‘MAKE ROADS SAFER FOR OLDER DRIVERS’

British roadways should be modified to make them less dangerous for older drivers, a road safety organisation has suggested.

A Government-backed report by the Older Drivers Task Force, managed by the Road Safety Foundation, has highlighted that the UK does not take the needs of older drivers into account when developing its road design standards.

Itarguesthatbytakingthese considerationsintoaccount,all road users will benefit.

John Plowman, chairman of the Older Drivers Task Force, said: “Our road transport system, our roads and vehicles, have been designed for use by fit, middle-aged motoristsinthemiddleofthespectrum of road users.

“Lookedatthroughanolder driver’sprism,thecurrentroad system doesn’t do them many favours.”

One aspect of British roadways that drew particular attentionwereT-junctionsand intersections.

According to the report, of all car crashes that occurred in the UK between 2012-14, 55-65 per cent took place at or within 20 metres of the junction, a figure that didn’t change much with driver age.

However, for fatal crashes inthesamescenario,thefigure was 30 per cent for all ages up to 65, increasing to 50 per cent for those aged over 75; a significant problem for elderly drivers.

The report points out that the majority of crashes that occur at intersections take place at T-junctions where no traffic control devices are present.

To solve this problem, the report suggests studying the effectiveness of having miniroundaboutsinstalledatbusy T-junctions with little or no change to the kerb lines.

Other suggestions to make UK roads more accommodating for elderly drivers include installing reflective backplates on road signs and traffic signals, larger lettering on directionsigns,andregularcleaning of road signs.