| Alarming statistics, showing that high numbers of over-50s have been involved in road traffic accidents recently in the Tayside area, prompted road safety officers to take action.
The event had an interactive and educational theme, and looked at issues such as mobility, reactions, and travelling with grandchildren.
Marian Scott, Tayside Police’s road safety co-ordinator, said, “We have noticed that the over-50 age group has very little in the way of road safety education offered to them.
“With 148 people of this age group involved in road traffic accidents on Tayside’s roads in a nine-month period, we feel there is an audience not being catered for.
“Many older people are responsible for transporting grandchildren as well, and the way adults behave when near roads has a direct effect on children.”
Visitors also had the opportunity to take eyesight and reaction tests.
Billy Watson, acting director of the Royal National Institute of the Blind Scotland, said, “It is well known that our eyesight is likely to deteriorate as we get older.
“It is therefore vital that everyone, whether a driver or pedestrian, has their eyes checked regularly.
“Recent research by RNIB Scotland found that two out of every five drivers in Scotland are not having regular eye tests.
“This means that over a million drivers could be on the roads in Scotland with poor eyesight, putting themselves and others at risk and possibly breaking the law.” |
