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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Keeping on the move
— old age - not the end of the road | | Corporate Author | Help the Aged |
| Publisher | Help the Aged, London, 2008 |
| Pages | 21 pp |
| Source | Download from website (21/5/09): http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/AC5DB19... |
| Keywords | Driving capability ; Attitude ; Social surveys. |
| Annotation | In anticipation of a review by the Department of Transport (DTp) of DVLA's criteria for driving licences for older people, Help the Aged conducted a survey of self-selected respondents, and 1,009 older people completed the questionnaire. Issues raised and discussed include: mobility needs; older drivers posing no significant risk; the transition from driving; whether the licensing regime needs changing; and isolation and loneliness. Of survey respondents, 81% reported access to a car they could drive, 9% had given up driving more than 3 months ago, 1% more recently, and 9% had never driven. However, other modes of transport were cited, including 68% walking, 48% car passengers, 64% used a bus, 40% went by train, and 29% travelled by taxi or minicab. Many respondents valued driving for mobility, independence and quality of life, and the majority of these were unwilling to switch to public transport without service improvements. However, some had modified driving behaviour in response to age. As to assessing ability to drive, the survey shows older people believe it should be a matter of capability, not of age. The possibility of the DLVA imposing "tests", what measures should be taken to support older drivers, and public transport as an alternative are discussed. Policy implications are considered. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-090521206 B |
| Classmark | OPF: DP: 3F |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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