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Original poster

Driving over 70

253 replies

Veryveryconcerned · 01/08/2025 15:36

It took me time to decide but after getting other people’s opinions I reported an over 70 driver to the DVLA due to poor eyesight. Prior to the person’s 70th birthday they had said they were getting rid of their 3.5 tonne van as they said they would not pass the test to be able to continue driving it. The person is virtually blind in one eye and the eyesight is not good in the other. They do not get their eyes tested because they do not want to have to stop driving. My concern is the other people on the roads.
Does anyone know how long it takes and what exactly the DVLA do when they receive a report. I have reported it anonymously but it was about 8 weeks ago which is very concerning.
Am I worrying unnecessarily?

OP posts:
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6
Nic2083 · 01/08/2025 22:45

Our 87 year old neighbour has no family we help her she can hardly walk has bad eyesight gets her car stuck up the bank by our house can hardly see over the steering wheel her cars covered in bumps and bangs and she gets lost we have to go and get her dvla have done nothing doctor has only just sent letter to dvla after 18 months of this

tillyandmilly · 01/08/2025 22:50

Ageist post - my husband is 67 he better not stop driving in 3 years time ! I don’t drive and will be stuck - He has perfectly good eyesight !

prelovedusername · 01/08/2025 22:50

If the driver won’t have their eyes tested they don’t know whether their sight can be corrected in the good eye. I would have encouraged them to be tested before reporting them. Unless there’s another reason you don’t want them driving.

niadainud · 01/08/2025 23:02

squashedb · 01/08/2025 16:26

I think age is irrelevant my mum is in her 80s and drives 5 hours to visit me once a month but I’m only in my 40s and have absolutely no sense of direction and can’t see without my glasses which is fine until I put my sunglasses on. She’s a lot safer than me.

Yes, that anecdote definitely conclusively proves that age is irrelevant.

solando · 01/08/2025 23:02

A lot of people give up towing and driving larger vans because you have to have a medical test which isn't cheap when you are 70. This doesn't apply to normal cars

Yabberwok · 01/08/2025 23:11

A few years ago I really upset my doctor.. they asked if I get stressed...yes.. what causes it. You...you let too many people who should never get behind a wheel drive.
I saw a bloke get out of a car, it took him 5 minutes to walk 20 yards... how on earth is he going to stop if a child runs out in the road. Electric mobility scooters are so good these days...why drive

TheQuirkyPombear · 01/08/2025 23:20

My dad is on a medical license and every three years he has to have a check. The check is completely pointless as no one sees him he just has to get his GP to fill in a form saying he's got to drive. The GP does no checks on this as far as I can tell. He's just had a stroke and it was left upto him to inform DVLA. Luckily he hasn't driven since as I don't think he should be driving but when I Dr tells him he can he's not listening to me. Bought him a mobility scooter in the hope he would use it since the stroke and realise it's better. Nope he's sat in the house unless someone takes him out.

Cheeky19863 · 01/08/2025 23:51

Nic2083 · 01/08/2025 22:45

Our 87 year old neighbour has no family we help her she can hardly walk has bad eyesight gets her car stuck up the bank by our house can hardly see over the steering wheel her cars covered in bumps and bangs and she gets lost we have to go and get her dvla have done nothing doctor has only just sent letter to dvla after 18 months of this

You should report her to the police for dangerous driving. She could kill someone

Cheeky19863 · 01/08/2025 23:53

Yabberwok · 01/08/2025 23:11

A few years ago I really upset my doctor.. they asked if I get stressed...yes.. what causes it. You...you let too many people who should never get behind a wheel drive.
I saw a bloke get out of a car, it took him 5 minutes to walk 20 yards... how on earth is he going to stop if a child runs out in the road. Electric mobility scooters are so good these days...why drive

He may have an adapted car? People who cant use their legs can still safely drive if the cars adapted

Elbowpatch · 01/08/2025 23:56

niadainud · 01/08/2025 23:02

Yes, that anecdote definitely conclusively proves that age is irrelevant.

Show quote history

How about another? My mother is in her 80s and drives like a normal person. I have absolutely no issues with being driven by her.

SoSoLong · 02/08/2025 00:10

OP is not ageist, they've clearly explained why they mentioned the age - the driver was due a medical to renew their license and that's when they admitted they've got bad eyesight.

niadainud · 02/08/2025 00:13

Elbowpatch · 01/08/2025 23:56

How about another? My mother is in her 80s and drives like a normal person. I have absolutely no issues with being driven by her.

Show quote history

Wow, you've just proved that the hypothesis that age has no bearing on eyesight or driving ability is 200% true.

HereAreYourOptions · 02/08/2025 00:15

Eyesight almost universally deteriorates with age. Therefore, like it or not, age is totally relevant here.

We should primarily be testing those most likely to be affected by failing eyesight before we even think about doing it for everyone.

justasking111 · 02/08/2025 00:26

HereAreYourOptions · 02/08/2025 00:15

Eyesight almost universally deteriorates with age. Therefore, like it or not, age is totally relevant here.

We should primarily be testing those most likely to be affected by failing eyesight before we even think about doing it for everyone.

Edited

When you finally get your cataract surgery your eyesight improves again

Reliablesource · 02/08/2025 00:33

squashedb · 01/08/2025 16:26

I think age is irrelevant my mum is in her 80s and drives 5 hours to visit me once a month but I’m only in my 40s and have absolutely no sense of direction and can’t see without my glasses which is fine until I put my sunglasses on. She’s a lot safer than me.

She’s not though. Everyone’s physical strength and response times reduce considerably as they age, therefore elderly drivers are much less able to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency. Personally, I think anyone who wants to retain their licence after 70 should have to undergo a medical every 3 years.

Elbowpatch · 02/08/2025 00:40

niadainud · 02/08/2025 00:13

Wow, you've just proved that the hypothesis that age has no bearing on eyesight or driving ability is 200% true.

Show quote history

No, I, and a previous poster, have proved that presumptions based on age alone are not necessarily true.

OliveWah · 02/08/2025 00:44

Davemyfave · 01/08/2025 16:21

I also think all Dementia diagnoses should not drive at all, as no one knows the level of deteriation inbetween being seen.

My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's on Monday, and the Dr told us there and then that he was no longer allowed to drive. I don't know if this is always the case though, but he was told that if he felt his driving was still up to standard, he could pay to take a driving test which would allow him to continue to drive if he were to pass. I was shocked that he was told to stop driving immediately, but I have to admit it was a relief to have a professional deliver the news, rather than me having to tell him myself.

JudyP · 02/08/2025 00:46

Davemyfave · 01/08/2025 16:21

I also think all Dementia diagnoses should not drive at all, as no one knows the level of deteriation inbetween being seen.

There is a specific memory impaired driving test ( my dad did it and my brother who went with him said it was rigorous) and then I think your license gets renewed every year (?) when you have to do the test again so they (should ) be monitored closely but it does rely on GP or even the person themselves self reporting their diagnosis

niadainud · 02/08/2025 00:55

Elbowpatch · 02/08/2025 00:40

No, I, and a previous poster, have proved that presumptions based on age alone are not necessarily true.

Show quote history

I didn't say they were necessarily true in every individual case, but the first poster I quoted said she thought age was irrelevant because her mum is a good driver. That is not "proof" by any definition, nor is your anecdote.

SouthernNights59 · 02/08/2025 01:00

Wow, where I live you have to pass a basic eyesight test to get a licence, and whenever it is renewed. When reach 75 the licence is renewed more regularly, and again over 80.

FrodoBiggins · 02/08/2025 01:07

HereAreYourOptions · 02/08/2025 00:15

Eyesight almost universally deteriorates with age. Therefore, like it or not, age is totally relevant here.

We should primarily be testing those most likely to be affected by failing eyesight before we even think about doing it for everyone.

Edited

Precisely. It's a sad fact of life that age related ocular degeneration exists, it's not ageist to say that!

Cba to check but I'll eat my hat if anyone can show that vision related RTAs are evenly spread across age groups. They're bound to be highly concentrated amongst the more elderly.

FrodoBiggins · 02/08/2025 01:15

This may be of interest:

BBC News - Coroner's call for older driver eye tests after fatal crashes - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrv1g2yl0xo?app-referrer=deep-link

Also I did check even though I said I cba. Found a report (albeit a decade old) for the College of Optometrists which looked at contributory factors in RTAs and found that "The hypothesis that older drivers aged 60 and over are more likely to be involved in an injury-collision where visual impairment or illness and disability is a contributory factor was proven." - https://www.college-optometrists.org/coo/media/media/documents/research/visual_impairment_and_road_safety_june_2015_.pdf

Head and shoulders image of Peter Westwell. He is smiling, has short white hair and is wearing a cream checked shirt

Coroner's call for older driver eye tests after fatal crashes

Visual legal standards for motorists is "ineffective and unsafe", a coroner says.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrv1g2yl0xo?app-referrer=deep-link

Mossstitch · 02/08/2025 01:33

solando · 01/08/2025 22:26

Surely it should be all drivers, eyesight usually deteriorates around 40 or 50.

Long sightedness deteriorates 40-50 but due to that my short sightedness, ie distance vision actually improved so that I no longer require glasses to drive after using them for 30 years but need them for reading.

SarahJane03 · 02/08/2025 01:57

In Spain one has to take a mandatory medical, Inc eye test every 5 years. I think they should do this here. (I am 62. I have already given up my 7.5 tonne part of my licence due to medical issues.) I witnessed the aftermath of an 84yr old this week who felt unwell at the local supermarket, was advised not to drive home, he tried to regardless, he had a heart attack at the wheel, took out a lampost, knocked our wall down, nearly mowed down a pedestrian and was left on the road under a blanket after CPR failed. Cars can kill if driver not in control!

SarahJane03 · 02/08/2025 01:58

Ps you did the right thing. I had to persuade my father to stop driving at 88 as he was not spatially aware... And eyesight issues.