The Institute of Advanced Motoring says that there were 550 serious accidents with drivers over the age of 70 who were killed or seriously hurt. This number is 8 percent of the total of 7,035 accidents like this in the whole country. This means that people over the age of 70 have more very serious accidents per mile than anyone else. The Association of British Insurers agrees with this point of view. Their research shows that drivers over 70 are more likely to...
The Institute of Advanced Motoring says that there were 550 serious accidents with drivers over the age of 70 who were killed or seriously hurt. This number is 8 percent of the total of 7,035 accidents like this in the whole country. This means that people over the age of 70 have more very serious accidents per mile than anyone else. The Association of British Insurers agrees with this point of view. Their research shows that drivers over 70 are 13% more likely to make a claim on their insurance than drivers between the ages of 40 and 50.
In the next ten years, the number of older drivers will double. This is a problem for older drivers and their families, as well as for the insurance industry, the police, and all emergency services.
You can probably guess what the insurance industry will do. Many insurance companies already think that drivers over 80 are as much of a risk as drivers under 25 and charge premiums to match. Some even raise the premiums gradually once the driver turns 60. Then, when you turn 70, you'll find that many insurance companies just won't cover you anymore. Norwich Union and Esure won't give quotes to drivers over 70, and by the time a driver is 80, only specialised insurers will cover them. Help the Aged and Age Concern are both market policies for older people that have no upper age limit. Cornhill doesn't take on new customers over the age of 84, but if you've been a customer for a while, there's no upper age limit. RIAS and Saga are also happy to take drivers who are older.
Since the price of car insurance is based on how many claims have been made in the past, a 75-year-old man can expect to pay at least 33 percent more than a 50-year-old man. When a driver turns 80, his or her insurance rates are like those of a boy racer. So, if you're in your early 50s, enjoy the lowest premiums you'll ever have while you can, because they won't last forever.
And things are even worse for the fairer sex. Young women are known for being safe drivers, but as they get older, they have more accidents. While men get better as they get older. (We've heard that somewhere before!) Because of this, car insurance rates are the most expensive for older women drivers who are women.
As people age, their eyesight and reaction times get worse. This is a fact of biology. And because traffic is getting worse and road networks are getting more complicated, it's easier for older drivers to get lost and confused. Even a tiny bit of extra time can make the difference between a crash and a close call. In response, more insurers are making older drivers get a medical exam before they will cover them. The best advice is to not make any claims and buy No Claims Protection as soon as possible. This protection cost a bit more, but it's well worth it. Then make sure to pay for any small bumps yourself.
But older drivers, and drivers of any age, can take some simple steps to make it less likely that they will get into an accident, which makes them more insurable. Often, it's the little things and being aware of likely problems that matter the most. For instance, car parks are a great place for small accidents to happen. Now that you know, be more careful. Walk around your car to see how much room you have before you get back in. Then slowly move out of the parking spot, making sure that no one else in the parking lot is moving into the area you're moving into. Then, if getting older has made your neck stiffer and it's harder to see all around, be extra careful at intersections and when backing up. Don't forget to move your head and shoulders. That way, you'll be able to see more.
Many policies for older drivers have special parts that are meant to help them. On Saga's policy, for example, people who used to drive for a company car can use their no-claims record, and if a couple is insured and the main driver decides to stop driving, the other person can take over the no-claims record. Other insurance policies also cover fully anyone who takes over driving in an emergency. Cornhill will even give you GBP250 if the DVLA tells you you can't drive because of your age and health.
In order to cut down on the number of accidents involving older people, the UK Government is looking into the problem of older drivers' health getting worse. It seems to be thinking about making health checks for drivers over 65 a must. At the same time, some local governments are starting their own projects. Torbay council has started a programme to get families and doctors to do more to get older drivers who aren't really fit to drive to stop. A Torbay council official in charge of road safety said, "The problem is that older people can't always tell when it's time to stop driving, so those closest to them need to take responsibility for that."
In the meantime, a survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists shows that older drivers know they have a higher chance of getting into an accident. Seven out of ten older drivers polled said they'd like to take a refresher course on how to drive on the highway, and six out of ten said they'd like to get better at driving at intersections and on roads that aren't well lit. In response to these problems, the Institute has made its advanced tests available to older people who are not members. This is to help them get better and gain confidence. The tests also help find any serious problems that should make the driver stop driving.
