Age is no obstacle to driving confidence

Age is no obstacle to driving confidence

• 8.5 million people over 65 take to the road at least every other day

• Two thirds of over 65s feel very confident in their driving abilities

• Over 65s less likely than other age groups to smoke, eat, drink or use their mobile while driving

New research from Age UK Enterprises has found that 8.5 million (89%) over 65s are taking to the roads every day or every other day. This group is not only taking to the roads on a regular basis, they are doing so with confidence, with almost two thirds (63%) feeling very confident in their own driving abilities.

The over 65s are not just confident road users they also display a range of responsible driving behaviours. Over eight in ten (85%) say they always use their rear-view and wing mirrors in comparison to 74% of all other age groups. Furthermore nearly three quarters (73%) of over 65s always check their blind spot compared to 66% of all other age groups.

Older drivers are also less likely to engage in distracting behaviours when behind the wheel with just 7% admitting to using a mobile phone while driving, against 21% of all other ages, and less than one in five (18%) drinking tea or coffee on the move.

This latest research also challenges the stereotype of older drivers being slow, nervous or dangerous drivers. Just 29% of over 65s say they feel nervous when driving in rush hour in comparison to 31% of all other age groups. As little as a quarter (26%) are nervous driving in unfamiliar places which is far less than all other age groups (37%). Encouragingly, older drivers are also ensuring that they are in tip top condition with almost half (49%) having an eye test once a year compared to 29% of all other age groups.

Gordon Morris, Managing Director of Age UK Enterprises said: "We have over 90,000 car insurance customers and we know that older drivers are, on the whole, confident and responsible drivers, comparing favourably with other drivers across the country. We would like to see the insurance industry taking this on board and basing insurance premiums on ability and not on the false assumption that age equals poorer driving.

"There should be no upper age limit on getting car insurance and an understanding that older drivers use their cars regularly, and responsibly, and should not be forced into giving up driving. Many older drivers are drawing on years of experience behind the wheel and are reliant on their vehicles to maintain their independence and should be enabled to continue."

For anyone wanting more information on how to continue driving safely Age UK Information & Advice has produced a new guide called ‘In the driving seat' designed to help older people stay driving for longer that touches on many of the issues raised by this research.

For more information on the issues covered in this guide, or to order any of our publications, please call Age UK Advice free on 0800 169 65 65 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/travelandlifestyle

Age UK Car Insurance, provided by Ageas Insurance Limited, is designed to meet the needs of those in later life, offer value for money and excellent customer service. It has no upper age limit, no hidden fees for policy changes and offers a no claims discount option. Customers can pay by monthly instalment at no extra cost 0% APR Representative. In the event of an accident, a message relay service is also available meaning a friend or relative can be contacted so they are aware of the customer's situation.

 -Ends-

Ref: MCGMDSSKSDGLLHJVFPJC

For more infomation please contact Kate Douglas on 020 3033 1265 or Kate.Douglas@ageuk.co.uk

Age UK

For media enquiries relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland please contact the appropriate national office: Age Scotland on 0131 668 8055, Age Cymru on 029 2043 1562 and Age NI on 028 9024 5729.

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged, dedicated to improving later life.

We provide free information, advice and support to over five million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well-being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).

Age UK Enterprises

To fund its charitable activities, Age UK needs a constant flow of independent income. It seeks to achieve this through a balance of traditional fund raising and trading activities.

The trading activities, through Age UK Enterprises 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 UK Enterprises is the commercial services arm of Age UK.

Age UK Enterprises incorporates: Age UK Energy, Age UK Insurance Services and Age UK Guaranteed Funeral Plans. Log on to www.ageuk.org.uk/products for details.

Age UK Car Insurance is now proudly on Which? Magazine's Recommended Providers List of car insurers. Which? Magazine analyse the whole UK car insurance market to find out which brands offer the best policies. Instead of picking Best Buys based on specific scenarios (that are only relevant in specific cases), the experts at Which? magazine focus on the quality of policies. Age UK Enterprises is part of the Social Enterprise Coalition; an organisation that represents a wide range of social enterprises with the overarching aim of working in partnership for the creation of effective sector products, services and knowledge-sharing networks to help stimulate and encourage growth, development and sustainability of social enterprises in England.

Age UK Enterprises Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for insurance mediation. Age UK Enterprises Limited is registered in England and Wales No. 3156159, registered office: 7th Floor, One America Square, London, EC3N 2LB. VAT Number: 710 3843 66. Age UK Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Age UK (registered charity No. 1128267 and registered company No. 06825798) and donates its net profits to Age UK.

Age UK England (charity number 261794) has merged with Help the Aged (charity number 272786) to form Age UK, a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England: registered office address 7th Floor, One America Square, London, EC3N 2LB, company number 6825798, registered charity number 1128267.

About Ageas

Ageas UK is a leading provider of award-winning Personal, Commercial and Protection insurance solutions in the UK. Ageas UK distributes both its Non-Life and Life products through a range of channels including brokers, IFAs, intermediaries, affinity partners and the Internet, as well as through its retail strategy and its wholly or partially-owned companies (Groupama Insurance Company Limited, Ageas Insurance Solutions, Castle Cover, Kwik Fit Financial Services, RIAS and Tesco Underwriting).

Insuring around nine million customers and working with a range of partners, Ageas is recognised for delivering consistent and high-quality customer experiences. It employs over 6,000 people with offices based across the UK.

Ageas is an international insurance company with a heritage spanning more than 180 years. Ranked among the top 20 insurance companies in Europe, Ageas has chosen to concentrate its business activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the largest share of the global insurance market. These are grouped around four segments: Belgium, United Kingdom, Continental Europe and Asia and served through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors around the world. Ageas operates successful partnerships in Belgium, UK, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, China, Malaysia, India and Thailand and has subsidiaries in France, Hong Kong and UK. It is the market leader in Belgium for individual life and employee benefits, as well as a leading non-life player, through AG Insurance, and in the UK, it has a strong presence as the fourth largest player in private car insurance and the over 50's market. It employs more than 13,000 people and has annual inflows of more than EUR 17 billion.

Press contact Ageas UK:

Louisa Barnard

Tel: 023 8031 3147

Email : press.uk@ageas.co.uk

Ageas UK Ageas House, Tollgate, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 3YA

www.ageas.co.uk