A motoring group has called for older drivers to be banned from using motorways and busy dual carriageways.

The Institute for Advanced Motorists has made the proposal following research which suggests that older drivers are safer than their younger counterparts on local roads but not on motorways or other routes with a high volume of traffic.

It proposes a new licence for the elderly allowing them onto local, quieter roads but not on those with heavy traffic.

According to the Institute’s analysis of road casualty statistics, as drivers’ age they are more prone to making mistakes in certain situations and therefore increase the risk of car accidents.

Neil Greig, the IAM’s director of policy explains: “We are not talking about an arbitrary age limit; this would have to be done on a case-by-case basis and following medical advice.”

A driving licence is currently valid until the age of 70 after which it has to be renewed every three years but the Government is planning an overhaul before the election where it is expected to announce a requirement for all drivers to state that they are fit to drive every 10 years.

The latest projections suggest that the number of drivers aged over 65 will increase from 9.5 million in 2004 to 12.7 million in 2021.

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