and wellbeing issues that could affect driving ability
- renewing your licence at 70
- learning about road safety and consequences of not being fit to drive
- discover alternatives to being independent without a car Safety is the top priority; it should be the most important thing older drivers consider when there is concern over driving ability. The best advice is don’t become complacent and wait for an accident or a near miss to convince a driver to stop, instead seek advice, support and help.
Research suggests that:
- Drivers under 70 are no more likely to be the cause of a crash than other driver. But once over 70, they are more likely to be at fault, particularly where right-of-way violations are involved
- Drivers over 85 are four times more likely to have caused a crash than to have been an innocent victim of one
- Drivers over 65 take 22% longer to identify a hazard and react to it. At 70mph that is two car lengths
- Drivers who do less than 2000 miles a year have an increase risk of collision
- However, age-related decline in mental and physical abilities, coupled with age-related frailty, can make older drivers more likely to be involved in a crash – and more vulnerable to serious injuries
Lets help Older Drivers to carry on Driving Safely for Longer
Let us introduce ourselves…
Featured
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:
Have Your Say! – POLL
This poll invites drivers to share their views on proposed Government changes to eyesight testing and driving licence renewal, including plans being considered by the Department for Transport to introduce compulsory eyesight tests from age 70. As eyesight can change gradually over time — often without obvious symptoms — good vision is essential for safe driving, and your experience and opinion matter. With free NHS eyesight tests already available to many people across the UK, this poll is an opportunity to have your say on how any future changes could affect you and other drivers. All responses are completely anonymous, and taking part is quick and straightforward. Click here to find out more and have your say. Your views can help shape the future of driving policy.
FREE Webinar – Mature Drivers & the New Road Safety Strategy
The webinar will report on the response from road safety organisations and in the media and share information on how to be involved in the consultation process which closes on 31 March 2026. Whether you drive daily or occasionally, this session will help you understand the proposed changes and plan accordingly. Click here for more information
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
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
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
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.
Older Drivers Forum 