Millions of Britons call for ‘new driving assessments’ for elderly motorists amid medical fears

The introduction of standardised mature driver assessments have already been backed by a number of bodies like the Road Safety Trust and Older Driver Task Force.

Around 59 per cent of people said the tests would help drivers check to see if they are still safe and able to stay on the roads.

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A further 47 per cent said they would happily take an assessment once they reach a more advanced age, showing how many want road safety to be improved in the future.

More than a third of motorists highlighted how the schemes could be beneficial to older people, especially with insurance costs.

There are no rules or laws that dictate that motorists have to give up driving based on their age, with some experts calling on the Government to introduce legislation.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said mature driving assessments were a "really interesting idea" to boost road safety.

He highlighted the research which found a lot of support for new measures to be introduced to ensure all motorists are safe on the roads.

Burgess added: "They would be entirely voluntary and have no legal implications for anyone taking them but are designed to help older people make informed decisions about their safety on the road, and ultimately even whether they should keep driving."

However, not everyone was in favour of the proposed scheme. One-third of motorists say that older drivers should not be on the road at all.

When someone reaches the age of 70, they are required to renew their driving licence every three years, rather than every 10 years for younger age groups.

Road safety experts have called on family members and friends to speak with their loved ones about whether they should continue driving if they are not as safe as they once were.

More than one in five said those who most need to take an assessment would avoid it, while nine per cent admitted they would never take the test.

Seven per cent of people said that drivers of any ages should be left to carry on driving, regardless of their condition.

Burgess continued, saying: "As everyone ages, they are likely to suffer from a range of issues that could affect their performance as a motorist ranging from reduced reaction times to poorer eyesight and hearing, and the assessments should show to what extent these represent a risk."

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Police forces and road safety organisations around the UK have introduced voluntary schemes which give recommendations to older motorists about their ability behind the wheel.

They often work with therapists, doctors and opticians to determine whether someone is still safe behind the wheel.