The Safer Essex Roads Partnership is supporting mature drivers to continue to drive safely, for longer.
Our ‘Driving with Confidence’ scheme is for anyone concerned about their driving skills to increase your confidence in dealing with today's traffic volumes and speeds. We can address any concerns or anxieties you may have regarding driving and can give you the reassurance that you are still a safe driver.
This free course is developed by experts, to support older drivers that may have become less confident with their driving skills, particularly if they have not driven for a period of time.
Click here to download the Driving with Confidence leaflet [PDF].
For information and booking, please email driverintervention@essex.gov.uk or call 07980 745950
Are you the stage in life, where driving feels a bit more complex and demanding than it used to be?
Many mature motorists bring a wealth of experience, confidence, and tolerance to their driving, all of which contributes to making them safer on the road than other age groups.
However, as you grow older, the ability to interpret the movements and intentions of other drivers and react to situations gradually changes. Sight, hearing and judgement of speed may not be quite as sharp as they were when you were younger.
Here are a few tips to help you stay safe:
- Reduce your stress levels – if you are retired, you could travel outside peak times.
- Travelling makes us tired, this can lead to accidents.
- Pamper yourself by taking frequent breaks during your journey.
- Check with your doctor or chemist about the effects of any medicines, prescribed or purchased.
- Plan your route in advance so that you can cope better with the journey ahead.
- Take extra care at night or in bad weather. Try to avoid these times if possible.
- Get your eyesight checked regularly. For people aged over 60 years, sight tests are available free of charge every two years, and more frequently for those aged
More advice and help
GEM: Still Safe to Drive
A series of videos, presented by Valerie Singleton, created to help mature drivers stay as safe as possible for as long as possible, and to help families have the conversation about when might be the right time to stop driving.
Mobility Scooters
NTU See and Scoot training highlights the hazards which mobility scooter users may encounter whilst out on the roads. It was developed by the Transport Research in Psychology group at Nottingham Trent University as part of a two-year research grant from The Road Safety Trust.
The 20-minute video should be useful for both new and existing users.