The UK population is getting larger every year, and thanks to modern medicine, older too. This of course means that there are more older drivers on UK roads too – over four million UK driving licence holders are over the age of 70 with 1.2 million in their eighties, 100,000 in their nineties and around 250 centenarians!

But is this an issue for other road users? In short, not at all. Drivers under 20 are more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those over 70. This is mainly due to older drivers making more familiar car journeys as well as planning better such as not driving at night and avoiding dangerous roads. Over 70s are also made to renew their license with the DVLA every 3 years, having to declare any sight or health impairments that may affect their driving.

Overall, driving is very beneficial to older people’s lifestyles as it means they can continue to stay connected to friends and family, work and leisure activities. 44% of 70+ drivers say they would feel like they’d lost part of their identity if they were not able to drive and as loneliness has been found to be as bad for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, it’s clearly a vital part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for many in old age.

The AA have some tips for older people to continue to enjoy their driving life and have produced an animated video about it which you can see below:

Making modifications to your car to assist any visual or physical ailments

If you have difficulty while walking you may qualify for a Blue Badge which gives you access to accessible parking

Having regular medical and driving assessments

Telling the DVLA about any medical conditions that may affect your ability to drive