Join the AA

Older drivers

Like wine, drivers may not necessarily improve with age. As we get older, having access to safe, convenient and reliable transport remains just as important to our personal independence.

Advertisement

Drivers in the latter part of life can find tackling busy roads difficult

Driving ability may differ between older motorists of the same age, and as we get older judgement and reaction times can deteriorate.

The accumulated effects of injuries over the years - particularly stiffness and loss of flexibility in the neck and shoulders - can limit manoeuvring ability and peripheral vision. That means older drivers can face a greater risk of being in a crash.

Did you know?

Over the next few decades, older drivers will become a larger proportion of the driving population.

If a mistake is made and a mature driver has a crash, they're likely to suffer greater injury and take longer to recover because their bodies tend to be more fragile than a younger person. In identical crashes involving someone in their 20s and someone in their 50s, the seatbelt might crack a rib in the 20-year-old and cause some discomfort, while the 55-year-old could fracture four or five ribs and have internal bleeding.

Renewing your driver's licence from age 75

From age 75 you'll be legally classed as an older driver, which means that at age 75, 80 and every two years after, you'll need to get a medical certificate to renew your driver's licence. The certificate is filled out by your GP and confirms you're medically fit to drive.

Read more about renewing your licence as an older driver

AA speaking up for motorists

The AA would like to see more done to protect the safety of older drivers, especially as older drivers are becoming a larger proportion of the driving population.

Importance of reviewing and renewing our driving skills

We need to consider the impact of age on our driving skills and understand that, as we mature, our ability to withstand a moderate or severe crash deteriorates.

No matter what age we are, it's important to review and renew our driving skills from time to time by taking advantage of refresher courses. The courses can also help us assess our physical capabilities and consider whether alternative means of transport might better meet our safety needs.