Two projects aimed at improving safety for older road users have launched in the UK.
The funding has come from the Road Safety Trust’s Small Grants Programme which funds local projects with a practical focus that ‘show a proposed link to reducing casualties’.
The first project ‘Road Safety GB’ will increase the roll out of an evaluated and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recognised training course aimed at Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs).
The course aims to help develop an ADI’s understanding of various factors including common collisions experienced by older drivers, how the ageing process may impact on eyesight, hazard perceptions skills and strength and flexibility and also how to prepare for driving retirement.
The project aims to expand the reach of this practical road safety intervention to a further 300 ADIs by running and evaluating an anticipated 20 courses across the project time span.
The second project ‘Driving Change Together’ will work closely with older people in Leeds to understand ‘what works’ to encourage older drivers to assess their driving ability as they age and consider safer alternatives whilst maintaining a social maintaining a social and independent life.
“The Road Safety Trust believes in the importance of supporting older road users to assess their driving skills in order to be safe on the roads,” said Ruth Purdie OBE, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust.
“Both of these projects fit that description and have the potential to deliver casualty reduction involving older road users.”
In total, six projects have been awarded funding through the 2023 funding round, which ran earlier this year.
The Road Safety Trust has awarded each successful project between £10k and £50k, running for a period of up to two years.
