Older drivers have been urged to secure voluntary driving assessments to test their road skills between now and 2027. Several local authorities have developed their own voluntary older driver assessment schemes that put skills to the test. Exams usually cost road users up to £49 but can be secured free in certain regions under the new scheme for the next two years.
After the assessment, motorists will receive feedback on their skills and suggestions for areas of improvement behind the wheel. Meanwhile, road users will make the final decision to stay on the roads or give up their licence if examiners feel an older driver could be a risk.
The study, funded by The Road Safety Trust, is being carried out by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), The Older Driver Task Force, the Older Drivers Forum and the University of Warwick.
The project has been awarded £104,050 to come up with rules for a standardised mature driver assessement with every region currently offering their own version of the exams.
By 2027, experts hope to put together a clearer nationwide framwork for driving assessemnts which can be used in all regions, but road users will then be charged for checks. An evaluation of standardised mature driver assessments will be delivered by ADIs in five areas of the country.
Tests are being investigated in Buckinghamshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Gloucestershire, Leeds, and Warwickshire. The exam will look into the feasibility of delivering standardised assessments in older drivers more widely throughout the country.
Dr Carol Hawley, honorary research fellow at the University of Warwick Medical School, said: “Myself and Ian Edwards of New View Consultants are excited to be conducting this multi-centre evaluation of standardised mature driving assessments on behalf of PACTS with funding from The Road Safety Trust.
“We shall be gathering the views of drivers receiving the driving assessment as well as the views of the driving instructors and administrators delivering the assessments using a range of measures to determine the acceptability, utility and feasibility of this standardised approach and the effects on road safety outcomes.”
A mature driver assessment is a practical motoring test for older drivers to freshen up on their skills while behind the wheel. The check will tend to involve road users travelling on a familiar local route with an assessor who will provide important feedback.
Invigilators will assess everything from vehicle control, decision-making, and even their awareness of other vehicles.
Rob Heard, chair and founder of the Older Drivers Forum, explained: “As we age, we can become complacent about our driving and may pick up bad habits. We have long believed that a driving assessment is a great way for drivers as they age to understand if they are still safe to drive and assist with those losing confidence in their driving.
“We have been concerned that many of the non-medical appraisals or assessments vary in standard, cost and length which can cause confusion. We fully support this project to evaluate a standardised mature driving assessment and look forward to hearing its findings.”