Experts reject age link to poorer driving

The notion that more elderly motorists are killed in crashes than younger ones because they are poorer drivers is largely a misconception, experts have said.

Although high numbers of senior citizens die in road accidents, this is because they are less likely to survive serious injury than younger people, rather than because they crash more frequently, the Canadian Medical Association Journal said.

Older people also tend to drive more in built-up areas with many junctions where the crash rate is higher.

Dr Ezra Hauer, of the University of Toronto, said: “Unlike younger drivers, older drivers are a danger mainly to themselves.”