MARY,FROM BAKEOFFTO BRAKEOFF!
THE queen of cakes, Mary Berry, isn’t hanging around after accelerating away from her top-rated TV show.
The 81-year-old Great British Bake Off judge caused shockwaves this week when she announced she was saying farewell to ‘soggy bottoms’, quitting out of loyalty to the BBC after the show’s production company announced it was transferring to Channel 4 for a reported £25 million.
But many may not realise that she has other hidden talents — behind the wheel. Already an advanced motorist of many decades standing, she has just undertaken a special Mature Driver Assessment organised by IAM Roadsmart, formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists. The assessment is purely advisory and doesn’t deliver a pass or fail. The hour-long course with an assessor costs £49 and aims to brush up the skills of older drivers by boosting confidence, ironing out bad habits, and keeping them safely on the road.
Areas covered include: starting off procedures; clutch, gears, brakes and accelerator; steering; positioning; hesitancy; legality; observation and planning; hazard perception; signalling and use of mirrors; dealing with traffic and other road users; manoeuvring; stopping; concentration, consideration and courtesy.
Some 4.5 million over-70s are still driving on British roads, including 236 aged 100 or more.
Drivers who reach 70 must selfcertify regularly that they are still fit to drive. Ministers are considering plans by the Older Driver Task Force to raise that to 75, but demand an eyesight test.