Older drivers get road safety training in Somerset

Date: 14/2/2011

Older drivers in Somerset have been learning about road safety on a new course.

According to the BBC, the number of fatalities involving people over the age of 60 has increased, leading Somerset Road Safety Partnership to organise the course, which is free to attend for anyone in this age bracket.

Attendees can take a trip with a qualified instructor, who will identify any areas where they may need improvement.

Former Road Traffic Officer Terry Beale said that as cars and road regulations change, there can be a lot of information for motorists to keep up with and that older drivers may be missing out on some things if they have not undergone further training.

"The causes [of accidents] are not necessarily always the older driver however, where the older driver is at fault, we have identified a number of issues in relation to health and concentration which we need to look at and deal with," he explained.

Mr Beale noted that the aim of the course was to help people to drive safely for longer and not an attempt to take them off the roads.

Elsewhere, Clare Simpson, Communications Executive for RoadSafe, recently suggested that regular health checks may help to keep older drivers safe.

Posted by Sarah Bailey