Sheila Hancock’s account (63 years’ driving. No claims. Why did insurance go from £873 to £2,246?, 26 June) reflected my experience of ageism. For many years I have hired a car to drive in Italy or Spain from Holiday Autos. They send frequent reminders that I am one of their customers. I wanted to hire a car to drive in Italy this September. I was 80 a week ago. Their website won’t even let me in. I can’t even communicate with them. I managed to hire a car from Rentalcars because its cut-off point allows 80-year-olds – but not 81-year-olds and I may have to pay extra. Last year I drove a friend’s car through fast-driving traffic in Barcelona as I have done many times before. I can drive my son’s car in Malaga where the car, not the driver, is taxed. I haven’t ever had an accident on the continent so what reasons do car hire firms have against aged drivers?What evidence is there that at 80 monster drivers escalate the danger to themselves and others? Do they have more accidents than drivers of 79, 69, 59? I’d be very interested to see the statistics for the accident-prone dodgy drivers of 80-plus years who wreck hire firms’ cars. Margaret MartlewSheffield Continue reading…
Source : theguardian.com
Read more…End discrimination against older drivers | Letters
