Cornwall mum ‘could be alive’ if older driver rules changed

Claire Eady believes that if the rules were different for old drivers, his mother would still be here today.

Last summer, 79 -year -old Geraldine Gibson died after retreating to the upcoming traffic near his house in Cornwall.

Mrs. Eady, who said that the arrangements for drivers over 70 are “insecure and inadequate” and need a revision, “” My mother was killed in a car accident “I never thought I should say the words.” He said.

There is currently no upper age limit to drive in the UK, and about 500 licenses are between 100 and 108.

The government said it was determined to increase road safety.

Ms. Gibson was trying to cross the A30 in Plusha near Launceston to meet a friend when she was on the path of another car.

An investigation heard that the other driver who was subjected to minor injuries had nothing to do to avoid it.

National Highways, the intersection has been changed since other accidents since then, but West Sussex’ten Mrs. Eady, older age mother’s mother’s accident, “absolutely a factor”, he said.

He learned that his mother had already fought to maneuver and that he was at a separate proximity.

Ms. Eady said she believed arthritis and that an earlier stroke may affect her mother’s driving.

“I don’t think my mother thinks she should stop driving because she had a lot due to being in the car.” He said.

Drivers have a legal responsibility to inform the driver and vehicle licensing authority (DVLA) for the conditions (DVLA) that affect their suitability (DVLA), but Ms. Eady said it feels inadequate.

“You can’t really trust the individual to do this … Especially the only way to go out,” he added.

He said he wanted medical experts to legally inform the authorities and carry out compulsory tests for those over 70.

What are the existing rules on old drivers?

• Drivers are 70 years old and then renew their licenses every three years.
• There is no upper age limit to drive in the UK, which has approximately 500 licenses between the ages of 100 and 108.
• Drivers have a legal responsibility Self -thinking medical conditions It may affect driving to DVLA
• Guidance Dvla State health professionals are not a legal requirement that a patient cannot or can do.

According to DVLA, as the British population gets older, the number of former drivers increases approximately 200,000 years of age 70 years and older.

The statistics of the Ministry of Transport show that former drivers make up about 14% of all licensed owners, but one -quarter of those killed on the roads, and that people under the age of 75 and 25 have a risk of being killed or seriously injured in an accident.

Rob said, Heard from the former Drivers Forum, which supports drivers to continue to drive safely for a longer period of time, “the majority of old drivers have experience, trust and tolerance wealth,” he said.

But he added: “As we get older, our relative fragility means that old drivers are generally represented especially for the 80 -year -olds in the collisions of serious injury.”

Mr. Heard said that elderly drivers are more likely to collapse due to errors in illness or trial, and that accidents containing younger drivers are more likely to take speed or risk.

He said that he supports the compulsory directions of medical conditions by health professionals and advised the relevant family members to encourage mature driver evaluations.

The BBC had a special access to a report that says that many people were “unaware of their legal obligations to inform DVLA about certain medical conditions and health professionals.

Research, one Coroner in AprilDVLA showed that less than 10% of the notifications were made by medical experts and other third parties.

The author of the report Carol Hawley, Warwick University Research Assistant, said the system should “change”.

He said that his research suggests insufficient reporting of visual and medical conditions, because there is not much notification compared to the number of driver license holders and the number of people with these conditions “.

GPS Royal College President Professor Kamila Hawthorne said that the college will welcome the college “the necessary violations of doctor-patient privacy in the law and to avoid weakening patient confidence,” he said.

The Association of College of Optometrist and Optometrist, said that they “strongly support” the promotion of regular compulsory visual controls for all drivers, and that the current system is not suitable for the purpose “.

Hilary Nias, in other parts of Cornwall, said that the change is necessary after the fatal accident of his brother -in -law “very strong”.

“This was a tragic end of a really interesting life, dedi he said that the family added again that his driving was insecure.

90 -year -old Jennifer Nias withdrew to the A39 in Devoran and hit a doner junction when he misunderstood the accelerator pedal for braking.

He died of injuries five months later.

Ms. Nias said that her brother -in -law could only see the indicator panel “only” and have problems with spatial awareness.

“This test and evaluation was needed … He could avoid the terrible accident and others of my brother -in -law.” He said.

Jennifer Nias applied for renewing his driver’s license within three years before the accident and no medical conditions were declared.

Cornwall Coroner wrote to the Deputy Deputy Emma Hillon, the Ministry of Transport and DVLA, and stressed the lack of “any requirement for assessment for confirmation for any medical control or driving”.

Ms. Nias said that it was “obviously depressed” with the response that does not propose any changes in the current system.

One Higher ratio of ELDERLy In the south -west of the UK, more than the national average and some of them as a life line.

In Bodmin, 130 elderly people meet a weekly anxiety in the Town Hall in the social group. Some continue to go there.

85 -year -old widow Reg Harris said that giving up driving will “strictly crucify the lifestyle.”

88 -year -old Alvin Trevenna added: “I can’t go anywhere, I can’t do anything … I would sit on the sofa and wait to die.”

Drivers can direct themselves for an older driving assessment. MobiliteY costs at cost, but directing from DVLA, Police or NHS are free.

Philanthropy said that more than 10,000 people over the age of 70 have spent one in 2024 in England – 0.2% of the drivers of that age.

Local Road Safety Partnership Vision Zero South West In addition to the awareness of more people, he wants more strict arrangements.

He said that 176 drivers older than 60 years were killed or seriously injured in Cornwall and Devon in 2024.

President Alison Hernandez: “We want to protect people’s lives because when these people and their families come to their families, they are absolutely destructive.”

Hernandez was asked what can be done to support old drivers who think that public transportation is not good enough in rural areas, and that his office plans to carry out a campaign to train old drivers behind the steering wheel. “

The government told BBC that DVLA analyzed the findings from the latest investigations and told about the call for evidence of the legislative framework that manages the driving license for 2023 people with medical conditions.

He said that DVLA will continue to interact with healthcare professionals and regulatory organs in order to see if there are conditions that DVLA can be encouraged or supported to report a medical condition of a patient.

“NHS suggests that adults be tested every two years, and drivers need to legally inform DVLA if they have a conditions that affect their driving capabilities.

He continued: “We are determined to increase road safety and we continue to explore ways to achieve this.”

Lauren Woodhead, additional reports by the UK data unit