Is it time to ban ELDERLY DRIVERS?

The number of older motorists causing accidents has risen. Many argue they shouldn't be behind the wheel but others believe that's unfair

-  FRANCES LE ATE

Most of us don't think twice before getting behind the wheel. It's a normal part of our day, a way to get from A to B. But for some, making the decision to drive can mean life or death. As we age, some things we used to do with ease become difficult as our eyesight, coordination and reflex reactions diminish. And with more than twice as many over 70s holding full driving licences now compared to 2003, the number of elderly drivers causing accidents has risen, with more than 7.3% of collisions in the UK in 2024 involving the over 70s - up 6% in a decade.

Understandably, many older drivers are desperate to hold onto their independence, especially with public transport, particularly bus services in rural areas, on the decline. But at what cost? Now, a landmark inquest is examining the deaths of four people on Britain's roads due to drivers aged over 67, with failing vision.

Campaigners hope that the ongoing inquest will result in changes to keep unsafe drivers off our roads. Woman investigates...

‘THESE NEEDLESS DEATHS ARE ALL SO EASILY PREVENTABLE’

Jackie McCord, 64, lives in Buckinghamshire.

My daughter Cassie was full of fun, with an infectious laugh. Once she started, most people would find themselves laughing along too, even if they didn’t know what she’d found so funny. Aged 16, she could be a stroppy madam at times, but she was very bright with a strong sense of right and wrong, and she dreamed of one day becoming a lawyer. Only, one morning in February 2011, an elderly driver made the decision to get behind the wheel of his car and it changed everything.