to support the idea of re-testing pensioners driving

[dhdjdbrjrkbr]

Last week a guy in his 70s down my road accidentally demolished a bit more of his wall driving into it as he's going blind. God knows what he's done when out and about. I drive 2 hours a day, lots on country lanes where is nsl and often someone turns into an road in front of me and I have to do an emergency stop. Reactions and awareness do decrease with age. Especially as there is a UN versal bus pas it doesn't seem that mean to me.

[SaucyJack]

I really don't think you can say age doesn't matter when it comes to driving.

Obviously you get intrinsically shite drivers of any age, but you simply do not get the same level of physical and/or mental deterioration that turns previously good drivers into bad ones in your twenties (for ex) that you tend to get in your eighties.

[grimbletart]

I'm in my early 70s. I have told my DCs to tell me if and when they think my driving has deteriorated. I do not want to be responsible for an accident through my (lack of) driving skills. I would be happy to be tested annually.

However, I would also like to see young drivers under 20 regularly tested as they account for over a fifth of all accidents on the road and a disproportionate number of fatalities. I would like to see "white van man" with his one handed driving and mobile clamped to his ear (I followed one such the other day for over 20 miles) as he veered back and forth on the road gibbering on his phone really cracked down on. Another group as dangerous as any pensioner are the speeding tail gaters and the mid lane motorway road hogs.

But of course it is natural for all the youngsters on MN of only 40 or 50 pick on us oldies because they cannot envisage themselves 20 or 30 years on the road. I bet a few of you will change your tune in a decade or two…..

[Silverjohnleggedit]

They should be tested absolutely, my dad (83) is a danger on the road but he won't listen to us. No one will sit in a car with him. I doubt any single political party has the balls to deal with this, political suicide.

[sashh]

I actually think everyone should do one of the 'awareness' courses you are given the option of after a speeding or RTA.

You are bound to pick up bad habits over the years, I did the speeding one a few years ago and rather than a test it looks at what you do and why and gives tips on changing things.

A 1 day course every, say, 15 years to help you look at your bad habits that you paid for, but that reduced your insurance premium, would benefit everyone on the road (well those of us legally on the road).

I know that on these courses if you are dangerous the instructors running them can contact the DVLA.

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

A medical every 5 years, like the HGV licence requires would catch most of them. It also requires a full retest at 70.

[TheRavenChides]

YANBU

An elderly driver drove out of a side road and straight into my rear passenger door. Thankfully DS was not in the car at the time. The driver stopped his car in another side road and walked over to mine. He was in the process of saying "I didn't see you" as he walked out right in front of another car which had to slam on it's brakes to avoid hitting him. He didn't hear me shout to warn him before he stepped out and, if I hadn't given a panicked wave to the other driver to alert him that he was going to, he might not have stopped in time. The old man was totally unaware of how close he had just come to being hit when he got to me and looked genuinely shocked when I pointed out the other car (with it's gobsmacked driver). He was clearly in no fit state to be on the roads.

It's sad to think of people losing their independence, but horrifying to think of the damage they could potentially do. An old person's independence does not trump other road users and pedestrians' safety.

I'd definitely support retesting, or at the very least regular medicals. Shame, as others have pointed out, that no party is likely to want to commit political suicide by introducing it.

[NfkDumpling]

Good idea sashh. I recently did the speed awareness course and learned a lot. Not just about actual driving but also how to drive more economically. Cars (braking systems, engines, Cat converters) and road conditions have changed just a bit since I passed my test fifty years ago!

A blanket description of 'pensioners' is wrong. Bad driving occurs at all ages. Poor health occurs at all ages. You won't (believe me) suddenly become decrepit when you achieve age 65.

[OnlyLovers]

Yes, I agree, everyone should be re-tested regularly and frequently. Age, sex etc irrelevant.

[LurkingHusband]

Having recently attended a speed awareness course - £85 - I would happily make it a requirement that all drivers need to have one every 10 years if they want to keep their licence. Since you need to renew your (photo) licence every 10 years, there's already a mechanism to support it.

£8.50 a year to drive - bargain !

[Letmeeatcakecakecake]

Oh god yes re test them all! A year ago my grandad had to drive me somewhere. It was THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE

My lovely but as equally nutty nan said to me a few days later 'he's a good driver... He just can't SEE anything!' Erm?

However, I also believe that every driver should be re tested 1 year after first passing and every 5 years after that.

[Tanith]

Not sure about compulsory retesting, but it should definitely be easier to remove an unsafe driver from the roads.
We had the devil's own job convincing my step-FIL not to drive - he simply wouldn't have it, and the dementia consultant at the hospital would only see it from the independence and quality of life point of view.
Even now, with advanced Alzheimers, he is aggressively convinced he is capable of driving. He's not even capable of being left alone!

[NerrSnerr]

This is such a tough one. Families often have little they can do to prevent someone from driving. My fil is only in his early 70s and his driving is already slowly deteriorating. He won't admit it though.

[Celticlass2]

Yes absoloutely OP. There are some shockingly bad drivers out there and most of them are elderly.
I drive a lot, and see it almost every day.

[Seff]

How could compulsory retesting for everyone work though? They would also have to make it compulsory for employers to give their staff a paid day off to retake.

And what about the theory test? How many drivers on the road never had to pass that? Would we expect that to be retaken too?

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good idea, just difficult to implement. And as others have said, no party would dare to do anything that might upset voting pensioners.

[LurkingHusband]

I was under the impression that doctors are required to inform the DVLA if they have reason to believe a patients ability to drive is compromised.

I know MiLs GP informed the DVLA that he felt she shouldn't drive because of the medication she was taking.

There have also been reports of people who tell their GP they smoke cannabis having their licenses suspended until they demonstrate they are fit to drive.

[LurkingHusband]

How could compulsory retesting for everyone work though? They would also have to make it compulsory for employers to give their staff a paid day off to retake.

Well how do things work now ? Do employers give days off for employees to take their first test ? How about the speed awareness course I went on ? (Clue I used my leave).

Curious notion, that a "paid day off" is needed

[Andrewofgg]

No Seff you don't get a day's leave to take your test so why for a re-test?

Any medical report would have to come from an independent doctor, not the driver's own GP who will always have an eye on the consequences for the patient - which is not the point, is it?

[OnlyLovers]

They would also have to make it compulsory for employers to give their staff a paid day off to retake. Er, no they wouldn't. How do people fit in driving lessons and tests now? I'm guessing they use their leave or do it at weekends.

And what about the theory test? How many drivers on the road never had to pass that? Would we expect that to be retaken too? If you have taken it before you'd have to retake it. If you've never taken one you'd have to study for it and take it, and then retake it at the same regular intervals.

as others have said, no party would dare to do anything that might upset voting pensioners. Which is why I think everyone should have to do it. So it's not discriminatory.

[NfkDumpling]

very quiet voice - The worst drivers around here are mums on the school run ducks and takes cover!

[OneFlewOverTheDodosNest]

Compulsory re-testing would be really useful, but the priority needs to be on making it easier for relatives to report unsafe drivers and it being acted on.

My DGF was completely unfit to drive through both mobility issues (couldn't look over his shoulder) deteriorating capacity and sheer bloodymindedness in his way of driving (apparently everyone should be giving way to him). My DP tried reporting him to the doctor, the DVLA, the local police to no avail. Everyone was more concerned about his "quality" of life than the fact that he was nearly killing himself and others every time he got behind the wheel. Their ridiculous willingness to trust him over us only reinforced his belief that he was capable of driving.

In the end we sold the car and presented it as a fait accompli but it caused a lot of bad blood that could have been avoided if the doctor or DVLA had done their job properly.

[ShouldiWork]

I agree with a pp that suggests an eyesight and reaction test rather than a driving test. It is less stressful - and quicker to adminsitrate.