A new report by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) in the UK suggests that older drivers are as safe as drivers from all other age groups, and perhaps more so. The study shows older drivers have better attitudes to safety, deal with hazards better than young drivers and use experience to increase their safety margins on the road. The report reveals that drivers over 75 react just as quickly as other age groups when a vehicle emerges from a side road or if the car in front brakes suddenly on a rural road. Official statistics show that people over 70 make up 9% of drivers but 6% of driver casualties.
This study found that where older drivers had slower reaction times, they used their experience on the road to compensate and drive at slower speeds on all occasions, as well as keeping bigger distances between vehicles than drivers from other age groups.
But while the study found little difference in driving performance across the ages, it did highlight two areas of concern. Compared with other age groups, the eldest group appeared to stop short of the stop line at junctions and not look as often as others before pulling out. Older drivers also failed to look in their rear view mirror as much as other age groups on the motorway.
This study found that where older drivers had slower reaction times, they used their experience on the road to compensate and drive at slower speeds on all occasions, as well as keeping bigger distances between vehicles than drivers from other age groups.
But while the study found little difference in driving performance across the ages, it did highlight two areas of concern. Compared with other age groups, the eldest group appeared to stop short of the stop line at junctions and not look as often as others before pulling out. Older drivers also failed to look in their rear view mirror as much as other age groups on the motorway.
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