Projects to improve safety for older road users

Two projects, which have been awarded funding through The Road Safety Trust’s Small Grants Programme, will focus on improving safety for older road users.

The Small Grants Programme funds local projects with a practical focus that ‘show a proposed link to reducing casualties’.

In total, six projects have been awarded funding through the 2023 funding round, which ran earlier this year.

Each successful project has been awarded between £10k and £50k, running for a period of up to two years.

Road Safety GB will increase the roll out of an evaluated and DVSA recognised training course aimed at Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs), supporting a recommendation suggested by the Older Drivers Task Force.

The Ageing Driver Training Course aims to help develop an ADI’s understanding of:

• Common collisions experienced by older drivers

• How the ageing process may impact on:

• Eyesight

• Hazard perceptions skills

• Strength and flexibility

• The need to promote self-assessment skills

• The role of diabetes

• How to prepare for driving retirement

• Professional boundaries

The funded project aims to expand the reach of this practical road safety intervention to a further 300 ADIs. This will be achieved by running and evaluating an anticipated 20 courses across the project time span.

RSGB will also facilitate access to ADIs for local authorities and national older driver scheme providers by implementing a web-based ‘Learning Hub’ - this will provide contact details of certified ADIs who have attended the training course, split by RSGB region.

The second project to focus on older road users will be delivered by the Leeds Older People's Forum.

‘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 and independent life.

The project team involves a number of partners, including Leeds City Council’s Influencing Travel Behaviour Team, a local driving assessment centre and behavioural marketing experts, who will create and evaluate a behaviour change campaign. 

The co-produced campaign will encourage people aged 60+ to consider their driving capabilities and to try out alternative travel options, such as the Leeds Access Bus, as well as raise awareness of changes to the highway code and pedestrian crossings. 

Ruth Purdie OBE, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “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.

“Both of these projects fit that description, and have the potential to deliver casualty reduction involving older road users.” 

The remaining projects to have received funding through the 2023 Small Grants Programme will be announced in due course.