Elderly Scots motorists offered 'safe to drive' tests as cops check cognitive function and eyesight
Drivers over the age of 70 are being offered the chance to check they are still fit to drive in a new scheme run by Police Scotland in a bid to improve road safety for everyone.
Elderly motorists will undergo medical tests including, eyesight and cognitive, as well as take an on-road driving assessment in a bid to confirm they are safe to drive.
The scheme is being launched in Aberdeen and will be run by Police Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Driving Assessment Service and Transport Scotland. Testing will be carried out by doctors and occupational therapists.
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And families and friends of older drivers have been urged to put forward anyone they think could benefit from the testing which will be open to anyone in the AB postcode.
Project lead, Sergeant Sarah Ritchie, said the aim was not to stop older motorists from driving. She said: "This project is not about removing driving licences from older drivers, it is an opportunity for them to ensure that they are still safe to be driving and about providing them with the tools to continue doing so."
But she did ask family and friends who felt a loved one would benefit from the testing to put them forward and said they would offer support.
She added: "It can be a very difficult conversation for any family member or friend to have with their loved ones however officers are here to have that conversation and I would encourage anyone who has concerns over someone’s fitness to drive to contact us confidentially.”
The move comes after toddler Xander Irvine was hit and killed by a pensioner driver who was later found to have dementia and had been 'unfit to drive'. Xander, three, suffered catastrophic injuries when he was struck while with his mum, Victoria Irvine, in Edinburgh on June 30, 2020.
He was hit by a car being driven by Edith Duncan. The 91-year-old suffered from dementia and lost control of her Kia Picanto car in the city's Morningside Road at around 12.25pm on the day in question.
After a Fatal Accident Inquiry at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Principal Nigel Ross ruled that Xander's death could have been avoided as Ms Duncan should not have been driving at the time due to suffering from dementia.
And he recommended that the current system of pensioners declaring they are fit and able to drive be overhauled, including limiting self-certification to people aged under 80 and requiring anyone over 80 to undertake a cognitive assessment before a renewed licence is granted.
For more information or to refer someone to the programme, call 101 or email SeniorDriverEvaluate@scotland.police.uk
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