Driving over 70

I’m currently sitting at the airport due to the delayed flight! Anyway I’d optician and I can’t even begin to tell you the horror stories I come across each day. Just before my holiday, I tested someone who complained that they can’t see the end of the junction when driving. I recommend glasses and said that they are barely legal to drive without glasses. They proceed to argue with me that barely legal is not illegal therefore they don’t need glasses. I mean you can’t see the end of the effing road but please go ahead and drive off to a sunset without the glasses just mind that you don’t kill anyone. And no even if someone is illegal to drive we can’t notify DVLA. These rules are about 70 years old and needs changing

@Sarahjane03 yes apparently the UK is the only European country to issue licences without any visual checks for a continuous period up to the age of 70.

@olivewah I felt the same when DF was told by a doctor (rather than us having to tell him) to give up his beloved car. Also, sorry to hear about the recent news of the diagnosis. It's a hard time x

Ps, medical is from 65 years.

Ps you did the right thing. I had to persuade my father to stop driving at 88 as he was not spatially aware... And eyesight issues.

In Spain one has to take a mandatory medical, Inc eye test every 5 years. I think they should do this here. (I am 62. I have already given up my 7.5 tonne part of my licence due to medical issues.) I witnessed the aftermath of an 84yr old this week who felt unwell at the local supermarket, was advised not to drive home, he tried to regardless, he had a heart attack at the wheel, took out a lampost, knocked our wall down, nearly mowed down a pedestrian and was left on the road under a blanket after CPR failed. Cars can kill if driver not in control!

Long sightedness deteriorates 40-50 but due to that my short sightedness, ie distance vision actually improved so that I no longer require glasses to drive after using them for 30 years but need them for reading.

This may be of interest:

BBC News - Coroner's call for older driver eye tests after fatal crashes - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrv1g2yl0xo?app-referrer=deep-link

Also I did check even though I said I cba. Found a report (albeit a decade old) for the College of Optometrists which looked at contributory factors in RTAs and found that "The hypothesis that older drivers aged 60 and over are more likely to be involved in an injury-collision where visual impairment or illness and disability is a contributory factor was proven." - https://www.college-optometrists.org/coo/media/media/documents/research/visual_impairment_and_road_safety_june_2015_.pdf

Precisely. It's a sad fact of life that age related ocular degeneration exists, it's not ageist to say that!

Cba to check but I'll eat my hat if anyone can show that vision related RTAs are evenly spread across age groups. They're bound to be highly concentrated amongst the more elderly.

Wow, where I live you have to pass a basic eyesight test to get a licence, and whenever it is renewed. When reach 75 the licence is renewed more regularly, and again over 80.

I didn't say they were necessarily true in every individual case, but the first poster I quoted said she thought age was irrelevant because her mum is a good driver. That is not "proof" by any definition, nor is your anecdote.

There is a specific memory impaired driving test ( my dad did it and my brother who went with him said it was rigorous) and then I think your license gets renewed every year (?) when you have to do the test again so they (should ) be monitored closely but it does rely on GP or even the person themselves self reporting their diagnosis

My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's on Monday, and the Dr told us there and then that he was no longer allowed to drive. I don't know if this is always the case though, but he was told that if he felt his driving was still up to standard, he could pay to take a driving test which would allow him to continue to drive if he were to pass. I was shocked that he was told to stop driving immediately, but I have to admit it was a relief to have a professional deliver the news, rather than me having to tell him myself.

No, I, and a previous poster, have proved that presumptions based on age alone are not necessarily true.

She’s not though. Everyone’s physical strength and response times reduce considerably as they age, therefore elderly drivers are much less able to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency. Personally, I think anyone who wants to retain their licence after 70 should have to undergo a medical every 3 years.

When you finally get your cataract surgery your eyesight improves again

Eyesight almost universally deteriorates with age. Therefore, like it or not, age is totally relevant here.

We should primarily be testing those most likely to be affected by failing eyesight before we even think about doing it for everyone.

Wow, you've just proved that the hypothesis that age has no bearing on eyesight or driving ability is 200% true.

OP is not ageist, they've clearly explained why they mentioned the age - the driver was due a medical to renew their license and that's when they admitted they've got bad eyesight.

How about another? My mother is in her 80s and drives like a normal person. I have absolutely no issues with being driven by her.

He may have an adapted car? People who cant use their legs can still safely drive if the cars adapted

You should report her to the police for dangerous driving. She could kill someone

My dad is on a medical license and every three years he has to have a check. The check is completely pointless as no one sees him he just has to get his GP to fill in a form saying he's got to drive. The GP does no checks on this as far as I can tell. He's just had a stroke and it was left upto him to inform DVLA. Luckily he hasn't driven since as I don't think he should be driving but when I Dr tells him he can he's not listening to me. Bought him a mobility scooter in the hope he would use it since the stroke and realise it's better. Nope he's sat in the house unless someone takes him out.

A few years ago I really upset my doctor.. they asked if I get stressed...yes.. what causes it. You...you let too many people who should never get behind a wheel drive.
I saw a bloke get out of a car, it took him 5 minutes to walk 20 yards... how on earth is he going to stop if a child runs out in the road. Electric mobility scooters are so good these days...why drive

A lot of people give up towing and driving larger vans because you have to have a medical test which isn't cheap when you are 70. This doesn't apply to normal cars

Yes, that anecdote definitely conclusively proves that age is irrelevant.