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by LotusFlower | December 30, 2008 at 02:18 am
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Drivers are to face 'fit to drive' tests every ten years under new Government proposals.
The tests are primarily to address the fact that people are living and staying healthy for longer and so are driving past their 70th birthday.
There is a belief in Government that older drivers are a hazard to other drivers.
The restrictions could see tens of thousands of elderly people left without their own transport and unless the public transport system is upgraded this will leave many of them isolated in their own homes.
The figures to support the move include the fact that drivers over 70 are more likely to be killed or injured than drivers aged 45-60 however younger drivers, especially the very young, are involved in more accidents and road accidents are the single biggest killer of young people aged 17- 25.
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The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority is to issue a series of guidelines covering eyesight and reaction times. Tens of thousands of elderly people could be prevented from getting behind a wheel under the new restrictions.
Officials believe the current system, under which the onus is on drivers to inform the DVLA of medical conditions, is not working. Projections show there could be three million drivers aged over 70 on Britain's roads by 2021.
Figures show over-seventies are three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in collisions than those aged 40-65, according to the Association of British Insurers. The Department of Transport is hoping to tie in the health checks with the renewal of photocard licences.
The AA said the plans could isolate older people who rely on their vehicles.
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LotusFlower
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 13:43 on December 30th, 2008
haibun is back!
at 14:27 on December 30th, 2008
Well-written story! You bring up a very good point: While this policy will help prevent injuries amongst elderly drivers, it will also deprive them of their own transportation and cause them to rely more on public transportation. We all know how unreliable public transit can be sometimes.