The RAC Report on Motoring 2010 reveals 84% of older drivers support refresher driving courses

The driving needs of older motorists must be reviewed to meet the demands and concerns of this growing category of road users, according to the 2010 RAC Report on Motoring1.  

With the number of older drivers set to more than double to over six million in the next 20 years, the Report - now in its 22nd year as the voice of the motorist - reveals 84% of drivers aged 70 or over acknowledge the value in a refresher driving course, and 69% of all motorists support compulsory medical checks at age 70 and above.

A review of the requirements for older drivers has received the backing of driving legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE:  “As an 80 year old driver, I can clearly relate to the topic of elderly motorists and I support the idea of tests for the older generation. So many things have changed since we first started driving: road layouts have been altered and the density of traffic has risen enormously, especially in the cities.

“The statistics show that although as a group we are less likely to be involved in an accident, we are more likely to be the cause of an accident, whether we are caught up in it or not – a sign that our reaction times are not what they once used to be3.  We do not need to give this generation a full driving test again, however, perhaps just a simple competence test every 3 to 5 years from the age of 70, to make sure we are still capable.”

There are a number of other key findings in this year's Report which include:

• Motorists are becoming more inward-looking, as they disengage from national and global issues that are beyond their reach and focus on their local area and issues and behaviours they can control.
• Despite increasing fuel costs, greater concern from motorists about the behaviour of other drivers than the cost of motoring; 97% were concerned about drunk or drugged drivers, 96% were concerned about mobile phone usage when driving, 95% were concerned about driving without tax or insurance.
• A big increase in motorists breaking the law when it comes to mobile phone usage in their vehicles, with 28% using their mobile phone without a hands free kit, up from 8% last year, and 31% texting when driving, up from 11% last year.
• The environment slipping even further down motorists' list of priorities, with 35% believing nothing they do will make a difference. Incentivising behaviour is effective, however, following the car scrappage scheme the average age of cars decreased to 5.5 years, a month younger than last year, and 74% say they would buy a more environmentally-friendly new car if the tax incentives were better.
• The impact of the recession being reflected in the cars motorists are driving, with fewer 4x4s, and luxury or sports cars on the road. There is a growing interest in electric vehicles, with more education needed on cost and range before they can become a viable mainstream option.
• Motorists are aggrieved with the state of roads where they live. Some 88% of motorists think their local roads are getting noticeably worse, and 86% of motorists are sceptical that enough of their motoring taxes are reinvested into local roads.

Further details and the full report is available by clicking here.