To think that too many people are in denial that they should not drive?

Well my mum, who didn't want to give up driving, sent me out on some errands in her car when I was staying. These included

shopping at Tescos
get a prescription (but not at Tescos because they'd made here wait once, or something)
get cash from cashpoint (a mile from Tescos, because sometimes that one would give you fivers
get stamps
fill her car with petrol
then pick her up from the hairdressers

Her errands would not be possible without a car, she'd have had to reorganise her whole life and forget about past annoyances from Tescos pharmacy lol. I didn't get them all completed in the time ("Well I'd rather have had the stamps than X, I really needed those" ), and didn't get a receipt for the petrol as the machine wasn't working properly. When I mentioned I'd got the petrol at Tescos, she said, "Why did you go there? I always get it from Blah Garage."

I think it's odd to equate driving with independence so much.

DH doesn't drive due to a medical condition. He's very much independent. Admittedly he's never been able to so he never gave anything up, but it's ridiculous to suggest you're no longer independent. As if people with medical conditions preventing driving are all just sitting around waiting for others to do things for them.

And even if it is a loss of independence - that's not actually a reason to keep doing it. No one would think my DH was reasonable for getting behind the wheel because he wants independence.

Good on North Wales police.
No one has the right to be a risk to others.
The should ask a few cognitive screening questions at the same time!
Our elderly neighbour had terrible memory issues which she totally denied. She was also a drinker (long pub lunches with her friends) and had several minor road accidents. We did report her as she was a complete liability.

because the physical functions of driving a car, and walking, are two very different movement/motions and create very different stresses and strains on the joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves.

Also, driving an automatic car requires even less physical input than a manual.

Would you think the same if you saw a younger person get out the car and then get a wheelchair out the boot and zoom off in it?

Not the point of the thread..ftr i agree with you and stopped my mom driving at 70-ish. she still has her car, i just drive it for her (chauffer service, get her)

however, small niggle about the "can barely walk without falling over" comment.

Not being able to walk is not a reason to stop driving. I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user.. i also use a cane, i "can barely walk without falling over" but i'm a very experienced, competent, safe driver, tyvm. (i even drive on race tracks).

I do think that living somewhere you can easily stay connected is important. My mother lived in a detached house at the end of a culdesac in a semi rural suburb. Fine as long as she was willing and able to drive but very difficult when she stopped. I am sure it contributed to her mental decline. I live five minutes walk away from a busy street with shops, cafe pub etc and bus stops.

I totally agree with all this.

So many people think about retiring to the sea or to the countryside, but they don't think about being able to access the necessities as they get older and less mobile.

Luckily both my parents and DH's have been incredibly sensible, and all live within walking (or mobility scooting!) distance from the GP, optician, dentist, shops and chemists, as well as near decent public transport. Of course DH and I help when we can but the reality is we both work full-time and can't always take time off during the week for appointments.

We have taken FIL to the hospital a few times recently for scans etc. which we're more than happy to do, but he does everything else himself and would hate to have that freedom taken away from him.

The real solution for this, and many other problems caused by aging is to prepare properly. Move house, before it's too hard to do so, live in suitable accommodation with easy access to services. Get rid of the car sooner rather than later, walk to services that are close (because you moved house). Use a mobility scooter if you have to. Aging and mental and physical decline are a reality (take note Joe Biden) and the only alternative is dying young, which none of us want. Being prepared and realistic will not only make our own lives easier but those around us lives easier.

I agree. I also think black boxes should be mandatory for all new drivers for the first three years.

I completely agree that we'd need more test centres and examiners. Those would be paid for by the test fee. Of course, the test fee would be paid by the pupil. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

While I do agree that some elderly drivers shouldn't be behind the wheel, I think it's a bit off to sit there as a young, capable driver and say "well, if I were him, I'd happily stop driving". It's so easy to say that when you're not in that situation.

Giving up your independence is really scary and upsetting for many people, especially when you've driven your entire life and suddenly find yourself facing a future where you rely on other people for all your needs.

One solution would be black boxes for everyone over a certain age.
Does insurance cost leap up with older drivers?

Surely a church is a community that helps each other? Would none of these church goers pick her up?

My mum lives in a well-known "retirement town" near the welsh border. The driving round there is shocking!
She's reported a couple of people over the years - including a friend who managed to hit a wall when reversing off their own driveway, of the house they'd lived in for 40 years.

We've agreed that I'll tell her when I think the time has come to dial back on the driving. She's 69 and we're not there yet, but it might be within the next decade.

My df used to drive quite a powerful car, I persuaded him to get a smaller more manageable car, when that got too much, he didn’t got out as much, but he had a fall and that stopped him driving for good and walking. To my mum’s relief as she used to be scared in the car when he was driving.

Independence and an actual enjoyment of driving? My mum will happily give up her license however I can never imagine my dad doing it as his car is also a hobby. Acceptance or ignorance of the risk also goes along with it. I think as you get older you accept dying more easily and maybe they don't consider they could kill someone.

Maybe it's time cars with driving aids or a retest was mandated for older drivers. But what's old?

Might just buy my dad an XC90 when he gets older.

I agree OP I live in an area of high retirement/elderly people and the driving from them is abysmal (not saying younger drivers are any better but they should improve), they drive at 30 everywhere which causes tailbacks and people to take risky manoeuvres trying to get past (fair enough if the weather is bad but this is on good clear days as well), slamming brakes on for no reason, slowing down when cars are passing them in the opposite direction, pulling out of junctions in front of me when im going the speed limit and then don’t speed up. And as another poster pointed out 9 times out of 10 they are driving massive SUVs that they can barely see over the steering wheel and have to be right up at them.

Other areas may do something similar https://www.olderdrivers.org.uk/driver-assessment/self-assessment/

My mum gave up driving entirely of her own accord and gave her car to my DB, a few years before she was diagnosed with dementia. She then forgot she’d done this and accused us of taking the car and imprisoning her in her house.

I’m now 63 and still perfectly capable. I hope my automatic car and satnav will keep me driving for a good few years yet!

Horrible position to be in, dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t.
My DM is 92 and only stopped driving recently after some falls.
Doctor was happy for her to drive locally but DM took that as driving where she felt comfortable.
Her biggest worry when she stopped was how she would get to church! Church is 5 minutes away and no taxi would take her as too close.
She has now been diagnosed with a life limiting illness as a result of her falls and her minister comes to her.
I am glad she made the decision for herself though. Very difficult if they don’t.

In my county there is a voluntary scheme where elderly drivers (over 65) take an assessor out on a drive and are given an assesment of their capabilities . It has no legal standing but, at least , provides an external pressure if their driving is bad.

My parents in law next door neighbour alerted us to how bad my FIL driving was. My partner didn’t want to do anything about it until my FIL wanted us to help renew his licence and he hadn’t put down his cataracts or memory loss. By this point my MIL was directing where he should steer. We put down the memory loss etc on form and as far as we know his license was renewed.

We reported to GP who got them in asked my MIL did she feel safe , she said yes and that was it!

At this point I was agitating to take the keys away . My MIL had dementia , my FIL had bad eyesight, memory loss etc but my partner said they never drove far and it would destroy my FIL. My FIL passed away shortly afterwards but the car was a wreck from the various battle scars it acquired.. I thank God that no one got hurt.

When we moved we moved to somewhere with good transport links and amenities and even now use public transport a lot. My parents in law never would. It is a problem as where I used to work was close to a pharmacy and there were many accidents involving the elderly who had just picked up their scripts.

I really couldn't do nothing about this just to safeguard my inheritance. I couldn't have it on my conscience. If your father injures or kills someone, will it have been worth keeping schtum and sitting on your hands?

Never made a driving error yourself? Driving over a pedestrian island is bad but I've seen many younger drivers make far, far more serious errors, drive while texting and there are lots of arrests for driving under the influence or drink and drugs. Young drivers have more accidents, statistically they are higher risk - will you take them off the roads too? https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-older-and-younger-driver-factsheets-2021/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-younger-driver-factsheet-2021

If he has trouble walking he'll be keener to drive. Encourage him to use a mobility scooter and have a taxi fund.

I saw this!

Their reaction times were appalling.

At least with young drivers their cognitive / reaction results will be far quicker.

Doesn't excuse the speeds some of them drive at for sure.

I do think mandatory testing should be done every 5 years from age 70.

Some would say 'I'm fit as a fiddle and I don't need one' well then you'll pass with flying colours.
The tick box of reapplying for your license is not fit for practice.