Media centre

• 89% of the 65+ population believe that the Government should introduce targeted retraining aimed at bad drivers of any age
• Age Concern believes that proposals to retest all older drivers regardless of their ability is discriminatory
• Independent research (2) shows that motorists over the age of 70 are significantly safer than those under 30
• Age Concern offers older drivers car insurance to suit their needs‚ with no upper age limits

New research from Age Concern today reveals that the vast majority (89%) of UK adults over the age of 65 think that it should be compulsory for any one who has a questionable driving record to have to retake their license test‚ regardless of their age. 

Age Concern opposes automatic resits for all older drivers as discriminatory‚ but would not oppose a system of retests for all those with questionable driving records regardless of age.

Of those surveyed‚ over half (51%) drive a car‚ showing just how reliant older people are on independent transport. Over one in six‚ however‚ feel discriminated against whilst on the road and the suggested retraining of older drivers could make them feel even more so.

Currently‚ over 5.4 million people in the UK aged over 65 hold a full UK driving licence. In September 2007‚ the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) proposed that special driving tests should be introduced for the over-70s (3) to ensure they are still safe behind the wheel (4).

According to new figures from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) (2)‚ drivers over the age of 70 are significantly safer than those under 30 - and of no greater risk to other road users. These findings suggest that the special driving tests shouldn’t be specific for older people and that drivers of any age should be retested if they are of debatable competency on the road.

Antony Osborne from Age Concern Insurance Services says: “Our research shows that older people feel they shouldn’t be singled out and any questionable motorists should be retested‚ no matter what age they are.

“At Age Concern‚ we know that older people need their cars to remain independent‚ even if it is just to pop to the shops once a week‚ and can often find it frustrating obtaining car insurance. We have designed our insurance policies to meet their needs. Unlike many other insurers‚ we operate no upper age limits when quoting for older drivers.”

Profits generated by Age Concern Insurance Services go directly to the Age Concern charity‚ raising additional funds for invaluable support services such as day centres‚ home visits and transportation as well as helping the charity campaign for the well-being and rights of older people.

Age Concern Motor Insurance is now available online. Customers can pay by instalments at no extra cost (5).

To find out more about Age Concern Motor Insurance or to get a quote‚ please call 0845 712 5816 (6)‚ log visit the Motor Insurance website or visit your local Age Concern (7). 

- Ends -

For further information please contact Elly Kestenbaum or Jess Baker at Trimedia on 020 7025 7500 or email elly.kestenbaum@trimediauk.com or jess.baker@trimediauk.com

Notes to editors::

1. Research carried out by Age Concern Research Services (ACRS) between 5th and 11th March 2008. Sample size: 1‚025 (unweighted). Sample demographic: general public aged 65 and over (via face to face Omnibus survey that ran over two weeks).

2. According to research by Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)‚ IAM Motoring Facts 2008.

3. Currently‚ a person’s driving licence entitlement will expire when they reach the age of 70 and the entitlement will need to be renewed by the DVLA if they want to continue to drive.

4. According to an article published by the Daily Mail‚ 03.09.2007.

5. Written quotations available on request.

6. If you call the 0845 number for car insurance you will be dealing with Fortis Insurance Ltd which provides and manages Age Concern Motor Insurance and is not a member of the Age Concern Group of companies.

7. Not all Age Concerns offer all Age Concern products. Please check by telephoning your local office‚ before arranging a visit. Trading Age Concerns are Appointed Representatives of Age Concern Enterprises Limited (ACEnt) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for insurance mediation (311438). ACEnt is registered in England and Wales No. 3156159. Registered Office: Astral House‚ 1268 London Road‚ SW16 4ER. Age Concern Insurance Services is a trading name of ACEnt‚ which is a trading company of Age Concern England and gives any profits to that registered charity.

About Age Concern Car Insurance:

Age Concern Car Insurance is provided by Fortis. Fortis (Insurance UK) is a leading provider of award-winning personal and commercial lines insurance solutions in the UK and was named 2007 General Insurer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards. Its customer-centred strategy has been to align its activities to how customers want to buy insurance‚ based on delivering high-quality products‚ manufactured at costs better than market norms.
 
Its unique multi-distribution capability enables Fortis to deliver products face-to-face‚ by phone (inbound and outbound)‚ over the Internet and via SMS technology. Aligning its business activities with its partners' general insurance strategies enables Fortis to offer end-to-end white label and branded capabilities in product development‚ marketing‚ campaign management‚ sales‚ fulfilment and award-winning claims management‚ providing a seamless integration with partner brands. 
 
Insuring in excess of 6.7 million customers and working with a range of partners‚ Fortis is recognised for delivering consistent and high-quality customer experiences. It employs 2‚901 people as of 31/12/07 with a head office based in Eastleigh and Belfast‚ Bournemouth‚ Gloucester‚ Haywards Heath‚ Redditch and Stoke-on-Trent. In 2007‚ its profit before tax and interest (excluding impact of weather related events) was £92.2 million and its GWP was 757.8 million. More information is available on www.fortisinsurance.co.uk.

Age Concern Insurance Services (ACIS):

Age Concern Insurance Services (ACIS) was created in 1983 to offer better value insurance for older people. General insurance was an area in which over-50s had been ill served for a long time. Starting as a local service‚ it has grown to be one of the UK’s leading brands regarding general insurance for older people.

Today ACIS plays a dual role. It endeavours to offer some of the best value policies available while ensuring that these products are designed to meet the specific needs of older customers. All profits generated by Age Concern from selling products and services go directly to support Age Concern’s charitable activities.

ACIS’ product has developed through demand to include home‚ contents‚ travel‚ motor‚ and motor breakdown insurance.

Policies can be bought either direct by phone‚ or through any of the 160 participating local Age Concern groups and organisations. In an age which is becoming more technology-driven‚ Age Concern is invaluable in offering older people a personal service at a local level with which many feel most comfortable.

Age Concern and why it trades:

At a local level‚ Age Concern offers a range of services for older people‚ such as day centres‚ luncheon clubs‚ and advice and information services.

At a national level‚ Age Concern campaigns with and for older people: developing policy; influencing Government; training care professionals; supporting local Age Concern bodies‚ financially and professionally.

To fund this work‚ Age Concern needs a constant flow of independent income. It seeks to achieve this through a balance of traditional fund-raising and trading activities.

Age Concern’s trading activities enable it to meet the needs of older people‚ through products specifically designed to meet these needs; quality products such as General Insurance and Energy Services.

Age Concern Enterprises Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for general insurance (311438) Age Concern Enterprises Ltd is registered in England and Wales No. 3156159. Registered Office: Astral House‚ 1268 London Road‚ SW16 4ER Age Concern Enterprises Ltd is a trading company of Age Concern England and gives any profits to that registered charity.

For more information about our products please contact us

Journalists contact:

PR Team
Telephone:
020 8765 7866
Email:
PR Team