Summary

If you're an elderly driver or a member of your family is an elderly driver, this article explains the problems you'll discover when trying to find car insurance and some useful advice on what to do.

Car Insurance. It's getting increasingly expensive when you're elderly. Part 2

But there are some simple steps that older drivers, and indeed all drivers, can take to reduce the likelihood of them having an accident and thereby making themselves more insurable. It's often more about those little things and being alert to likely problems. { mortgages } For example, car parks are a breeding ground for small accidents. Knowing that take more care. Before you get back into your car, walk round it to see how much room you've got. Then edge out carefully making sure that other drivers in the car park aren't driving into the area you're moving into. Then, if advancing years has stiffened you neck and all-round visibility is a bit more difficult, take special care at junctions and when reversing. Remember to move you head and swivel your shoulders - that way you'll increase your sweep of vision.

Many of the policies for older motorists contain special provisions designed to assist them. On Saga's policy for example, ex company car drivers can use any no claims { Life assurance } record they'd built up and if a couple are insured and the main driver decides to quit driving, then the spouse can take over the no claims record. Other policies also provide full insurance cover for anyone who takes over driving in an emergency. Cornhill will even payout £250 if the DVLA stops you from driving for health isues associated with age.

In moves to diminish the numbers of accidents involving the elderly, the UK Government is investigating the issue of deteriorating health amongst elderly drivers. It seems to be considering the idea of obligatory health checks for elderly motorists. { life insurance } At the same time some local councils are introducing initiatives of their own. Torbay council has launched a scheme to encourage families and GP's to take more responsibility for encouraging elderly drivers who are not really fit drive, to give up. A road safety spokesperson for Torbay council said, "The problem is that the elderly can't always see themselves when it's really time to give up driving so those closest to them must take responsibility for that."

In the meantime, a survey carried out by the Institute of Advanced Motorists confirms that older motorists are aware that they represent { mortgages } an increased accident risk. Seven out of ten older drivers surveyed said they would like to take a refresher course for motorway driving skills and six out of ten wanted to improve their performance at junctions and on unlit roads. In response to these issues, the Institute has extended its advanced tests to older non-members to encourage them to improve and build up confidence. The tests also help spot any serious problems that should encourage the driver pack up driving.