Moves to introduce tougher restrictions on older drivers in the Republic on safety grounds would be resisted, the lobby group Age Action Ireland has said.
Age Action Ireland was commenting after the British department of transport asked for a report on possible measures to assess the competency of drivers aged over 70.
Concern in the UK was sparked after a report from the Association of British Insurers found that drivers aged 70 or over are three times as likely to be involved in a car crash than those aged between 45 and 60.
In the Republic, statistics would also appear to suggest that older people were a high risk group, the risk even exceeding the 18 to 20-year-old category.
According to Road Accident Facts 2004 published by the National Roads Authority (NRA), 36 people out of a total of 259 killed in 2004 were aged 65 and over. This compares with 35 for the 18 to 20 age group and 20 for the 45 to 54 age group.
However, the statistics come with a considerable "health warning" from Sean O'Neill of the NRA, who pointed out that the 65-plus age group was much wider than the more limited 18 to 20 year olds.
Age Action Ireland's Gerrard Scully said he had "yet to see" definitive evidence that drivers over 65, or even over 70, were a greater risk than any other category. He said such evidence would have to be starkly illustrated before any new restrictions should be considered against older drivers.
While Age Action Ireland was not against continuous driving assessments or, indeed, any test which revealed an incapacity or a safety reason why someone should be restricted from driving, he said the whole issue was based on the competence of the individual.
The association pointed out that possession of a car was a vital tool for older people in rural and even some urban locations, because of the lack of available public transport. Given the importance of independent transport, Age Action Ireland would be opposed to new restrictions on car use by older people.
In the Republic, those over 70 years of age must get a doctor's certificate confirming their competence when renewing their driving licence. Such certificates may be for two years, or even as short as one year. Such a system is not in place in the UK, where those over 70 years are simply asked to declare their fitness on a self-assessment application form.
Mr Scully said he believed that this was probably the main factor behind moves to change the regulatory system in the UK.
The Irish Insurance Federation said it found the medical certification system for older drivers to be "satisfactory" and the Road Safety Authority has no plans to alter the regulations with regard to applications for driving licence renewals from older drivers.