Older drivers warned over licence changes because current rules 'failing'
Elderly motorists are being warned of licence changes. Road users and drivers driving with medical impairments 'needs to be stopped', it has been urged, following the tragic death of a toddler in Scotland, which has sparked outrage.
The calls come after a high-profile crash in which a 91-year-old killed a three-year-old after pressing the accelerator instead of going in reverse. Craig Delahaye, Associate Director of Legal Operations at National Accident Helpline, spoke to GB News.
He said: "Drivers should not be banished from the roads, solely because of their age – this is not what makes someone unsafe to drive. Certain medications, loss of eyesight, mobility problems or a lack of understanding of current rules of the road are just some examples of what puts fellow road users at risk – and driving with these impairments is what needs to be stopped."
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Sheriff principal Nigel Ross said Edith Duncan, who was 91 at the time, should not have been allowed to drive because she had undiagnosed but significant cognitive impairment from dementia, yet legally held a full driving licence.
In June 2020 she lost control of her Kia Picanto while trying to turn on a busy main road in Morningside, Edinburgh, mounted a pavement and struck three-year-old Xander Irvine and his mother, Victoria.
“The current regime of self-certification of fitness for drivers over 70 years of age is significantly defective,” he said. “It relies on self-certification by the applicant driver. It fails to identify unfitness to drive in applicants who either deliberately or unintentionally fail to give correct information on the relevant application form. It fails to recognise that driving ability may decline with age, or that dementia sufferers may be unaware of their own condition.”
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which oversees licensing in the UK, said it was studying the ruling. “Road safety is our absolute priority and we are carefully considering the sheriff’s recommendations,” a spokesperson said. “All drivers must ensure that they meet the medical standards for driving and notify us of the onset or worsening of a medical condition affecting their ability to drive.”