105-year-old woman becomes oldest person to pass a driving test
Taking your driving test is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences a person can go through. But after eight decades on the road, one 105-year-old woman shows no signs of slowing down.
Eileen Ash from Norfolk has become the oldest person in Britain to pass a driving test, after taking the practical exam for an ITV show.
The veteran motorist passed the half-an-hour test on the programme 100 Year Old Driving School, overseen by an official of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Before taking the test, Eileen said: “I love driving and just being free, being on four wheels and going where I want to go.”
A twist in the tale
A former England Cricketer, Eileen– who turns 106 in November – first started driving in the 1930s when she was in her early 20s.
Although she’s held a full licence since the early 1930s, there’s a twist to the veteran motorist’s story, as up until appearing on the show, she had never actually taken a driving test.
Anyone who had their licence before 1934 didn’t need to take a test at all. The first compulsory driving test was brought in on 1st June, 1935, and applied all drivers and riders who started driving on or after 1st April 1934.
When Eileen first hit the roads, windscreens had only just been made compulsory.
Senior driver statistics
Eileen is one of eight people aged 105 to still hold a valid UK licence.
Figures from the DVLA in July this year show there are 248 people aged over 100-years-old to still hold valid licences, compared with 100,281 people over the age of 90.
Motorists aged 70 and over are required to renew their licence every three years and answer written questions about medical conditions and eyesight quality.
Have someone in your household about to take their driving test? Make sure you have car insurance for learner drivers to help give them that extra hands-on experience behind the wheel.
