Poorly maintained road markings are preventing many older drivers from getting behind the wheel at night, according to a group which campaigns for better quality highway lining.

The Road Safety Markings Association is launching a study alongside Newcastle University's Institute for Ageing to determine how night time driving can affect the elderly.

The Association says that clearer white lines would reduce the "self imposed curfew" among older drivers who fear venturing out after dark due to failing eyesight.

"In any ageing population such as the UK’s we cannot expect healthy people to accept a life of social isolation, simply because we have allowed the road network to be inaccessible by those who have lived here the longest," said RSMA director George Lee.

“There is mounting pressure on road authorities to turn off street lights at night, and we know that road markings are not being maintained to compensate. These factors may be keeping older family members needlessly prisoners in their own homes.”

Findings of recent research among 2000 older drivers will be launched at the RSMA conference in November and form the basis of a longer term project on night time vision among older drivers.

The charity Age UK supported the call for better road markings. "Any initiative that makes it easier for older drivers to drive safely at night and gives them confidence to do so is to be welcomed," a spokesman said.

Image: RSMA

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