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)

Oh yes, I absolutely agree it should be rechecked.

@garlictwist
When the time comes, they will stop.
It present, they are safer and better drivers than most who use their county road as a rat run at 70 miles an hour, whilst throwing their Starbucks cups out of the car window.
I agree with the PP who mentioned its about the eye test pass or fail at any age.

I think a basic competency test should be mandatory every 5 years also. The amount of drivers that i see daily not keeping left unless overtaking. Also illegal immigrants should never be allowed to drive in the UK.

There are already plenty of financial barriers to driving. But for the wider public, we require them anyway - MOT, insurance, tax, the cost of the driving test in the first place.

I don't disagree with this but where I live, near the Welsh Borders, there are accidents involving young drivers most weeks, often killing 3 or 4 people who were in the car.
I think I read a statistic recently about 1 in 4 (?) new drivers having an accident within a year of passing their test. I was on a speed awareness course recently (38 in a 30 limit after leaving a motorway, hands up) but I did notice that a good half of the others were under 30 or so and the instructor concentrated on getting them to pay attention.
There are too many cars on UK roads, many of them absurdly large with drivers who can't reverse and people who speed when they feel like it.

My dad is 92 and has just renewed his licence and blue badge. His eyesight is good, and he does not have dementia, but I’ve been worried about his reaction time and frailty. His consultant, gp and various nurses say he is fine ‘as long as he only drives short distances’ so he doesn’t get tired. He lives in a small town with no buses and limited taxis. His independence would disappear. But I personally think it’s morally wrong as he could never do an emergency stop or steer sharply to avoid pedestrians.

I'm elderly. I lived in a village for many years with minimal bus service. Here's what I've done to deal with the "getting old and not fit to drive" issue. I've moved out of the village to a town with bus services (something I hated to do but it was a pragmatic decision). The thought of being trapped in the village reliant on taxis after a lifetime of working all over the world would be a nightmare to me. I think it is important to take these difficult decisions while you are still healthy.

I drive: but I'm aware that the last person to know they shouldn't be driving any more is often the elderly driver themselves. So, my daughter has a strict instruction from me to tell me if she notices any deterioration in my driving or has any reason to be concerned and in the advent I didn't listen, to go ahead and report me.

She tells me I'm fine (for now) and says I am a much better driver than many much younger people. So all OK for now. But, I am under no illusion that the time will come when I have to give it up. We oldies just have to accept it. Please, fellow oldies, if you have a family member or friend tell them not to hesitate if they have any concerns. If you kill yourself that's one thing, but to kill someone else because of ego that's totally different.

Completely agree, but it should be for all. Dh not anywhere near 70 became partially sighted. Driving was his passion and hobby. He stopped before he was told to by his consultant as he didn't feel he was safe. The relief on th consultant's face when he told him was obvious to me. The consultant had been prepared for a difficult conversation as he knew mu dh well. Consultants cant currently notify thenDVLA , neither can opticians when someone has poor sight, that cant be corrected by glasses They should be able to for all ages.

How are unsafe elderly drivers actually stopped from driving? My friend's mother in law is 87 and has dementia and severe arthritis. She has a mobility car and is unsafe to drive. Her family are aware but reluctant to intervene and she will not stop of her own accord. She is an accident waiting to happen.

It's not easy to report someone. It requires a lot of info on the online form not everyone will know. And often multiple reports are required before action is taken.

Also I never said who the someone was.

@Meadowfinch Hopefully the new rule will set a specific standard that opticians can test against for £20 and then it won't impact the NHS .

There is already a standard, and eyesight test are free for over 60's. In good daylight, you must be able to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 20 metres - 20 metres is about 5 car lengths.

I don’t think the eye test limit for safe driving is rigorous enough. I was legal to drive at my last eye test but as I cannot read the road signs until I am nearly on them I have given up driving for my safety and that of others.

LONG overdue! I asked my Ddad if he would tell the DVLA if he has issues with his eyes or driving for health reason and he was NO WAY! They’d take my licence… so self declaring is not the way forward because let’s face it most people would not!
it’s testing eyes to make sure older people - whose eyesight often fades - are able to see properly or get glasses etc to help them see.
Older drivers are now causes accidents at a rate not seen before… of course this should be dealt with.
dad’s insurance has now shot up even though he’s never had an accident because of his age.

They (or you actually, if you have enough details), can, and should, report anonymously to the DVLA if they don’t feel like they can convince her themselves.

You only need their name and address I think.

Bit of a click bait subject line isn't it @FridgeJenga ?

you did that on purpose.

DV are renewed at 70 and you're supposed to have an eye test every 2 years (whether you drive or not.)

It's been introduced because of some high profile accidents where the drivers had poor eyesight (and were over 70.)

I think there ought to be many more restrictions, like young lads not being able to drive fast, powerful cars within days of passing a test, or carrying passengers for at least a a year.

It is easy. They ask for info you may not have, but it’s not required. Name and address plus a description of the medical issues is the only required information. I have done it before. It took one report with just name and address and they contacted the person about it. It was all anonymous.

Awful!

But according to some PPs his age won’t have had anything to do with it. Ridiculous- of course there is some decline when we age

Blind people can't drive... is that unfair?

I failed eye tests and despite never wearing glasses in day to day life I HAD to get a pair and wear them to do my test and legally have to wear them to drive.

The rules are the same for everyone.

Whats more amazing is I have neurological issues from brain damage that severely effect my co-ordination and reaction times and the DVLAs stance is that doesn't preclude me from legal driving as long as I pass the test once (and bare in mind you can do it as many times as you want and its down to instructor judgement). I have a license (everyone pushed me to get one for 'more independence') and no current hold on driving (as I don't own a car) so I could by a car and legally drive if I wanted to as long as I put on a pair of specs and its automatic (only requirements I have to follow) which is scary really (and don't worry I'm not out driving around as I have full self awareness of the risk).

In Australia, my 90 year old mum is tested every year - a lovely man comes to the house, has a chat, checks she knows what day it is etc, then she takes him for a drive, then they come back and chat some more. It takes over an hour. So far, she's always passed, but she is self-limiting, and now maybe only drives to the supermarket at the end of her road once a month.

They’re not banning them it’s based on eye sight! Father in law who is 79 still driving / he drove to France this year!

They’re not banning them it’s based on eye sight! Father in law who is 79 still driving / he drove to France this year!

You are supposed to inform DVLA of any health issues.
They are also considering GPs informing DVLA.

You can also contact DVLA and report anyone you think is unfit to drive.

Wear glasses?

I think everyone should have to resit a driving test every 5 years, irrespective of age, so any step in that direction is a positive.

The fewer cars on the road the better, I'm all for it 👏🏻😄
Of course we also need better public transport and better provision for walking and cycling.
However the motor vehicle lobby will push back hard against anything which threatens to reduce their profits 🤬