Calls for elderly drivers to undergo mandatory fitness test

The DVLA has released new stats showing the number of elderly drivers on the road is higher than ever before, leading to renewed calls for mandatory fitness tests to continue driving once you reach a certain age.

Last year, the DVLA recorded more than 40 million in the UK with a licence. The proportion of drivers aged 70 or above has also increased from 45% in 2002 to 73% in 2022.

This shows that driving is the most common mode of transport for elderly people, but there are concerns that the frailty and diminishing reaction times as you age could be dangerous.

John Wilmot, the CEO of LeaseLoco, commented:

"The number of qualified drivers on UK roads has reached record levels, showing that travelling by car continues to be the main and most convenient form of transport, particularly for older people."

Meanwhile, Steve Gooding from The RAC Foundation said: "Active motorists aged over 80 tend to be very aware of their abilities and self-regulate their driving avoiding, for example, driving at night or in the rush hour."

"The challenge is that as we age our bodies become more frail, so older people caught up in collisions tend to suffer worse injuries something car designers should have at the front of their mind."

He explained, "One thing that would allow all drivers not just those at an arbitrary old age to help judge their fitness to drive would be compulsory eye tests when licences are renewed."

As it stands, drivers over 70 must renew their licence every three years, but they aren't required to undergo any further testing.