This in from the police, in their own words, Ed
Hampshire Older Drivers Forum Highly Commended in Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards
On Tuesday, December 8 at the International Road Safety awards ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London, the Hampshire Older Drivers Forum was highly commended for its contribution to improving Road Safety, and awarded a Commendation Certificate by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.
Sergeant Rob Heard, Hampshire Constabulary, the founder and chair of the Older Drivers Forum, accepted the certificate on behalf of the Forum from Prince Michael of Kent.
Formed over two years ago
The Older Drivers Forum was created in June 2013, following a fatal head-on collision in 2011, involving an elderly driver travelling the wrong-way on a dual-carriageway, tragically killing a 28-year-old.
Sergeant Rob Heard said:
“I am extremely proud that the great work of the forum has been recognised internationally. We need to embrace and celebrate the older generation, and support those who wish to continue driving – but also give advice when it is time to retire from driving.
“We know older motorists have a wealth of experience, confidence and tolerance. However, sight, hearing, reaction time and judgement of speed and distance may not be as sharp as it once was.
“Fragility increases with age, so injuries tend to be more serious and recovery takes much longer. Casualty rates do increase for car drivers aged over about 65, and the fatality rate increases significantly.
“That’s where we come in: the Older Drivers Forum is about keeping mature motorists on the road safely for longer. Whether that’s giving practical and informative help to continue driving or pointing you in the right direction for an assessment to identify your driving needs – from wing mirror adapters to an elevated driving seat – we’re here to help.
“We’re a not-for-profit organisation made up of experts in road safety from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – from representatives from the emergency services, to charities, local authorities and businesses specialising in keeping older people on the road.
“We have a number of stakeholders that all have a vital role in contributing towards helping the mature person stay safer on the roads.
“Special thanks needs to go to Hampshire County Council, which runs an appraisal for motorists called ‘Driver skills 60+’ – and also special thanks to Wessex DriveAbility, a local Driving Mobility Centre, which carries out ‘Fitness to Drive’ assessments for drivers and passengers who need specialist support for medical conditions.
“The Forum has its own web site www.olderdriversforum.com which has had more than 40,000 visitors. Public awareness of the Forum’s help and support has grown year on year. Every year the Forum runs an Older Drivers Awareness Week where it visits six venues across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This has seen more than 100 older drivers attending on a daily basis.”
Hampshire’s Older Drivers Forum has been recognised nationally with many of its ideas and work rolling out across the country.
Sergeant Rob Heard is now a member of the National Older Drivers Task Force where he is chair of a committee looking at Self Help and support for Older Drivers. The Older Drivers Task Force is due to submit a report to the government by mid-2016 with its recommendations.
