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Older drivers "significantly safer" than younger ones, says motoring body

30/04/08

Drivers over the age of 70 are much safer than young drivers and are no greater risk than middle-aged drivers, according to the Institute of Advanced Motoring's (IAM) Motoring Facts 2008.

The figures released in the study revealed that male motorists under 30-years-old were the most likely to be involved in an accident, something that could affect car insurance premiums.

According to the statistics, motorists aged over 70 are responsible for just six per cent of the accidents that happen each year.

Four times as many car drivers under 30 years old than drivers over 70 are involved in accidents while female drivers are significantly less likely than men to be in a collision.

Up to the age of 60 the risk of an accident reduced significantly, while the most dangerous age group is between 16 and 19 years old,

The study also highlighted that there are more older male drivers than female but the gap is closing year on year.

In 1975 there were 766,000 drivers over 70 and only 133,000 were women.

However, in 2006 the figure had grown to 3.3 million drivers with women making up a third of that number.

Neil Greig, director of the IAM Trust, told Age Concern: "It is hard to justify the imposition of compulsory medical or driving tests at the age of 70 on road safety grounds."

Older motorists in Bournemouth have applauded the findings of the IAM's study, reports the Bournemouth Echo.

However, driver Vernon Goodman from Bournemouth told the Echo that it was unfair to "entirely blame" youngsters as accidents can happen to anyone.

He added that he had driven "for 50 years without an accident" and said it goes to prove that not all older drivers are "incompetent".

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