DOING A TON
HUGE RISE IN NUMBER OF ELDERLY ON OUR ROADS Over 500 centenarians now hold driving licences
The number of 100-year-olds holding driving licences has more than trebled in the last 10 years.
For the first time, more than 500 centenarians can get behind the wheel this year, while the number of over-90s has almost doubled from 71,259 in 2012 to 133,369 today.
The oldest driver in the UK with a full licence is a 108-year- old man. Two others, a man and a woman, are 107, according to car leasing comparison website LeaseCo. There are 1.5million drivers over 80, a 47 per cent increase over the last decade, while 5.7million over-70s have licences.
John Wilmot, of LeaseCo, o, said: “Having a car allows older people to fee l socia l l y connected. That’s especially true in more rural areas where public transport is unreliable.” ” The AA said d it encourages people to drive for as long as they can provided there are no health issues which might affect safety.
The AA’s Jack Couzens added: “But there will come a time when driving is no longer an option.
“That causes fami ly friction when mum and dad have to be told it is time to hang up their car keys.” Once drivers reach 70, they must renew their licence every three years by completing a self- assessment form about their health.
A report by the Older Drivers Task Force recommended the renewal age be increased to 75 provided a mandatory eye test was included. The task force’s John Plowman said: “Older motorists should be medicallymedi fit to drive and seek adviceadvic when a limiting condition developsdevel or gets worse. Age should not bbe a barrier to safe driving.” ButBu over-80s are 10 times more likely to be killed than a motorist half their age because they are moremor fragile if there is an accident. TheTh Duke of Edinburgh was 9797wwhen his Land Rover collided withwit another car, leaving one of its passengers with a brokenbro wrist.
a Having car allows older people to still feel socially ed connect