Why Age Shouldn’t Matter When You Get Behind The Wheel

When 97 year old Prince Phillip got into a car crash earlier this year, there was some surprise that the royal was still behind the wheel at such an age. Following the car accident, the Duke of Edinburgh decided to give up his driving licence. But just because you’re getting older, this does not mean that you need to stop driving.

Thelma Bradshaw passed her advanced driving test at the age of 86. The grandmother of four has been driving for 68 years and was only one mark short of a perfect score on her driving test. Thelma received her advanced driving certificate in February and is proof that age does not determine driving ability.

Are Older Drivers More Dangerous?

There aren’t any conclusive stats to prove that older drivers do pose more of a risk than younger drivers. If anything, older drivers appear to be the safer option than younger drivers.  Edmund King who is the president of AA, says: “If driving restrictions based on age and safety were introduced we would be more likely to restrict young drivers rather than older drivers.” He also points out that: “Young, predominantly male, drivers are much more likely to crash within six months of passing their test than older drivers within six months of hanging up their keys.”

Edmund King’s statements are backed up by Swansea University’s 2016 study which found that drivers aged 70 were involved in three to four times fewer accidents than men aged between 17-21.

How Many Older People Are Still Driving?

In November 2018, there were 5.3 million over-70s with full driving licences in Britain, according to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The figures released by the DVLA, also showed that there were 110,790 people aged 90 or over still held driving licences.

The Law

When British drivers reach the age of 70, their licences expire, and they must renew them. Drivers have to renew their driving licences every three years.

How to be a Driving Instructor

If you are looking to help people get behind the wheel and on the road, then a career as a Driving Instructor could be for you. To kick-start your career as a Driving Instructor, find out more about getting a Driving Licence first.

Already have a Driving Licence? Then you are ready to begin the process of becoming an Approved Driving Instructor.

Looking for a Driving Instructor? Find out more information at the Get Licensed Driving School.