Following on from the success of its 100 Year Old Driving School STV series, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is bringing a new event to Edinburgh aimed at keeping drivers over the age of 65 on the road safely for longer.
As the popular TV show highlighted, medical conditions experienced as we age can have an effect on our driving, and in Scotland, while there has been a decline in road casualties for most road user groups, casualties among those aged over-65 have remained constant.
Between 2012 and 2016, there were on average 41 over-60s killed in collisions, and 307 seriously injured, while 1,372 suffered slight injuries over the same period.
To tackle this, RoSPA has launched Destination Drive, which comes to Dundee Dobbies from 11am-3pm on Tuesday August 7. Unique to Scotland, the initiative will encourage older drivers to review their driving, and consider options for future needs and advice on the best ways to stay mobile, in a friendly, relaxed and familiar environment.
Further Destination Drive events are taking place in Edinburgh on August 27 at the Gyle Centre, and on September 25 at Edinburgh Dobbies.
In partnership with Dobbies, Police Scotland, Age Scotland and local authorities, RoSPA will deliver a series of drop-in sessions at garden centres across the country, aimed at improving the confidence and safety of everyone using our roads in the future.
Free assessment drives will be available on the day for those keen to evaluate their current skills, and experts will be on hand to offer advice and guidance. You can even see how you would fair with the theory and hazard perception sections of the current driving test.
Sandy Allan, RoSPA’s road safety manager in Scotland, said: “Often we don’t notice any difference in our driving from year to year, and medical conditions can mean that as we get older our driving can be affected, so seeking reassurance and advice is well worthwhile.
“Much has changed since a lot of us sat our driving test, and it’s often good to know where you stand now. Destination Drive will help with this, and also provide pathways for any coaching necessary or highlight alternatives to remain active.”
Inspector Richard Latto of the Lothians and Scottish Borders Road Policing Unit, said: “Older drivers have a wealth of driving experience, and we fully recognise that for many people, the ability to continue driving safely is very important to them. We welcome all older drivers to pop into Dobbies and speak to my teams and our partners from RoSPA, who will be on hand to give advice and make sure they, and their vehicles, are roadworthy.”
For more advice and information, see www.olderdrivers.org.uk, which also provides plenty of advice and information on keeping safe as we get older.
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