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Can you be too old to drive?

Image of Paul Lucas
Author: | Updated: 23 Sep 2013 08:40

How old is too old to drive? New statistics from the RAC Foundation, suggest many people in the UK are driving well past their centenary celebrations.

According to its figures, 191 people aged above 100 are still legally allowed to drive on the UK’s roads: with the oldest licence holder currently being a 107-year-old woman. The oldest man with a licence is 106.

Older drivers

Indeed it appears that senior drivers are on the increase: with the number of drivers above the age of 70 now topping the four million mark for the first time.

The statistics were released as research charity Rica published a guide to help older drivers determine if they are still fit to be behind the wheel. According to studies in the USA and Australia, while one in 10 elderly drivers should not be on the road; around one third of senior drivers are giving up on their driving prematurely.

In the UK, drivers are obliged to declare whether or not they are still fit to drive when they turn 70: and then every three years after that. However, there is no need for a medical examination or for a driving test.

According to Stephen Glaister, the director of the RAC Foundation, drivers of all ages should regularly consider their fitness to drive.

“In general, older drivers have an enviable safety record, but it is clear that faced with this critical yes-or-no decision, many motorists simply do not have a realistic view of their capabilities,” he said.

“For those reliant on a car, giving up driving will have a huge impact on their ability to live an active life, so it is important that they get all the help and support to make the right decision at the right time.”

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