Car Insurance – Older Drivers Need Reviewing
Pressure on car insurance premiums is unrelenting and one top motoring organisation has recently weighed in with the idea that older motorists need an urgent review.
The costs of car insurance does decrease with age for most people, but this new report from the RAC does raise the worrying spectre of an increasing number of older motorists using the roads.
But far from being antagonistic to such courses, the 2010 RAC Report on Motoring discovered that some 85% of questioned motorists aged 70 or over were in support of refresher driving courses. What’s more, some 70% of all motorists said they were in favour of compulsory medical checks at the age of 70 and over.
The RAC point out that over the next 20 years, the number of older drivers is set to double, to over six million.
And the RAC has won the backing of one venerable driver, Sir Stirling Moss, OBE. When talking about driving at an older age, he said:
“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 be. We do not need to give this generation a full driving test again, however, perhaps just a simple competence test every three to five years from the age of 70, to make sure we are still capable.”
The report went on to show that around 80% of people over 70 have been driving for well over 30 years, whilst some 45% have clocked up 50 years of driving experience. But of those two groupings, virtually all of them (nearly 90%), have no assessment, or other driver training, since passing their original test.
And of the 85% who thought that some form of refresher driver training was a good idea, with the most popular supplements to what’s included in the standard driving test being:
- winter weather driving (53%);
- night driving (45%);
- how to park properly (44%);
- how to drive on motorways and dual-carriageways (43%);
- how to cope with junctions (40%);
- learning about the car itself (33%).
David Bizley of the RAC said:
“The Government must consider the impact on motoring of our ageing population as part of its wider strategy for dealing with the retirement of the baby boomers. Motorists of all ages clearly believe in the value of refresher courses to improve old skills and learn new ones.
“Reviewing this now will save considerable pain in the future and continue the journey towards safer roads for everyone.
“Older motorists have the challenge of personal mobility and independence and RAC would welcome Government initiatives to help them to continue to drive safely. We need to take an evidence-based approach as to what checks should happen and at what age. Older motorists are resistant to any compulsory checks understandably, but they are also much fitter and healthier now than ever before – 70 could well be the new 60 for motorists’ health.”
So this can only be good news for all those people out there worried about car insurance costs.
Guest Article by Neil Camp
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My name is Alan Potts and I'm the Editor of the BUYability web site and Managing Director of BUYability Limited. You can connect with me or keep up to date with new posts on this blog via the following social media sites: 
