Breakdown cover company and road safety organisation, GEM Motoring Assist, has fully backed a research study urging the Government to address mobility for Britain’s ageing population.
Showing unwavering support, GEM part-sponsored the major report by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) looking into the importance of mobility for what is currently an ageing population. The report It’s My Choice, issued on Monday, calls on the Government to act now regarding the issues of mobility and independence and crucially, road safety.
Via the report, PACTS reveals key statistics illustrating exactly why the elderly cannot be ignored. The report shows that the number of 70+ licence holders has risen from 15% in 1975 to nearly 60% in 2010 and 80% of current 60-69 year old motorists will continue to drive for the next 20 years.
Calling for a national strategy, the report’s recommendations include, offering motoring courses designed for older road users,and improving procedures within the medical profession to assess both physical and mental fitness for driving.
David Williams MBE, CEO of GEM Motoring Assist, comments: “With such strong facts pointing towards the all-important issue of our ageing population, it is more crucial than ever to ensure road safety is a priority. This report is not, by any means, condemning older drivers; it is about helping older people make better, safer and well-informed choices. Statistics still show that older drivers cause fewer accidents than younger drivers, so it is not about taking licenses away at a certain age, it is about giving older drivers the tools to make the right decision.
“Good eyesight is one of the most integral parts of being a capable driver, and we believe that by having a mandatory eyesight test when you renew your license every 10 years, this will help us discover more effectively who has the ability to drive and who does not,” David concludes.
For more information on road safety and to view GEM’s great value breakdown cover policies visit the brand new website, motoringassist.com.
