Route 60+

If you wish to attend a Route 60+ event, there is no need to book in advance, simply turn up on the day. The final presentation will usually run 90 minutes before the event finishes so if you wish to view the presentation please turn up in plenty of time.

'Route 60+' is a presentation aimed at senior drivers, with the aim to address not only how vehicles have changed over the years but also how our own driving skills and habits may have changed and how we can go about updating those skills.

The presentation lasts approximately 50 minutes and there are opportunities to talk to police officers, firefighters and members of the road safety team. Refreshments are available and the atmosphere is very relaxed.

Those attending can expect to receive:

• A bag including a hi-vis jacket and a copy of the latest highway code
• If you're interested in arranging a 'Route 60+' locally please get in touch with us

For details of upcoming events have a look at our Calendar

The Effects of Ageing on Driving

Whilst drivers of all ages have widely differing abilities and many drivers will continue to drive safely well into old age, the natural effects of the ageing process can be detrminental to the core aspects of driving: sensing, deciding and acting.

Sensing

Around 85% of the information that we process for driving is taken in through our eyes. As we age we lose our ability to identify details or colours, change focus quickly and determine speed or distance. In addition to this we require a greater amount of light to see and it can take a 65 year old driver up to ten times as long to recover from glare as a young person. Medical conditions (eg. glaucoma and cataracts) are more common in older drivers.

Our hearing is also important to our ability to gather information while driving and studies show that 30% of the over 65s suffer some form of hearing loss.

Deciding

Whilst the older driver may process and react to information more slowly than a younger person, their experience on the roads and mature judgement means that the older driver often understands the limitations and will avoid situations that would put them at risk.

However, in fast-changing situations where quick responses are required some older drivers can become flustered.

Acting

When something unexpected does occur the older driver tends to respond more slowly.

With increased age comes reduced flexibility, weaker muscles and a more limited range of motion. These physiological effects can restrict the ability to grip or turn to the wheel or to accelerate or brake. For arthritis sufferers these actions can also be painful.