THE SCOTTISH Government and Road Safety Scotland have launched a national driver MOT roadshow, which recently visited Walker Home and Garden Centre in Dunoon on 8 December as part of the tour.
The roadshow is part of a Fitness to Drive campaign, encouraging local drivers aged 60 and over to reflect on their driving skills and take steps to stay safe and confident behind the wheel.
Transport Scotland data shows a continuing trend towards increasing numbers of casualties aged 60 and over. With more than 850,000 drivers in this age group in Scotland, the campaign highlights the importance of recognising changes that can come with age and taking simple, practical steps to address them.
These include booking regular eye examinations, reducing night-time driving, avoiding busy junctions at peak hours and refreshing driving skills with a mature driving review.
The driver MOT roadshow raises awareness of these measures. Local drivers gained information and reassurance, as well as advice on how to adapt driving habits to continue driving safely for longer when the campaign visited Cowal.
Shony, who ran the pop-up information stall at Walkers on the day, said: “It’s just about taking account that everything can change, whether it’s your eyesight, confidence or reaction times, everything can change.
“So it’s just about being aware of what changes are happening to you while you’re driving.
“Driving long distances can drain your energy more and driving in the evening can become difficult, so it’s just about adapting.”
Cabinet secretary for transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “As we get older, changes to eyesight, hearing, and reaction times can all affect our ability to drive safely.
“The Fitness to Drive campaign is about supporting older drivers to recognise those changes and take action to continue to stay safe on the road.
“Even one death on Scotland’s roads is one too many. By encouraging older drivers and their families to reflect on driving fitness, we can help save lives and ensure people feel confident and secure when they travel.”
Paul Walker from Walker Home and Garden Centre added: “We’re delighted to be part of the national driver MOT roadshow.”
The campaign is backed by IAM RoadSmart, a leading UK road safety charity, helping to improve driving and riding skills through courses and coaching. IAM RoadSmart offers mature driver reviews to help maintain driving skills and confidence and has played a key role in supporting the delivery of the driver MOT roadshow.”
IAM RoadSmart Road Safety Manager for Scotland Stewart Mackie said: “Having a mature driver review can be a great way to boost your confidence on the roads and ensure that you and your passengers are safe. We know just how important driving is, and how it represents the freedom to go anywhere, anytime. This is why many mature drivers choose our course, because it gives them the confidence and skills to carry on driving and maintain their independence.”
Though the Dunoon date has now passed, the driver MOT roadshow continues run until January 2026, with dates and locations found at roadsafety.scot/mature-driver-roadshow.
For more information, visit: roadsafety.scot/maturedrivers.
