Shropshire Star readers split over call to re-test drivers over 70

The husband of a young mother mown down by a pensioner is calling for a change in the law.

Ben Brooks-Dutton's wife Desreen died in 2012 when Geoffery Lederman, aged 83, mounted the pavement at 50mph after accelerating instead of braking.

He clipped their toddler's pushchair before ploughing into the 33-year-old mother and a female student who suffered brain damage and lost an eye.

Mr Brooks-Dutton is campaigning for a change in the law with a petition, which has now passed the threshold for consideration by Parliament.

Drivers are currently asked to renew their licence every three years after the age of 70, vouching for their ability to drive.

But Mr Brooks-Dutton said: "I think there needs to be some sort of test to check that we are well enough to drive."

Asked whether should drivers over 70 have to re-take their test, 57% of Star readers who took the poll said yes, and 43% said no.

Recent changes to the driving test have been welcomed by instructors in Telford despite safety concerns about a new manoeuvre that is being introduced for the first time.

All learner drivers will face the revamped test from December 4.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said the changes were designed to ensure new drivers across the UK had the skills to help them through a lifetime of safe driving.

The key changes are that most learners will be asked to follow directions from a satellite navigation system or traffic signs.

Learners must drive independently for up to 20 minutes instead of just 10 minutes and the 'reverse around a corner' and 'turn-in-the-road' manoeuvres will be dropped.

New drivers must also answer a vehicle safety question while taking driving during the examination.

Nicola Ault, of Nicola's Driving School, in Telford, said: "I think the new test is safe and it makes sense in this day and age when everyone uses sat navs and dashboard cameras.

"I think the safety question while you are driving will also be a good move because in the current test learners are asked about this while they are stationary at the start of the test. In a real life situation you are using the demister or cleaning the windows while you are on the move in varying driving conditions. I've never had to reverse around the corner when I'm driving so we probably won't miss that one, but the turn in the road manoeuvre perhaps should have been kept because drivers may come across an accident or some sort of incident and need to turn around.

"I passed my test 20 years ago and I've been an instructor since 2009.

"The new manoeuvre to cross over to the right side of the road and park seems to go against the highway code.

"We have not an an opportunity to try out the new test yet because Telford was not one of the areas used in the trials.

"I imagine we will be attending further training sessions and attending meetings to discuss the changes that are coming. I think overall it it much safer." Graham Holland, also of Telford, has concerns about the new manoeuvre too. He said: "In the 50 plus years that I have been driving, I have not driven to the opposite side of the road to park more than twice. If you have to pull away from the off-side and facing the oncoming traffic will be a hard job especially if there is a lorry coming towards you."

Test fees are £23 for the theory exam and the driving test costs £62 midweek and £75 at other times.

No changes to testing have been made for drivers aged over 70 following a petition calling for older motorists to face a resit every three years.

Transport minister Andrew Jones said: "Our roads are among the safest in the world.

"However, road collisions are the biggest killer of young people.

"These changes will help us to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads and equip new drivers with the skill they need to use our roads safely." DVSA chief executive Gareth Llewellyn said: "The agency's priority is to help through a lifetime of safe driving. Making sure the driving test better assesses a driver's ability to drive safely and independently is part of our strategy to help stay safe on Britain's roads."