Over 70s to face driving ban...

[FridgeJenga]

if they fail mandatory eye tests.

What's your opinion?
Is 70 too "young", or about right?
Would 75 be a better compromise?
Currently there is no legal age at which you must surrender your driving licence.
Both my father and FIL voluntarily gave up their licences just before they turned 80. My mum at 76, and MIL is still driving at 78, though only very locally.

(Also in the same article, drink driving limits are under discussion to be lowered, in line with Scotland's laws. This one I fully agree with)

In my opinion, absolutely everyone that drives - car, bike, motorbike etc should have mandatory eye testing every 3 years and be required to submit a copy to their insurance company. There is no age to this. some of my friends in their 60s have stopped because their night vision is really poor. It should be the absolute minimum standard if you are going to be allowed out on the road with a lethel weapon. this idea that somehow we have one test to drive in our teens and then thats it has always seemed bonkers to me. driving is a priviledge and not a right.

I agree and I say that as a 70 year old who has had to take a DVLA eye test due to having had eye problems (not affecting sight) in the past year.

Over 70s have to reapply for their licence every 3 years anyway. I think the eye test should apply to everyone regardless of age.

Well yes, those young drivers who haven’t wrapped themselves and their friends around a lamppost because they are inexperienced drivers distracted by the novelty of driving, driving at night, driving with passengers and playing loud music will no doubt continue to improve.

i presume they have to self test. no way will they offer appointments

DVLA sight tests already exist. Certain authorised opticians hold special sessions for them.

no self testing is worse than useless. it has to be a proper eye test by an optician with a certificate to say you have passed. the govt shouldnt be paying for this. the driver should.

My opinion is for evidence based policy.

Anyone, of any age who can’t pass the eye test for driving should not be driving.

Photo driving licences have to be renewed every ten years. Every driver should be getting their eyes checked at least once every 1-2 years and be required to buy appropriate correction if needed and everyone already is required to make that statement at renewal time. Perhaps the test evidence should be submitted with renewals for everyone.

Insurance evidence suggests that age related problems start at about 80-85 not 70, at which point most drivers are safer than under 25s and especially under 21s so this isn’t evidence based, I imagine this is simply based on the 70yrs renewal date as a convenience.

On the alcohol limit - I haven’t looked at the evidence ie how many accidents involve alcohol under the limit and if its evidence of alcohol being a factor. I would have no problem with going for a limit closer to most of Europe but not sure if its proven.

On the “dementia” test - there is no one test for dementia. If there was such a test, dementia patients could be diagnosed and supported much earlier. It is however, on the list of notifiable conditions for which DVLA can ask for a formal assessment. I’d be interested to know how often they use the current legislation to request those formal assessments before expanding legislation.

Sorry, it’s 90 km , for two years .

This should be compulsory for everyone- to drive properly you need to be able to see! But 70 is a good start.

I am an OAP and think it's a sensible idea. My dad and FIL both fought giving up driving for far too long with failing eyesight.

We should have compulsory eye tests for ALL drivers every 5 years.

Exactly - sensationalist nonsense again. I wonder if the OP believes that over 70 year olds who can’t pass an eye test should be given free rein to keep driving ?

dh who had to reapply due to being over 70, questions were asked about his eye sight, his eye condition does not affect driving but they did write to the ophthalmologist who he is under, he eventually got the all clear. took a while.
i guess many over 70s are likely seeing an optician so pretty routine by the sound of things.

Perhaps every 10 years for those under 70, every 5 years for 70-80, every 3 years for 80-90 and every year for 90+

As the criteria for vision doesn't preclude testing for longsightedness, or shortsightedness, or colour blindness it would be a shorter cheaper test than a standard opticians appointment anyway and there would be a dedicated "eyesight for driving" test service.

This was brought up as a suggestion on a post on mn int he last couple of ears - it was ridiculed as unachievable.

I believe that if you are unable o operate large machinery that could kill, safely - then you shouldn't have a licence to do so and testing that ability os part of the obligation of using this machinery.

I have approximately 10 years until I would be tested and can't see an issue

Agree with all this.

Surely anyone that fails an eye test should not be driving!

There already is a dedicated eyesight for driving test.

This is the programme that started it all if people haven’t seen it
one of them couldn’t see the steering wheel

I think that an eye test should be part of the driving test and bi annual tests compulsory.

Everyone should have regular eye tests for driving. Over 70s having them is better than nothing. And hearing and sight often have started to deteriorate by 70.

I think if you’re not safe to drive then you shouldn’t, irrespective of how old you are. I would introduce mandatory eye tests for everyone, not just the over 70’s. I also think the alcohol level should be reduced in line with Scotland. Ideally it should be zero. IMO you shouldn’t drink any alcohol and drive.

Yes, fully support this if they fail an eye test. My FIL certainly thinks he can see far better than he actually can.