PFD report

Kathleen Grace Fancourt · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 2 Mar 2023•West Sussex

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
2

Raised in this report

Recipients
2

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 2 recipients

Stated actions
1

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised2

  1. Failure to require medical fitness checks for drivers over 70
    Part of recurring concern: Failure to reliably assess driver fitness and driving safetyPart of recurring concern: Inadequate driver licensing controls for road safety
  2. Lack of an upper legal age limit for drivers
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate driver licensing controls for road safety
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Position

    Existing medical declaration, notification, investigation and age-70 renewal arrangements are considered balanced and proportionate without additional medical checks.

    Stated by Department for TransportExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to require medical fitness checks for drivers over 70

Wider context from the report

“This accident was caused by a driver who was 95 years old. At present there is no upper legal limit for drivers. Whilst drivers over 70 are required to apply for a new licence every 3 years there is no requirement for there to be any form of medical check to confirm their fitness to drive. It is left to a self declaration of any medical condition by the driver. There is a concern that if no checks are carried out a driver may be oblivious to their enduring medical condition and this may pose a serious risk to other road users. In 2020 (the last figures publicly available) there were 174 fatal accidents cause by drivers over the age of 70 years old. The Government’s own statistics confirm that “driver illness or disability (mental or physical)” was the 4th most common contributory factor to these deaths. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to reliably assess driver fitness and driving safety; Inadequate driver licensing controls for road safety.

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Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of an upper legal age limit for drivers

Wider context from the report

“This accident was caused by a driver who was 95 years old. At present there is no upper legal limit for drivers. Whilst drivers over 70 are required to apply for a new licence every 3 years there is no requirement for there to be any form of medical check to confirm their fitness to drive. It is left to a self declaration of any medical condition by the driver. There is a concern that if no checks are carried out a driver may be oblivious to their enduring medical condition and this may pose a serious risk to other road users. In 2020 (the last figures publicly available) there were 174 fatal accidents cause by drivers over the age of 70 years old. The Government’s own statistics confirm that “driver illness or disability (mental or physical)” was the 4th most common contributory factor to these deaths. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate driver licensing controls for road safety.

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing medical declaration, notification, investigation and age-70 renewal arrangements are considered balanced and proportionate without additional medical checks.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The current driver licensing arrangements are underpinned by a legal requirement that all drivers, of any age, must inform the DVLA if at any time they develop a medical condition that may affect safe driving. All drivers must meet the appropriate health standards for driving and a licence will only be issued to those who meet those standards.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 1 · response
Published 10 March 2023

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Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. 1

    Fund development of an older drivers’ website providing information on assessments, refresher training and retiring from driving.

    Stated by Department for TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 March 2023.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Reported fatal accidents involving people over 70 do not establish that older drivers caused those accidents.

    Stated by Department for TransportDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Fund development of an older drivers’ website providing information on assessments, refresher training and retiring from driving.

Verbatim wording from the response

“However, we are not complacent and the Department for Transport recognises that older people must be able to maintain the skills and confidence required to remain safe and effective drivers. With funding from my department, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has developed an older drivers’ website www.olderdrivers.org.uk which contains information to help older people to continue to drive for as long as they are safe to do so. It includes details on driving assessments and refresher training and provides advice on making the decision to retire from driving if an individual is no longer able to drive safely. Driver education schemes are also provided by local authorities and these are an effective way of supporting older drivers and help to ensure that they remain fit and competent to drive.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 2 · response
Published 10 March 2023

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Reported fatal accidents involving people over 70 do not establish that older drivers caused those accidents.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As your report highlights, the 2020 reported road traffic casualty figures do show 174 fatal accidents but it should be noted that these are accidents “involving” individuals over the age of 70 rather than those caused by an older driver.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 2 · response
Published 10 March 2023

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026