Rob Heard and James Evans have created a VR film for older drivers which has been evaluated by Ian Edwards, with very positive results in terms of behavioural change and utilising technology, with a demographic where this approach may have not seemed suitable.

This presentation will cover this partnership project, how it was created and feedback received.

Rob Heard, Road Safety & Older Drivers' Consultant

Rob Heard is the founder and chairperson of the Older Drivers Forum and the former road safety sergeant for Hampshire and Thames Valley Police.

Rob was in the police force for 30 years and is passionate about road safety. He was an advanced police car driver and motorcyclist and led the Hampshire and thames Valley force’s VIP escort team.

Rob instigated the Older Drivers Forum following a number of serious incidents involving older drivers. After extensive research he saw a real need to help and support older drivers to drive safely for longer.

The Older Drivers Forum takes a partnership approach and since its creation in 2013 has enjoyed great success in reducing older driver incidents and increasing help and support to older drivers and other interested parties. Rob has assisted stakeholders in other parts of the country to set up their own schemes to help and support this vulnerable group. Rob sits on the National Older Drivers Task Force and helps advise the Government and Department for Transport on aging driving and support.

He is a member of the National Older Drivers Task Force and co-author of the recent Task Force report published as a national strategy to the UK government in November 2021 to give help and support to older drivers to carry on driving safely for longer with some key recommendations. Rob has won numerous national awards for his work with Older Drivers and has been awarded a lifetime achievement award from Road Safety Support. He now works as a Road Safety Consultant, specialising in Older Drivers and is a Driver Awareness Trainer