top of page
LTF - Camp - Louis Law Narrow-1.png

ENSURE ELDERLY DRIVERS ARE SAFE TO DRIVE

STATUS:

IN PROGRESS

The driver who killed Louis was an elderly woman in her 70s who wasn't medically fit to drive.  Elderly drivers are more likely to kill a vulnerable road user than any other age group.  

​

All drivers must be safe to drive to hold a licence.  We can't rely on self certification. 

​

We need annual testing and medical certification to ensure sight, perception, reaction time and hearing.​

Medical Tests

Ensure drivers are safe to drive by instigating medical checks every 3 years after 70.

Improve Enforcement

We are not good at judging our own performance as our abilities deteriorate, medical professionals should independantly judge our ability, not ourselves or family members

Stay Safe

We should all be safe on the road and ensuring that our loved ones, children, mothers, father, grandmothers and grandfathers are safe is crucial to having safe communities

LOUIS' LAW

Age Affects All Drivers Ability

RETEST ALL DRIVERS AT 70

Ensure Drivers are safe to drive by instigating a:

  • Retest at 70 and then every 3 years

  • Annual eye test from 70

  • Annual hearing test

  • Annual Perception test

  • Annual reaction time test


The driver who caused Louis’s death was an elderly woman in her 70s who shouldn't have been driving. 

SPEED LIMITS

Speed limits need to be reduced to give pedestrians especially children a real chance of survival. 


Pedestrian survivability


At 20 mph 95% of pedestrians survive

At 30 mph 55% survive

At 40 mph 5% survive

At 50mph and above all die.


Louis would have stood a good chance of surviving if the speed limit had been 30mph.

​

Many countries around the world mandate that drivers must sit a driving retest as they get older however in the UK under current law, licences must be renewed at the age of 70 and every three years after that. The onus is on the driver to self-certify as being fit to drive. No retest is conducted.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS

As we get older factors such as decreased vision, impaired hearing, slower motor reflexes, worsening health conditions, reduction of strength, coordination, and flexibility can impact a persons ability to safely control a car.


For example:

  • Neck pain or stiffness can make it harder to look over your shoulder.

  • Leg pain can make it difficult to move your foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal.

  • Diminished arm strength can make it hard to turn the steering wheel quickly and effectively.

  • Your reaction times slow down with age.

  • You can lose the ability to effectively divide your attention between multiple activities.

​

A UK National poll in 2017 found most people want drivers to be examined on reaching 72, then retake the test every five years and face losing their licence if they fail.


We want to go further and make it mandatory that every driver is retested at the age of 70 and then every 3 years there after. In addition all over 70’s must have an eye and hearing test every year conducted by an approved medical practitioner.

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

© Louis Thorold Foundation
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England & Wales No 1194891

bottom of page