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

as said, reach 12 points > solar cremation

or, if you run someone over and kill them, you get fixed to the tarmac and have the favour returned

There should definitely be a mechanism for lifetime driving bans.

You are being ridiculous. There are nearly 10 million people in their 70s in the Uk, many of whom are well and safe to drive. If your father has deteriorated that much, then there may well be something medical/cognitive going on, which needs checking. If there is an issue, of course he shouldn’t drive. But all this is already a DVLA requirement.
By far the biggest risk are young men, who hugely outnumber older people in terms of accidents. Only men 86 plus are statistically a bigger risk than men under 25.
The issue is your dad, not everyone in their 70s.

Dh and I are 80 and still driving, though only locally in our very rural bit of Wales, which has virtually no public transport, except between towns. Our two DC are in their 50s and fully expect the state pension age to be 70 by the time they reach retirement. Are you seriously suggesting that all the people who have been capable workers until they reach retirement suddenly turn into doddery pensioners immediately thereafter?

Incidentally I read our local paper in which road accidents figure largely. Far more older people are victims of poor or dangerous driving by young, impatient or inexperienced drivers than the other way round.

In Spain you have to do a simulation driving assessment when you renew your driving licence over 70 and have a valid eye test. Very sensible I feel

Haven’t read the full thread but I’ve been told there are an estimated 500000 drivers with neither insurance nor licence on the roads. I doubt if that applies to the over sixties

Sounds like you should be sorting your father out rather than worrying about the 70+ population.

I usually find that's a young woman who never goes on the motorway normally and hasn't got a clue how to drive on one. And the fast ones that hammer along weaving through traffic are usually 20-40 year old men. Some people never have any cognitive ability or spatial awareness or common sense no matter what age they are. And the number of people (of any age) who drive with poor eyesight is frightening. Then there are all the people who don't have a license have never taken a test and don't have insurance, driving around oblivious to the rules of the road. And of course idiotic teenagers thinking they are indestructible. The hit list is long and older people mainly just driving around their local area, driving slowly are not high on mine.

I don't think that it should be a full driving test just a fitness to drive test.

I worry about lot more about the current "licence exchange" rules to be honest that are available to immigrants.
There are currently 50 odd countries that you can arrive from and exchange your domestic licence for a UK one - without ever taking any uk based training or test...

I think that the age to drive should be increased to 21 for women and 25 for men as these drivers cause more injuries. Also young women should have random eye tests at roadside as many are too obsessed with appearance to wear their glasses.
Also more random drug tests.

TBH I don't think it's bad habits per se that's the issue, is recklessness, impatience and physical and cognitive decline. Anyone can fake perfect driving for a test, so this would be a waste of money.

80 and over you have a point.
My Mum should not have been driving at that point and I had to have a very difficult conversation with her, and sold her car.
However, if people dont have anyone to do that and are reliant on a car, having to do a test of some sort at 80 would remove a risk.

And women shouldn't be allowed to drive with children in the car to and from school until they have passed an extra parking test.

Men are probably as bad but I only tend to see women doing the school death run.

Oh for heavens sake! Will you still feel the same when you are 70.? Or are you never going to age. ?
Its nearly everyday now there is a post moaning about older people. Everybody gets older. Wait until your 70 and everyone thinks you shouldn't have a pension or you should leave your house and give it to someone with a family and all the other horrible ageist things said on here.

I think that all drivers need to do an eye test at least every 5 years.

We are one of the few countries who automatically give a license for decades and I wouldn’t object to a retest every decade or whatever. The practical problem is that there is a mega long wait for people who want their first driving license without adding more adults to the mix.

Ok but make people take it again at 30 too, maybe 40, 50. Bit like a passport.

It;s quite easy to kill someone at 30 or 40 miles an hour. Especially if its a young child.

on a related note, I have a long list of anecdata that supports repeated personal observation, that in numerous cases,

the Child On Board reliably relates to the person behind the steering wheel

I disagree regarding age 70. I don’t think that’s old generally speaking, though a bad driver is a bad driver. My mum was a brilliant driver and drove without so much as a near miss or scratch due to her driving till she died aged over 85.

I agree there should be something more at 80. It is sad but those people I’ve observed and known who drive when they are “past it” (apologies for the phrase) do so because of lack of public transport, not having the funds to pay for taxis, no family support, or wanting to ask for family help, rural areas where a car is absolutely essential, snd sheer terror almost of losing independence.

I have a friend also whose mum is terrified of getting into a car either her husband but he will not listen. He’s a man who would be ashamed of himself if he were to cause a crash. They are in their 80s. I think they have both decided to stop thankfully. In their 70s they were driving across Europe! So sadly I think that an age 80 law could really help both the individual, their families, and other road users alike.

I think there should be a mandatory eyesight test for every driver every 10 years or so, and that that should be increased in frequency after the age of 70 or so. And possibly a reaction test too. I think a full test is a bit too much.

... and who is going to pick up the pieces when people who are capable of driving can't get to the shops gor food or Dr appointments?