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

Sometimes, yes. My mother’s husband has suspected Parkinson’s, is very frail, his eyesight is fading, his hearing is fading yet still insists he’s perfectly fine to drive. He’s not.

There is a scheme with the Institute of Advanced Motorists whereby over 70s (actually I think it's anyone) can do an assessment of their driving. Not mandatory but I've done it and it's really useful. The instructor pointed out some bad habits I'd picked up after 40 years which weren't dangerous,but addressing them has, hopefully,made me a better driver.

That might be an idea for anyone dealing with someone who is resisting stopping altogether.

And I 💯 disagree with the ‘suspend license while waiting for a test’ nonsense

Having cataracts done is amazing. Even if it's mild. The NHS won't touch it until you're Mr Magoo.

What's wrong with it being agist?

It's a fact that older people's eyesight decreases. It's a fact their reaction times get slower. It's a fact that their car is so strongly linked to their independence that it's likely to make them continue to drive when they aren't safe.

It's ridiculous to allow 70 year old to continue to drive simply by them ticking a box on a form, when their test may have been 53 years before with vastly different road conditions.

Over 70s are the second highest age group behind male 17-24 year olds to cause accidents. All older people like me with a large same age friends will have known people who simply shouldn't be behind a wheel.

I'm 68, I'm all in favour of a test of eyesight, cognition and reaction times.

I’m 66, still working, and recently took the advanced driving test. I’ve always considered myself a good driver snd wanted to prove it to myself. I passed btw and decided I’d do it again in 5 yrs to keep up my skills.
Ive become more long sighted as Ive aged. I needed glasses for driving in my 20s. Not any more.

EYESIGHT TESTS AT 70 ARE ALREADY MANDATORY!

I think it should be 65.

Do I think that some drivers continue to drive when they lack insight into the quality of their driving, or because they don't wish to lose their independence? Absolutely

Not a test as such but definitely a practical refresher course and a retake of the hazard perception part of the theory test.
Most people I know who were eventually too old/incapable to drive needed much much convincing by family members before giving up their licence. It should be something widespread and offical that is taken out of the hands of family.

I would prefer instant bans for drunk/drug drivers and anyone caught using a mobile while diving for the second time. And prison for anyone driving whilst disqualified.

They aren't. They are the second most dangerous group after young men.

Let's try curfew for young drivers first.

Anyone banned for a second time should have to resit their test as they haven't learnt anything.

It’s not an either / or situation. We can crack down on all kinds of dangerous drivers.

People find it hard to book a first driving test. It wouldn't work very well the way things are.

If your dad is a danger, there will be mechanisms to stop him driving. Maybe starting with the GP.

Sometimes, yes!

I have a grandparent who can barely walk but insists that he’s ok to drive. Newsflash, he’s not. His reaction time is zero, he seems to not be able to see properly, etc.

I have implored his children and family locally to report him to the authority but nobody wants to take away his independence. I don’t live in the same country so can’t do anything myself.

Just because your relative is an entitled idiot doesn't mean the majority of us are.

Some older people are absolutely not capable of judging for themselves if they are fit to drive.
A friend has a family member who simply won't accept that his driving days are over. They are at the moment because he wrote off his car and is currently going through the re-assessment process. He's found out his eyesight is not up to scratch. Turns out he hasn't been having eye tests which he should have been because of his age.
Nobody wants to accept that they are not safe to drive anymore but I'm afraid they have to or have to be made to stop.

But no one is checking. You can just tick a box to say you've had one.

Yes.

It's a hell of an ask to give up your driving licence. Loss of autonomy, loss of spontaneity, unmistakable indication of being on your way out, additional cost (unless you are always depreciating a nearly new car), inconvenience.

I've known quite a few people who were dangerous on the road but still insisting they were safe to drive and I see several others in cars every week while I'm driving myself.

My father in law drove when he was legally blind from AMD. My own father drove when he was having TIA strokes. My friend's father drove with advanced dementia. A U3A friend I followed away from a meeting once was driving A roads at 15 mph.

Many old people simply can't bring themselves to believe they need to stop.

So you want people below retirement age to be retested?

How about a compromise ?

Lose your licence and you have to retake a test to get it back ? No ifs, buts or maybes.