Matchlight Wins New Documentary Order From BBC1

New Scotland based TV Production company Matchlight has been commissioned by BBC One to produce a new 60-minute documentary, Taking The Keys Away, exploring the dilemma facing the families of many elderly drivers:

Are senior drivers safe behind the wheel or should their children take away their keys?

For the majority of pensioners, getting behind the wheel is perhaps the activity that most maintains their sense of independence, while age conspires to rob them of it in so many other ways. But the Department of Transport’s own statistics show that drivers over the age of 80 have more accidents per mile than any other age group. Those over 75 are, according to one former Transport Minister, Steven Ladyman MP, “as dangerous, on average, as newly qualified 17 year-old drivers".

Andrew Abbott, Producer/Director, Matchlight, said: “The documentary will shed light on this contemporary yet unaddressed social issue, and provide a thorough insight through real-life stories of elderly drivers and their families”.

Abbott continued: “The divided loyalties of a family facing up to such a difficult decision and underlying taboo will be at the heart of the film – the potential danger of doing nothing and the pain of taking away a loved one’s independence”.

Taking The Keys Away was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Commissioning Editor for Documentaries, BBC One. Executive Producer for Matchlight is Ross Wilson, and Sam Anthony is Executive Producer for BBC One.

The documentary is being distributed by international sales company DCD Rights and is due air in autumn 2010.