Car insurance news
Car insurance association warns that elderly motorists
need driving assessment
The Association of British Insurers warns that elderly drivers need to have their driving abilities assessed to help prevent car accidents. This warning comes out of the finding that drivers aged over 70 are three times more likely to sustain serious or fatal injuries after being involved in a car accident than drivers aged 40-65.
The Association studied both UK car insurance claims and police crash reports to determine the frequency and type of accidents in which the elderly were typically involved. They found that elderly drivers were involved in more crashes per mile than middle-aged drivers and they had an increased chance of being in a collision at a junction.
This type of accident is thought to be more common among the elderly because ability to judge distance can be compromised by reaction speed and poor eyesight, characteristics that can often affect older drivers.
The DVLA discovered that only 10% of elderly motorists with a medical condition had declared their illness on their self-certification form that declares whether they are fit to drive or not. This suggests that the current system does not have the necessary control over the licences held by elderly motorists.
The Association calls for elderly drivers who are unfit to drive to be identified and taken off the road. Not only do they pose a danger to themselves and other road users, but they also prevent safe elderly drivers from getting a cheap car insurance premium.
Drivers aged over 70 are often charged up to £100 more for their motor insurance policy, even if they buy UK online car insurance, which is generally cheaper than over the phone. The head of motor insurance for the Association of British Insurers commented that insurers would lower the cost of car insurance for older drivers if there were not so many unfit elderly motorists behind the wheel.
Rebecca Pearson from Duck2water Car Insurance Services, who specialise in online car insurance for UK drivers, comments, "The growing number of elderly drivers on the roads will mean that this will become more and more of a problem unless a better system is put in place to identify those who are unfit to drive. We support any move that makes our roads a safer place and car insurance cheaper for the elderly."