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.

[Misslgl88]

YANBU

My gran is a very very nervous driver, drives slow everywhere and brakes when cars are coming the other way on a normal straigh two way road! Thankfully I haven't been in a car with her in years and she doesn't drive often my grandad does and he is a good driver.

Another man I knew had quite advanced dementia (as in taking his clothes off and going outside, calling all his nurses his daughters name etc) and he was somehow still managing to get his keys and drive up until said daughter stopped sticking head in sand and removed keys would hate to think of something had happened.

And another my grans ex neighbour (passed away bless him) was 90 odd and drove a Subaru impreza and managed to put it in first gear instead of reverse countless times driving Into walls over ditches etc

Not sure how it would be implemented though

[laughingmyarseoff]

I'm not sure how compulsory testing would work, at what point but something should be done in terms of dangerous drivers.

I think reporting dangerous drivers should be done more by relatives and friends of those whose family members drive dangerously, whether it be due to ad driving, sickness or drinking- myself included since my grandmother is a very bad driver but luckily cannot drive for the foreseeable future. I also think it shroud be taken more seriously though lack f police time and funding means they can't get there too much.

If retesting was done, then I think that it should not be the full test but for a tester to watch someone drive for a short time. Not to test manoeuvres, purely to see if they can drive- if they are too hesitant, too arrogant on the roads, noticing hazards etc.

I do think there should be a cut off with a certain number of accidents caused by yourself regardless of age, my nans neighbour has written off four cars in the last two years- all his fault- I'm surprised he can even get insurance now.

[Pantone363]

YANBU. Older drivers are much more likely to have deteriorating eyesight and mobility. Both of which are kind of essential to driving.

My landlord cannot walk without crutches. She struggles to get up my (normal) doorstep. Yet merrily drives around everywhere.

My local town had a horrible incident a few years ago where an elderly driver lost control of his car on the high street and ended up pinning a teenage girl to a wall and killing her on her way to college. He had been stopped 3 days previously by the police for poor driving and advised not to drive anymore. They did not have the power to remove his licence.

[voluptuagoodshag]

I would make it mandatory for everyone to resist their test every five years.

[DropYourSword]

I'm happy to resist it much more frequently

[Minisoksmakehardwork]

Perhaps the only way around this is to get a gp and opticians certificate every time a license needs renewing. Regardless of age. It would certainly remove those who can't see correctly (even with glasses/remedial treatment), those whose reaction would be dangerously slow. Even if it's a removal of licence for a year as they do with epileptics when they have a fit and then a medical certificate to be signed off after 12 months if improvements have been made.

[Seff]

I meant that there are people who rely on driving for their job. Obviously, people who don't yet drive are unlikely to have this pressure. Clearly I am in the wrong.

Anyway, was just musing over potential problems.

[Sunnymeg]

I am in favour of a health/eyesight check combined with the theory/hazard perception test. Most elderly drivers passed their test years ago, and the highway code has changed since they did. I believe a lot of elderly drivers drive incorrectly because they do not know the modern rules of the road. Also by doing this, it would take it out of the hands of the family GP, many of whom feel awkward about telling a long standing patient they are no longer fit to drive. It would also reduce false health declarations to the DVLA.

[LurkingHusband]

Pantone363

My local town had a horrible incident a few years ago where an elderly driver lost control of his car on the high street and ended up pinning a teenage girl to a wall and killing her on her way to college. He had been stopped 3 days previously by the police for poor driving and advised not to drive anymore. They did not have the power to remove his licence.



And yet, if he hadn't had insurance, they would have impounded the car.

[worldgonecrazy]

YANBU.

There is a definite problem, which is only going to get worse as the population ages. I read a quote somewhere that said elderly driving (i.e. with impaired mobility, vision and reaction times) was as dangerous as drink-driving.

Perhaps we could bring in a law where the police can remove the licence of anyone who they believe to be a danger to other drivers until the person can prove that they are a competent driver. Perhaps then people of all ages would drive more carefully.

We are having to approach this with my dad, in his mid 70s. He hadn't realised how much his eye sight had deteriorated until he went to the opticians. I shudder to think how many things he didn't see during this time. I have asked him now to check his vision every day, by checking he can read the number plates on the neighbours' cars. We are fortunate that we live within walking distance of a town/bus stop/train station. It must be a terrible decision for those who would have to give up social life and independence if they give up their car.

[Misslgl88]

I think as the populations ages though better public transport should become available, where I live is a village and bus services are few and far between which obviously doesn't help.

[BiscuitsAreMyDownfall]

Going on the point of having certain tests during applying for the renewal of the photo card part of the licence. Is the photo card licence bit law now? When I passed my driving test they didn't exist. I got one when I got married and changed my name. However Im not convinced my mum has got a photo driving licence or just her paper one. She's been married 40 years and lived in the same house for over 30 so she has never had to change anything on her licence. If she hasn't got one, should she? Will other people who passed before they were introduced still not have their photo licence so therefore not changing it every 10 years?

I agree that all people should be retested regardless of age. There are so many bad habits that are picked up. Also the rules keep changing and so do just the nature of driving. Cars are changing, more cars on the road etc. I dont think the retest should be a full test, but a simpler one just to renew licences. I also think the first licence after passing the test should only be valid for 3 years and then every 10 years until a certain age (not sure what though) and then a shorter time again every 3/5 years.

My mum is 65 and refuses to drive at night. She used to always drive in the dark, but now will not consider it unless it was a serious emergency. She has knee problems and can hardly walk. She has a walking stick that she uses if she needs to walk more than a few yards. Yet she is looking to buy a new (to her, will be a year old) car to have for another 10 years then will get another. Im really not convinced that in 10 years she will be safe to drive. But she's scarey and I really dont want to have to try to convince her to give up. Though for the good of society I will try if I feel I need to.

Id like to give up now if I could. I hate driving and wish I never learned, but unfortunately due to certain circumstances Im stuck with it for now.

[Pantone363]

Lurking

yes, so sad

It made the national papers and I think the family of the girl have gone on to do lots of work regarding retaking of tests for older people.

[solitarywalker]

This is a huge issue with people being unable to accept that they are ageing and have limitations as a result. Some people are just plain stubborn about driving, and no amount of gentle suggestion or nagging will lead them to change their behaviour. The only way is to introduce testing, really.

But it's also a bigger problem about the lack of provision of alternatives in terms not only of transport but lifestyle. If you are elderly and getting a bit creaky, and you do not have relatives nearby, your car may be your lifeline. It is easy to become trapped at home without it, and people may start to struggle with simple tasks like the weekly shop. That is potentially isolating and miserable for people, so you can see why they might want to keep driving, even if it is a selfish and unsafe decision.

We need to think in much bigger ways about shaping the environment in ways that mean that people can have an alternative to the car - not just for OAPs but for people with prams, disabilities, etc. etc. etc. Better bus provision, more walkable environments (e.g. gritted pavements in the cold, development of flat walkways in areas with hills), more cycle paths (useful for mobility scooters too) more downtown flat complexes for pensioners (away from noise!), and the ability to move seamlessly from lightly warded accommodation to greater levels of care would all help.

[StackladysMorphicResonator]

Due to cost and the risk of taking away people's independence prematurely due to nerves, I don't think compulsory re-testing should be brought in.

HOWEVER, I do believe that a compulsory medical and theory test should be undergone every ten years for those under 60 (to be paid for) and every 3 or 5 (can't decide!) years for those over 60 (free) to test eyesight, reaction speed, mobility of key bits (e.g. feet, hands, arms, shoulders). The theory test would test cognitive ability and knowledge of the Highway Code, as well as the modern hazard perception test. This approach should ensure that we avoid the stress and expense of re-testing whilst preventing those who are unfit to drive from being behind the wheel.

Good, eh?

[BreakingDad77]

YANBU fathers hearing was going ("don't need hearing aid"), he wasn't always wearing his glasses ("dont need them for driving"), starting onset of dementia, was crashing into stuff around town including other people.

We had to to take him to police station for informal chat and beg him to give up the licence as the police have no power to confiscate it and there was no appetite to charge/him put on trial due to his age (70's) etc.

[Celticlass2]

I think we should stop pandering to OAP's who think it's their God given right to drive a car even iwhen everyone around then can see it's neither in their interests or the the interests of other road users for them to do so!

[Celticlass2]

I'd be very happy to be retested after the age of 60 to make sure I was fully competent to drive.

[SirChenjin]

YANBU

DFiL was still driving with pretty advanced Parkinsons - there is no way I'd have got into a car with him, absolutely none. DMiL has very slow reaction times and finds it very difficult to negotiate heavy traffic, busy junctions etc. She's in her mid eighties, and again there is no way I'd get in a car with her - although she's incredibly sharp and 'all there', and her car is her lifeline to get to the shops, church etc, I'm really not convinced she should be in charge of a large chunk of metal at 40mph.

[jollygoodthen]

Not bad Stacklady, except the hazard perception test penalises experienced drivers who see upcoming hazards "too soon".

[StackladysMorphicResonator]

Just spotted that someone else has suggested this too! Great minds...etc.

[StackladysMorphicResonator]

jollygoodthen - I don't know about this, but presumably for the new tests it could be recalibrated if necessary to take this into account.

[RustyBear]

Those who say they will stop driving at 70 - if you're under 30 now you'll probably not get your pension till you're 70.

So one day you're capable of working at a full-time job, next day you're incompetent to drive?

[bellasuewow]

Older people are safer because they drive slower and Don't drive as much as other groups. However I live in a very older person populated area and what concerns me is the physical capability of a lot of drivers I see in that they cannot turn their neck to see their blind spot properly. However I can and do anticipate this. I am still overall a lot more concerned about young men on the roads. Cars are more power ful now though and retesting should be considered.

[Pantone363]

I think the young men are more dangerous argument is irrelevant. Yes of course they are, but that doesn't mean we should ignore a whole swathe of other drivers who are dangerous in a different way.