We hear a lot about rash driving, especially by those from the younger generation. However, an elderly person driving can be equally as dangerous because there reactions and ability to make the right decision at the right time while driving are much slower.
A 95-year-old woman, Gertrude Lister, unintentionally ended up killing someone with her driving. She had gone to visit her husband's grave on Valentine's Day, and accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, and ran over cemetery worker Paul Mill, 47.
Lister was given a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years.
In a letter to Paul Mill's family, Lister wrote, “I have wanted to write to you for the longest time, ever since that fateful afternoon. Not one day goes by when I don;t think about what happened and how hard it must be for you as a family. I shamefully ask for your forgiveness. It hurts me ever day. I am a good person and I have never caused harm to anybody in 95 years. I know it can;t bring him back but this is my apology to you.”
At Reading Crown Court, Judge Paul Dugdale banned Lister from driving for life. He also said, “This is an utterly tragic case... The reality is she made a serious driving error accidentally, which had terrible consequences.”
The DVLA have made stricter rules for the elderly/ Drivers who are aged 70 and over have to reapply for their licence every three years. Although there is no test to be redone, drivers have to ensure that a medical declaration is made that may lead to the DVLA making further investigations. Drivers are also responsible for telling the DVLA about health conditions that may affect their fitness or ability to drive. General Practitioners will also inform the DVLA of patients that drive even though they have been advised not to. Drivers can then be fined £1,000 if they do not inform the DVLA about a condition that may affect their ability to drive, and also face prosecution if they have an accident.
