Sir Stirling Moss, the champion motor racing driver has call for there to be a competence test for those above the age of 70, because driving conditions have changed drastically over the last fifty years, with the option of refresher courses at driving schools in Sunderland, so people can brush up on their driving skills.

Moss has said “As an 80-year-old driver, I can clearly relate to the topic of elderly motorists and I support the idea of tests for the older generation, So many things have changed since we first started driving: road layouts have been altered and the density of traffic has risen enormously, especially in the cities. The statistics show that although as a group we are less likely to be involved in an accident, we are more likely to be the cause of an accident, whether we are caught up in it or not – a sign that our reaction times are not what they once used to be. We do not need to give this generation a full driving test again, however, perhaps just a simple competence test every three to five years from the age of 70, to make sure we are still capable.”

This comes after an RAC survey showed more than four in five older drivers would back refresher driving courses for motorists aged over 70, which could be taken at your local driving school in Newcastle, at least 84 per cent of the over-70s in the poll of 1,150 British motorists said that they thought refresher driving courses would be beneficial for older drivers. Many wanted to see courses cover winter weather driving, driving at night and motorway and dual carriageway driving. When asked 25 per cent of the over-70s in the poll admitted that they lacked confidence in driving in wintry conditions.