Latest news with #olderdrivers
BBC News
7 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
West Mercia Police run VR sessions to keep older drivers safe
Drivers aged 65 and over have been invited to watch a virtual reality film to learn about how ageing can affect and the fire service have teamed up to run 10 sessions for mature drivers over the next five months across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with dates for Shropshire still to be Stuart Bill of West Mercia Police said: "We've got a lot of rural country roads in West Mercia. We want to ensure our older drivers are as safe as possible."Police said the group discussions might also appeal to family members who had concerns for an older relative. At the first session in Redditch on Tuesday, a 78-year-old man called Gerald said he had begun to find driving more challenging, "avoiding these youngsters whizzing round who are quicker and faster than me".He said he now took longer to react to situations and found motorways more of a challenge. Sandra and Hazel said they signed up to feel more secure and their issues included boy racers, a lack of respect for slower drivers, impatient motorists and people who did not 65, said her concern was whether people's reactions were as good as they thought, while Pádraig, 66, said attitudes changed with age and older drivers tended to look out for things that those aged 17 or 18 did not. Supt Bill said older drivers were not unsafe and often had years of driving experience behind said, though health concerns needed to be considered, the force wanted "to keep people mobile".Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said there were 34 deaths and 259 serious injuries across West Mercia between 2020 and 2024 involving drivers over said the virtual reality sessions used the latest technology to equip drivers with "the knowledge they need to stay safe". Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Driving course refresher set up for over-60s
A new initiative to help older drivers stay on the road and increase their confidence has been introduced. The Gold course by Norfolk County Council is designed for motorists over the age of 60 and lasts about 60 minutes. The local authority's road safety team collaborated with Norfolk Police, the local fire service and ambulance service. Fran Whymark, Conservative cabinet member for public health, said: "It's not about losing people's licence; it's about keeping people on the road and keeping them safe." Drivers signed up to the course take the test in their own vehicle and council road safety officer Andrew Sykes said it enabled the assessor to give an objective view on their driving. "It's really not a driving test by any means - it's just an observed drive with a few hints and tips along the way," said Mr Sykes. Whymark took the course himself and admitted his driving had changed since passing his test 40 years ago. "I'm a bit older so your eyesight deteriorates, your mobility deteriorates... it's about keeping yourself safe and keeping yourself on the road. "Most people just need to tidy up a few items when they are driving." Rebecca Guy, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents charity, pointed out there was other support and training available for veteran drivers. Motorists aged over 70 have to renew their driving licence every three years with the DVLA. Two coroners have recently recommended that the licensing system is tightened up following fatal accidents caused by older drivers. HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley pointed out the UK was one of only three countries to rely upon self-reporting of visual conditions affecting driving. Meanwhile, assistant coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Beth Brown said older drivers with "compromised" ability may cause further deaths. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Call for drivers over 65 to have regular reviews Concerns about older drivers rising, figures suggest Norfolk County Council Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency RoSPA
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Norfolk driving course set up for motorists aged over 60
A new initiative to help older drivers stay on the road and increase their confidence has been Gold course by Norfolk County Council is designed for motorists over the age of 60 and lasts about 60 local authority's road safety team collaborated with Norfolk Police, the local fire service and ambulance Whymark, Conservative cabinet member for public health, said: "It's not about losing people's licence; it's about keeping people on the road and keeping them safe." Drivers signed up to the course take the test in their own vehicle and council road safety officer Andrew Sykes said it enabled the assessor to give an objective view on their driving."It's really not a driving test by any means - it's just an observed drive with a few hints and tips along the way," said Mr Sykes. Whymark took the course himself and admitted his driving had changed since passing his test 40 years ago."I'm a bit older so your eyesight deteriorates, your mobility deteriorates... it's about keeping yourself safe and keeping yourself on the road."Most people just need to tidy up a few items when they are driving."Rebecca Guy, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents charity, pointed out there was other support and training available for veteran aged over 70 have to renew their driving licence every three years with the coroners have recently recommended that the licensing system is tightened up following fatal accidents caused by older Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley pointed out the UK was one of only three countries to rely upon self-reporting of visual conditions affecting assistant coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Beth Brown said older drivers with "compromised" ability may cause further deaths. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Coroner's concern over 'compromised' older drivers
Older drivers with "compromised" ability may cause further deaths, a coroner has Macandrew, 64, died from chest injuries after she was hit by a car "reversing at speed" in the car park of a Waitrose store in Newark, Nottinghamshire, in July car was driven by 89-year-old Noel Maguire who had reported back and leg pains to his GP, and went to an emergency centre in October 2023 with symptoms suspected to be the result of a mini coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Beth Brown has issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report noting Mr Maguire's medical conditions were self-reportable to the DVLA but no such referral had been made. 'Drivers with vulnerabilities' The driver died of dementia and gangrene in both feet eight months after the the inquest last month, Ms Brown sent a report to the secretary of state for transport, warning the number of older drivers was increasing "rapidly".The coroner wrote in the report: "The current system for vehicle licensing relies largely upon the self-awareness of a driver and their willingness and\or ability to self-report medical conditions to the DVLA."I am concerned that older drivers with vulnerabilities, including age, decreasing mobility and cognitive decline pose a risk of future deaths through compromised driving ability thereby creating a risk of deaths in the future."Ms Brown has also sent copies of the report to Ms Macandrew's family, the driver's GP and Nottinghamshire Police's Serious Collision Investigation comes a month after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "open to considering" making older drivers pass eye tests to keep their driving licence.
Times
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times
Rising toll of injuries from drivers whose poor eyesight can be fatal
The number of people injured in car accidents in which poor eyesight was a factor has reached a six-year high, prompting calls for a clampdown. The Department for Transport (DfT) figures show 252 people were hurt in 2023, the highest number since 2017 when 262 were injured. The figures include six people who were killed, up from two in 2017. Of those who died, three were pedestrians. The majority of those hurt were passengers, highlighting how drivers with poor eyesight are a danger to many more people than themselves. DfT research also found that 42 per cent of incidents involving drivers over 70 were due to sight problems. The figures put pressure on ministers to change the rules for older drivers, following calls for motorists
