A new scheme – RoadFit – has been launched by Cornwall Council’s road safety team as part of a drive to improve safety on the roads. 

The new scheme will allow GPs in Cornwall to refer older patients who may have concerns about their driving ability, to Cornwall Council’s Road Safety team for an assessment drive.

The assessments are conducted by qualified driving instructors in the client’s car and along routes they will know well, after which a written report is given to both doctor and patient so that any further course of action may be agreed.

The instructors and doctors are able to offer advice on continuing to drive safely for as long as is feasible. This advice might include information on possible adaptations to the patient’s vehicle, or exercises to develop driver strength and flexibility.

Road Safety Officer Chris Billing explains “Whilst people over 65 are not markedly more at risk of being involved in a collision, they are generally more vulnerable to its consequences. That is to say that they are not better or worse drivers than any other age group but are more likely to be seriously injured if they are involved in a crash”.