Kingsbridge

A road safety scheme to help older drivers while behind the wheel is being launched on May 25.

The scheme, titled Driving Safer for Longer, is a joint road safety initiative by Devon County Council and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary offering advice, training and support to all motorists and particularly older drivers.

It includes workshops to discuss health and driving, practical skills to allow motorists to review their ability and a doctor referred assessment on coping with medical conditions.

This week's ITV1 programme, Driving Me Crazy, highlighted Devon County Council's initiative as a positive approach to what is a sensitive issue.

This latest scheme is an example of the innovation that secured the Council Beacon Status from the Government in 2006 for its achievements in road safety.

Peter Gimber, Devon County Council road safety manager, said: "This new scheme is giving people the help they need to extend their driving for longer. It's protecting their safety as much as possible but also ensuring others aren't put at risk.

Peter Gimber, Devon County Council: "This new scheme is giving people the help they need to extend their driving for longer."

"Knowing when to stop driving is a difficult time in anyone's life, but this scheme offers advice and support for them.

"Older drivers may sometimes seem over-cautious, and more impatient drivers behind them may put them under pressure not appreciating those in front are actually following the signs and speed limits."

Drivers over the age of 70 have to re-apply for a driving licence and the information pack launched with the scheme includes details to help motorists ensure they are fit to be behind the wheel.

There is also advice on when it is the right time for people to give up driving and details of all the travel options that exist in Devon for when that moment comes.

The population of Devon is getting older. By 2013, 23 per cent of the population will be over 65 compared with 20 per cent in 2003, and this trend is set to continue.

Nationally, those figures are reflected in the profile of driving licence holders. In 1993, 44 per cent of males aged between 80 and 89 held a driving licence, and this is expected to increase to 65 per cent by 2013.

The number of female licence holders of the same age is forecast to increase from 11 per cent to 35 per cent during that time.

Last year in Devon, 10 per cent of fatal road traffic collisions involved a driver aged over 65, compared with the figure of 51 per cent for drivers aged 31 to 64.

However, mile for mile it gives cause for concern. Statistically, an elderly person's risk of being killed or suffering a serious injury as a result of a road traffic collision is between two and five times greater because of increases in physical frailty.