Accident claim newsMedical tests for older drivers could become the normThe number of drivers over 65 who are the primary cause of fatal road traffic accidents is increasing. Police statistics show that in the first eight months of 2006, 200 car drivers aged between 70 and 79 were killed in car accidents. In Japan in particular this is becoming a major problem. A Japanese government white paper on traffic safety says that creating measures to prevent fatal accidents on the road has become an urgent issue. Dementia in general is a major problem as it can cause car accidents if old people do not understand traffic lights or road signs. Accidents that take place because of issues like poor eyesight that are not fatal can also result in personal injury claims. The issue of medical tests could become the norm after a road traffic accident in France involving an elderly person killed ten people and raised national alarm. Elderly drivers often take steps to make sure that they are safer on the road like not driving at night, avoiding unfamiliar routes and not driving on motorways. The AA recently found that older motorists were "in general, competent and responsible in monitoring and, if necessary, restricting their driving." Some motoring organisations say that tests should be carried out on young as well as old people and that ageism should not stop older people from driving at all.
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