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 | | Friday, 1 December, 2000, 11:15 GMT Motorist, 97, told to keep driving  Idris Evans hopes to continue driving for years to come A pensioner from south Wales who has driven for the past 84 years without an accident has had his licence renewed at the age of 97. The new three-year licence means that Idris Evans, from Talbot Green, near Llantrisant, will now be able to drive until October 2003. The former motor mechanic and garage owner, who has never sat a driving test, worked in the car trade all his life. Indeed, he broke his arm twice using the old-fashioned starter to get a car going. He was also a motorbike trick rider and a volunteer fire engine driver.
"People always say I'm in great shape and my son says it's down to good luck, but I think it's because I've worked hard all my life." He has never had an accident but confesses to having two speeding and two parking fines. Mr Evans, who describes modern cars as "terrifying", still drives his red Ford Fiesta every day to the pensioners' club a mile from his home in Pontyclun and to visit his son. "All my friends are no longer driving, " he said. "I have not found anybody who is as fit as I am." 'Model T Ford' "My father was 14 when he drove a car for the first time," said Mr Evans's 70-year-old son David. "It was a Model T Ford and he has driven ever since. "We had to renew the licence because he needed to have a photograph on it. "But there were no problems because he is still fit and well." He added: "My father has never had a driving test because there was no such thing when he started. "Driving is just a natural thing for him because he has been in the motor trade all his life. "He now drives every day but I am trying to get him to limit the distance and I have asked him to try and avoid motorways." A spokeswoman for the Driving Standards Agency said drivers over the age of 70 had to renew their licence every three years and have regular medical assessments. There are around 1200 drivers of similar age to Mr Evans in the UK. | |
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