Page 5 | Driving over 70

mintydoggyv · 02/08/2025 10:49

Veryvulture · 02/08/2025 08:27

All elderly drivers should have eyesight checked and maybe do a theory type hazard perception/awareness/reaction time test every year.

An elderly driver killed my dad, ran him over, and drove home and went to bed. Left him in the middle of he road, dying alone in the cold and dark. he was DOA at hospital. So I might be biased.

I also have had quite a few experiences of older people nearly reversing into me, etc and just seeming unaware of what’s going on around them. Something needs to change.

So sorry to hear this it s dreadfull , the rules for driving over 70 do need lighting. I am over 70 and working in the civil service and the tests yearly are eye tests , fitness to drive reaction times and so much more which l passed one hundred per cent my point being this needs doing for not only over 70 s but all drivers

Mysticguru · 02/08/2025 11:07

BrightLightTonight · 01/08/2025 15:41

Not sure why you had to mention their age - surely the issue is an eyesight problem and nit an age problem.

This ^^

mintydoggyv · 02/08/2025 11:20

Mysticguru · 02/08/2025 11:07

This ^^

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Agree this eye test should be done at all ages . I passed my advanced driving test a few months ago and my driver training person even checked l could see a number plate at x distance , many countries have eye tests yearly or 2 yearly to hold a driving licence great idea

DartmoorWanderer · 02/08/2025 11:23

I can’t find who quoted me on the yearly driving test thing but you’d hope that with two yearly tests plus more awareness, these things would stop

Anonykunt · 02/08/2025 11:45

A lot of people with their hands up their arses here. I've sympathy for anyone regardless of age who must give up driving and there are many dangerous drivers of all ages who shouldn't be on the road but it's a fact that getting older can have a detrimental effect on a person's driving. Some people have all the luck and enjoy excellent health well into old age but many don't and the age related issues they encounter do affect their driving. Why pretend otherwise? And 70 is old. It's not a dirty word.

DartmoorWanderer · 02/08/2025 11:52

Anonykunt · 02/08/2025 11:45

A lot of people with their hands up their arses here. I've sympathy for anyone regardless of age who must give up driving and there are many dangerous drivers of all ages who shouldn't be on the road but it's a fact that getting older can have a detrimental effect on a person's driving. Some people have all the luck and enjoy excellent health well into old age but many don't and the age related issues they encounter do affect their driving. Why pretend otherwise? And 70 is old. It's not a dirty word.

There was a heartbreaking news segment on my local news last night, about older drivers who refuse to give up driving, and end up killing themselves/others.

what really surprised me was that a lot of people seemed to think driving was a right, not a privilege!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czell1g83nno.amp

Claire Eady looks at the camera while wearing a green floral print top. She has shoulder length light brown hair and a fringe and is standing outside with blurred greenery visible in the background.

Cornwall mum 'could be alive' if older driver rules changed - BBC News

Claire Eady is calling for new regulations after losing her elderly mother in a crash.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czell1g83nno.amp

Flopsythebunny · 02/08/2025 12:21

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

Why the fuck are you blaming a doctor? They can only advise someone not to drive. They can't take their bloody car keys off them

WunTooThree · 02/08/2025 12:44

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

Struggling to walk does not mean struggling to drive.
I know a few people who use mobility scooters but also have a car. Or they struggle to walk and use a stick, but still drive.
Cars can be adapted.

Sharptonguedwoman · 02/08/2025 13:11

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?

Just looked it up. New rules.
From July 2025:

The renewal frequency remains every 3 years.
But mandatory medical fitness assessment is introduced: drivers may need a GP-signed medical form (D4) or report confirming fitness.
Vision tests and cognitive assessments may be required, particularly for drivers flagged as high‑risk or selected for random checks.
The DVLA can issue limited licences, such as daytime-only driving, or require refresher driving tests in some cases.
Applicants who fail medical checks may receive short-term licences (e.g., 1–2 years), or licences restricted by condition or area.
There will also be random DVLA screenings of individuals regardless of health declarations, for proactive safety monitoring.

mintydoggyv · 02/08/2025 13:23

CommissarySushi · 02/08/2025 09:59

25?? How are adults under 25 supposed to live and work? What a ridiculous idea.

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Push bike , stay young and healthy

justasking111 · 02/08/2025 13:27

Sharptonguedwoman · 02/08/2025 13:11

Just looked it up. New rules.
From July 2025:

The renewal frequency remains every 3 years.
But mandatory medical fitness assessment is introduced: drivers may need a GP-signed medical form (D4) or report confirming fitness.
Vision tests and cognitive assessments may be required, particularly for drivers flagged as high‑risk or selected for random checks.
The DVLA can issue limited licences, such as daytime-only driving, or require refresher driving tests in some cases.
Applicants who fail medical checks may receive short-term licences (e.g., 1–2 years), or licences restricted by condition or area.
There will also be random DVLA screenings of individuals regardless of health declarations, for proactive safety monitoring.

Show quote history

Great except there's no DVLA employees to do the tests, we're short of driving examiners for learners. Six months from booking a test to the exam. Why? Because the pay is crap.

It's all pie in the SKY

Rent smart Wales when drawing up rental contracts to adhere to. Said inspectors would check the properties. HAH five years later they haven't hired one inspector
.
If your home in Wales is black with mould, water running down the walls, don't bother asking rent smart Wales to visit.

Sharptonguedwoman · 02/08/2025 13:28

justasking111 · 02/08/2025 13:27

Great except there's no DVLA employees to do the tests, we're short of driving examiners for learners. Six months from booking a test to the exam. Why? Because the pay is crap.

It's all pie in the SKY

Rent smart Wales when drawing up rental contracts to adhere to. Said inspectors would check the properties. HAH five years later they haven't hired one inspector
.
If your home in Wales is black with mould, water running down the walls, don't bother asking rent smart Wales to visit.

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Well, fair but I was curious.

Kendodd · 02/08/2025 13:29

DartmoorWanderer · 02/08/2025 11:52

There was a heartbreaking news segment on my local news last night, about older drivers who refuse to give up driving, and end up killing themselves/others.

what really surprised me was that a lot of people seemed to think driving was a right, not a privilege!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czell1g83nno.amp

Show quote history

That is a good point, driving is a privilege, not a right. I remember a driving instructor saying to me, decades ago, that all the other road users, cyclists, pedestrians, horses etc are there by right and you are only there by licence. Remember your place. I've told my kids the same.

Sharptonguedwoman · 02/08/2025 13:33

mintydoggyv · 02/08/2025 13:23

Push bike , stay young and healthy

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I am unable to ride one and the road surfaces around my village are lethal. Next?

CommissarySushi · 02/08/2025 13:34

mintydoggyv · 02/08/2025 13:23

Push bike , stay young and healthy

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Okay, so what about all under 25's working in driving jobs? Taxi's, delivery drivers, bus drivers, police officers, military, tradesmen with vans...

Or young families with multiple children to cart around?

Sharptonguedwoman · 02/08/2025 13:36

Sharptonguedwoman · 02/08/2025 13:11

Just looked it up. New rules.
From July 2025:

The renewal frequency remains every 3 years.
But mandatory medical fitness assessment is introduced: drivers may need a GP-signed medical form (D4) or report confirming fitness.
Vision tests and cognitive assessments may be required, particularly for drivers flagged as high‑risk or selected for random checks.
The DVLA can issue limited licences, such as daytime-only driving, or require refresher driving tests in some cases.
Applicants who fail medical checks may receive short-term licences (e.g., 1–2 years), or licences restricted by condition or area.
There will also be random DVLA screenings of individuals regardless of health declarations, for proactive safety monitoring.

Show quote history

Can't work out if this is proposed or being introduced. I think it's being proposed.

justasking111 · 02/08/2025 14:19

I'd love to know where all the illegal immigrants got their deliveroo, just eat, Uber British driving licences.

Original poster

Veryveryconcerned · 02/08/2025 14:56

mintydoggyv · 02/08/2025 10:42

Talking sense , the process is you report the case / driver it's acted on almost straight away ,the report would generate a report to police and gp of the said person and a letter sent to the driver banning them from driving or suspending untill eye sight has been checked out by an optician then forms filled in and the facts go before a medical board to see if the driver would be safe i.e. a driving test etc , health check etc . This can take up to 12 weeks and remember if ones driving licence is suspended you are not insured to drive as well . The out come would be down to DVLA .You may not know anything as you where anonymous. A letter from DVLA would take a week to get to the driver to suspend there licence, that's how it works , had you put your name and address in the dvla would not tell the driver or anyone as data controlled, but you probably would have got feed back , one understands your concern . William dvla

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Thank you for the information. However, I’m now even more mystified because the person concerned has been driving every single day since I made the report. All of their vehicle registration numbers were given in the report together with name, address and dob.

OP posts:

VickyEadieofThigh · 02/08/2025 15:21

Veryveryconcerned · 01/08/2025 16:19

I mentioned their age because I only learnt of the issue when they were approaching 70 and said about getting rid of their 3.5 tonne van and why. Prior to that I didn’t know how bad their eyesight was.

My Dad, despite my requests to his GP, was never given a dementia diagnosis. he continued driving and I dobbed him in to the DVLA. They sent him to his GP who simply asked "Do you think you're still fit to drive?" and of course, he answered in the affirmative.

He was regularly called to the hospital eye clinic about his deteriorating sight - they didn't dob him in, so I did it again and cited his macular degeneration and gave examples of how he could not see well (I measured the distance he now had to sit from his gigantic TV in order to see it, for example).

This resulted in him being called for an eye test and he was told by the person who tested him that he was no longer fit to drive. I should add that he drove himself there and back. I should also add that it was a mark of my Dad's dementia that he did this - in his right mind, my dad was the most law-abiding, rule-following person in the world.

It took my brother removing his keys from him and selling the car. He did this before the letter arrived from the DVLA instructing Dad to surrender his licence.

munch58 · 02/08/2025 16:15

Having been frustrated by an older sister who would always protect my father even into his 90's from giving up his licence when the rest of us all knew he should have given it up a quite a few years before she dropped herself in it a couple of years after he did. She lives in Portugal & had come over so we could sort out a cleaner/carer for him. The story was from her and my father was he had decided to hand his licence in. I had to go with her the 100 odd miles to his home after she flew in because although she wouldn't admit it she struggles to drive on our roads. As we approached my dad's she turned around and said. "This is where he must have hit the van." Yes I asked her to remind me what happened. Forgetting their little secret she went on to say that he had hit a parked van one evening when it was dark. The guy said that he would have just settled with swapping insurance but had to report it as it was (luckily for us) a council van. He did and they reported my dad to the police who gave him the choice of giving up his licence of they would prosecute him. When my sister and her 83 year old husband return to live in the UK later this year I will be reporting her to the DVLA as she's already driven away from hitting a car in a car park six years ago in Kings Lynn and I've been told clipped a couple of cars in Portugal in the last few years. A question to you though when your driving becomes poor will YOU admit you're not good enough to drive and hand over your licence?...

Ljs7 · 02/08/2025 16:19

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.

Age isn't irrelevant - in general, a lot of things that impact driving ability are linked with age

Ljs7 · 02/08/2025 16:20

And in addition, statistically I think if a driver 80+ is involved in an accident, the most likely cause was the older driver. That's just a fact - insurers know it so adjust premiums accordingly.

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/08/2025 16:26

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 !

Oh for goodness’ sake, it’s not ageist, it’s biology. Most of us experience some degree of sight and hearing deterioration as we age. I’m 60, I would be more than happy to be tested every couple of years because I don’t want to unwittingly hurt anyone.

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/08/2025 16:26

Actually, I’m 61. Maybe I ought to have more than my eyes tested 🤣

Original poster

Veryveryconcerned · 02/08/2025 16:33

munch58 · 02/08/2025 16:15

Having been frustrated by an older sister who would always protect my father even into his 90's from giving up his licence when the rest of us all knew he should have given it up a quite a few years before she dropped herself in it a couple of years after he did. She lives in Portugal & had come over so we could sort out a cleaner/carer for him. The story was from her and my father was he had decided to hand his licence in. I had to go with her the 100 odd miles to his home after she flew in because although she wouldn't admit it she struggles to drive on our roads. As we approached my dad's she turned around and said. "This is where he must have hit the van." Yes I asked her to remind me what happened. Forgetting their little secret she went on to say that he had hit a parked van one evening when it was dark. The guy said that he would have just settled with swapping insurance but had to report it as it was (luckily for us) a council van. He did and they reported my dad to the police who gave him the choice of giving up his licence of they would prosecute him. When my sister and her 83 year old husband return to live in the UK later this year I will be reporting her to the DVLA as she's already driven away from hitting a car in a car park six years ago in Kings Lynn and I've been told clipped a couple of cars in Portugal in the last few years. A question to you though when your driving becomes poor will YOU admit you're not good enough to drive and hand over your licence?...

Yes I would. I have my eyes tested every 2 years without fail and if the optician said anything to me about my eyesight not being good enough for driving I would accept it - yes it would be a real pain but would I want to run the risk of potentially causing a serious accident and potentially killing someone? - NO I WOULDN’T. Hopefully I would notice the decline in my eyesight myself.

It isn’t nice getting older and nor is the thought of one’s health gradually declining but sadly it will happen to all of us.

OP posts: