Page 2 | It should be mandatory to retake a driving test again age 70 and every five years after that

researchers3 · 22/10/2026 14:12

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 13:55

What it says really, especially given the aging population and associated cognitive decline, impacting on reactions, and also cars being larger, and fifty years of bad habits that the driver has got away with
Obviously young men are the most likely to have the worst accidents because of their tendencies towards risky behaviour, but there are steps to address this, and they do tend to hurt themselves more than others
presumably this came up in past years especially given the terrible incident in morningside 2020 with the little boy, but after trying to reason with an obdurate 75 year old father who only hasn’t done something awful for sheer good fortune it’s feeling on my mind

Who's going to fund this OP? I don't imagine many pensioners could afford lessons/tests.

ThePeppyOpalScroller · 22/10/2026 14:13

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 13:55

What it says really, especially given the aging population and associated cognitive decline, impacting on reactions, and also cars being larger, and fifty years of bad habits that the driver has got away with
Obviously young men are the most likely to have the worst accidents because of their tendencies towards risky behaviour, but there are steps to address this, and they do tend to hurt themselves more than others
presumably this came up in past years especially given the terrible incident in morningside 2020 with the little boy, but after trying to reason with an obdurate 75 year old father who only hasn’t done something awful for sheer good fortune it’s feeling on my mind

Retirement age is 67. Are you suggesting that someone who has only just retired is somehow incapable of driving?

Original poster

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 14:13

I think a lot of people deserve and ought to retire sooner than 67

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Teenagerantruns · 22/10/2026 14:14

I think something should be done, my Dad is still driving in his 80's i absolutely think he's not safe, luckily he dosent drive long distances anymore, he wont listen to me, l refuse to get in a car with him. Its not even a money issue, he can afford to get as many taxis as he wants.

Pixiedust49 · 22/10/2026 14:14

There’s barely any examiners anymore so booking a test is almost impossible as it is. So it’s a total non starter really.

Original poster

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 14:14

Pixiedust49 · 22/10/2026 14:14

There’s barely any examiners anymore so booking a test is almost impossible as it is. So it’s a total non starter really.

That’s a terrible argument for not doing something

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WrylyAmused · 22/10/2026 14:14

I don't think it's limited to the elderly. This is why they've moved on to speed awareness courses for speeding rather than just fines and points. Education over punishment.

There are plenty of people who have taken many many attempts to pass, who are not reliably and habitually driving at an adequate level.
Not to mention people who have paid someone else to take their test for them.

If you're going down that route, then everyone should have to be retested every 5 years. Which would be fair and address the actual risks. Now listen to the squeals of outrage of people who fail but "I need my car!". Not to mention the practicality of it as everyone else has already mentioned.

DoubleShotEspressox · 22/10/2026 14:15

Maybe my view is skewed from personal experience. But my thoughts….

Having dealt with the immediate aftermath of a 76 year old who forgot which pedal was the brake and which was the accelerator and ploughed into a packed coffee shop on a high street, injuring numerous people including a baby, yes.

Also my own family member who’s knocking on the door of 70, with a well documented family history of dementia (who appears who be barreling down that same hill in complete denial) and numerous vision problems but refuses an eye test as they can buy their glasses in primark - I do think the stubbornness and refusal to self-asses could be enough to warrant some kind of skills/competency/reaction test at a certain age.

Gobbledegoo · 22/10/2026 14:15

Older drivers are statistically safer drivers, exceptions do not make for good rules/laws. Most defects older drivers experience are caused by eyesight problems. This problem is easily solved: Everyone should have an eyesight test either yearly or 18 monthly. Not doing so would negate the driver's legal ability to drive.

Original poster

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 14:15

Testing every five years doesn’t seem unreasonable either
it would be expensive and a nuisance but it it made things safer would it be so bad?
where I live there’s a roundabout that people keep doing wrong and flipping their cars on. Only since Covid though

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HotChocolateHotCoffeeColdDrinks · 22/10/2026 14:16

The old guy that lives over the road can barely walk with two sticks and has Parkinsonism shaking, but after he's shuffled the 10 minutes it takes to walk to his car and get in it, he's off. It's an EV - once his foot is on the pedal he shoots off. He's already hit one car in front of me. I have reported him to the DVLA and Crimestoppers but he's still going. His family know - he lives with them. A short test would take him off the road immediately.

I'd be in favour of everyone getting retested every 10 years up to 75 and more frequently after that. But I don't see how it would ever happen given the lack of examiners and no one woild ever vote for it incase they failed.

Aliencrispsandolives · 22/10/2026 14:16

Why 70? Why not 69? 45? 39?

Some people, regardless of their age, are shit drivers and don’t acknowledge it until it’s too late.

Original poster

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 14:17

Gobbledegoo · 22/10/2026 14:15

Older drivers are statistically safer drivers, exceptions do not make for good rules/laws. Most defects older drivers experience are caused by eyesight problems. This problem is easily solved: Everyone should have an eyesight test either yearly or 18 monthly. Not doing so would negate the driver's legal ability to drive.

That would be a good starting point, and it would also flag other things and lead to diagnoses of things like dementia, which ought to lead to a compulsory surrender of the driving licence

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Gobbledegoo · 22/10/2026 14:18

If a person has Parkinsons they should not be driving at all. It's a problem with self certification.

MyYellowLabradorLife · 22/10/2026 14:18

MrTiddlesTheCat · 22/10/2026 14:05

Do you think older people are incapable of judging for themselves if they're fit to drive or not?

They are absolutely incapable of this!!

Original poster

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 14:18

It’s also problematic for where there’s just general decline for old age and it’s not formal or anything specific but it’s also really not safe

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Moveoverdarlin · 22/10/2026 14:19

70 is ridiculously young to introduce it in my opinion. That’s people born in 1956. Richard Madeley mentioned he was 70 this morning on GMB. He might not be everyone’s cup of tea but the man is perfectly capable of driving a car. He doesn’t seem like an elderly man to me at all. He’s sharp as a tack.

FacetiousFace · 22/10/2026 14:19

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 14:05

It’s not ageist if it’s proportionate in terms of reducing risk though surely?
young people on their 20s have much higher insurance than someone in their sixitirs because it’s calculated on risk
my father is an absolute liability, refuses to acknowledge that he’s a danger to himself and others -and only hasn’t hurt someone because it turns out they’ve got better reflexes than he does . He took the battery out of my grandmothers car when she was 80 , with vascular dementia and refused to stop driving , but I don’t see that working at this stage

My cousins had to tell their dad that his car was stolen to get him to stop driving. He was an absolute menace on the road and couldn't or wouldn't see it. He had early stage dementia. I wonder how common this is that family has to step in to stop older relatives driving dangerously.

5289843DM · 22/10/2026 14:19

Its mandatory in some countries already, such as Australia. I think the age is 80 or 85 for the re test though. You also need an eye test each time you renew your license- for ALL ages.

BusyEvenForBee · 22/10/2026 14:20

I think it should be medical check up to determine if the person is fit to drive rather than driving test for over 70s.

nocoolnamesleft · 22/10/2026 14:21

As long as loaded under 25 have to retake the test annually. They’re far higher risk.

Moveoverdarlin · 22/10/2026 14:22

Wouldn’t happen in a million years. My friend’s daughter lives in Surrey, they recently travelled to Swansea to take her driving test there as there were no slots for months and months local to her.

The whole system is in chaos with learners unable to book a test. There is no way they would start testing the over 70s every five years!!

ElephantElephantElephant · 22/10/2026 14:23

I think everyone should take a test every 5 years no matter the age, with the cost covered by the drivers.

Topseyt123 · 22/10/2026 14:23

I'm 60. I dislike driving although I do it. I'll be delighted to give it up at 70 and won't want to do another driving test.

I do agree that self certification is unreliable and does fall down.

Original poster

InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 22/10/2026 14:25

ElephantElephantElephant · 22/10/2026 14:23

I think everyone should take a test every 5 years no matter the age, with the cost covered by the drivers.

Agreed. If you can afford to own, run and insure a car then what’s a test
ALso point stands for the over 70s with the ideal mandatory tests
And it it takes more cars off the road, as long as their public transport (and demand does eventually create supply) then carbon wise it’s a win

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