Older motorists are being urged to keep their driving skills in check after shocking statistics revealed the number of collisions that killed or injured drivers over 65 rose by almost 60 per cent in five years.

Bucks County Council drafted in expert help this week from motoring racing legend Paddy Hopkirk, as figures show from 2009 to 2013 the number of crashes that seriously injured or killed drivers over 65 rose by almost 60 per cent, from 27 in 2009 to 43 in 2013.

The main causes were illness, fatigue, distraction and uncorrected defective eyesight.

And from March 1, 2012 to February 28 this year, collisions involving drivers over 65 represented 14 per cent of all casualties in the county.

With an expected population increase in Bucks of more than 30,000 over-65s in the next ten years, from 16.8 per cent (84,900) to 21.7 per cent (115,300), the figures are worrying for Transport Cabinet Member Mark Shaw.

He said: “I'm concerned that we don't mirror this rise in our collision statistics.

“I believe we should do all we can locally to keep our older drivers driving safely and confidently on our roads.”

In a bid to reduce the number of crashes, the county council is encouraging older drivers to sign up to the Mature Driver Scheme, which carries out one-hour observation sessions followed by a report on driving skills.

Since April 2012 TfB has done more than 260 mature driver assessments, of which 29 per cent were medical referrals from GP surgeries and specialists such as memory clinics.

Veteran motorsport ace and Monte Carlo Rally winning driver Hopkirk, 82, who lives in Penn, is supporting the council’s campaign after admitted he was shocked at the crash statistics among pensioners.

After undergoing his own driver assessment on Saturday with Darren Mundy, one of the County Council's Mature Driver Scheme assessors, he said: “I was horrified when I read the collision statistics for over-65s, so I'm very pleased to be able to support the council's campaign, to do all we can to stop people having accidents.

“It's very good to revisit your driving skills regularly. We all get a bit rusty.”

For more information on the scheme and details on how to book, visit http://www.transportforbucks.net/Road-Safety/Older/Mature-drivers.aspx.