Retest plans for pensioners criticised

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Government advisers suggest retests
Motoring group criticise plans
Voluntary schemes already exist

Plans to make older people retake their tests have been criticised

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Motoring groups have criticised proposals to make older drivers retake their driving test.

At present, the driving licence has to be renewed every three years once the licence holder passes 70, but there is no medical check or test in place to verify the driver's ability to drive.

A Government advisory group had suggested that all drivers would have to resit their test at 70, regardless of physical ability or medical background.

Plans under fire
The chairman of the Association of British Drivers (ABD), Brian Gregory, said: 'Mass retesting aimed randomly at drivers is not the way to go.

'The great majority of the 3,000,000 older motorists are safe, experienced and able drivers.'

Another ABD spokesman, Nigel Humphries, said: 'The Government is missing the target here - there would be a strong argument for targeted retraining aimed at drivers of any age whose driving shows clear deficiencies.

'These could be drivers who have been involved in crashes or those spotted by trained traffic officers (who could be given the power to recommend training.)'

Advisers' viewpoint
Courses run by the Institute of Advanced Motorists and schemes such as 'Sage' (Safer Driving with Age) already exist, but they are all voluntary.

Rob Gifford, the director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety has said: 'This is a difficult issue because the grey vote is so powerful.

'We need to discourage older drivers from placing themselves and others at increased risk, but also help them to find alternative methods of transport so that they do not become housebound as a result of giving up the car.'