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With older drivers on the roads more than ever before, we conducted a survey to examine their current perceptions and attitudes towards them.
Using a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults, 77% of drivers over the age of 70 undergo regular and mandatory “driving fitness” tests to maintain their licences. I know you think you need it.
And more than half (51%) of those surveyed believe all drivers should relinquish their licenses when they reach old age, regardless of their health or fitness.
About 75% of UK adults over 70 hold a full driving licence, up from 59% in 2012 and just 45% in 2002, according to government statistics.
And according to data from the Association of British Insurers, claims frequency and cost start to increase when drivers reach their 70s. He’s the only 18-20 year old with a higher average bill over 80.
So what are the other key findings from our research?
Who do you think they are the safest?
Older drivers over the age of 70 think they are the safest on the road, but younger drivers may disagree.
When asked, “Which age group do you think is the least safe on the road?” more than a fifth (22%) of respondents chose drivers aged 70 and over.
In general perception, they were the second most dangerous group after motorists under the age of 25, and more than a third (37%) said they were the least safe.
By comparison, only 8% of respondents over 70 named their age group as the least safe group, with 55% instead pointing to being under 25.
Respondents under the age of 25 were more likely to perceive their own relative inexperience, with 15% of respondents saying their age group was the least safe on the streets, compared to 19%. thought they were over 70, and 22% thought they were between 56 and 70. The old one was the least secure.
Are older drivers dangerous?
Respondents were also asked more broadly whether they thought people over 70 were dangerous on the streets, with 36% saying yes and 37% saying no. The remaining 27% said they didn’t know or didn’t want to.
However, 44% of those under 25 surveyed said they considered people over 70 to be dangerous, compared with 51% of respondents aged 25-34 and 50% of respondents aged 35-44. % was.
Again, only 8% of those over 70 surveyed said they thought their age group presented a driving threat.
Should elderly drivers be forced to surrender their licenses?
When asked whether drivers should be allowed to relinquish their licenses at a certain age, regardless of health or fitness, 51% of those surveyed said yes, with most (12%) in their early 80s. I answered yes.
Fifty-five percent of respondents over the age of 70 said such legislation should not be introduced, but more than a third (34%) said it was a good idea.
Are older drivers required to take a mandatory “driving aptitude” test?
Another scenario was also suggested, asking whether drivers over 70 must undergo mandatory health and fitness checks to maintain their licence. Overwhelmingly, this was an idea that gained support. Overall, 77% of them said they agree to some extent, and even 62% of those over 70 said they were in favor of taking the test.
Drivers over the age of 70 are currently required to renew their licenses every three years, but do not face the mandatory health and fitness tests to do so.
Are you tolerant of older drivers?
The study also revealed where the most forgiving drivers are when encountering older drivers.
A third of West Midlands people say they are more tolerant of older drivers who cause accidents than other road users. This is the highest result in the UK. In Scotland, just 12% said they would be more tolerant, the lowest in the UK.
Most respondents (63%) said they would treat older drivers like anyone else, but 5% said they would treat older drivers more than younger ones if they were involved in an accident. I replied that it would be harder.