Elderly drivers take the blame for rise in ‘slow’ road accidents

CASUALTIES from accidents caused by slow drivers have gone up a third in a year as elderly drivers hogging the middle lane were partly held to blame.

Analysis of Department for Transport data showed 175 people were injured and two died in such crashes on Britain’s roads in 2017, a 31 per cent increase over the previous 12 months.

The figures take into account crashes when someone is driving too slowly for the conditions or a slow moving vehicle is a contributory factor.

The AA said the rise could be attributed partly to the record number of elderly drivers on Britain’s roads.

Luke Bosdet, an AA spokesman, said: “The vast majority of elderly drivers drive locally and stick to set routes. But if they are driving slowly on the motorways when they go on longer journeys to see a relative, then that becomes a problem.”

Mr Bosdet said responsibility could also lay with motorists behind slow drivers whose impatience plays a part in such accidents.

He said: “Some people are so keen to get ahead they will take risks.”

Earlier this year DVLA data showed that 265 drivers over the age of 100 held a driving licence, up from 162 in November 2012.

Four people aged 104 were the oldest licensed drivers and there had been a 15 per cent spike in centenarians with licences between 2015 and 2018 alone. Once people reach 70 they must declare every three years whether or not they are fit to drive, but do not have to take a driving or medical exam.

A poll of 2,000 UK drivers earlier this year found slow driving was the seventh most common reason motorists swore when behind the wheel.

Minimum speeds are rare on UK roads, but exist in high-risk locations such as tunnels, displayed on round blue signs with a white number.

Driving too slowly on any road can result in the motorist being penalised for careless driving, which carries a £100 fine and three points on a licence.

If it goes to court, the maximum penalty is £5,000, up to nine points on a licence and disqualification from driving.

Research by Australia’s Queensland University of Technology published last year found some “slow accidents” were caused by motorists who decelerated to use their mobile phone, causing nose-to-tail crashes, or by congestion and frustrated drivers performing aggressive overtaking manoeuvres.

Edmund King, the AA president, said too many motorway users hogged the middle lane and drove “far below the speed limit”, leading to overtaking on the inside, tailgating, congestion and road rage.

Another problem was caused by motorists who slowed and hesitated while trying to join a motorway rather than accelerating to match their speed to fit in with the flow of motorway traffic.