To think people over 80 should not drive

[TorridAntelope]

I don't care how bright and sparky they are, the stats show they are dangerous

Young people are also dangerous- should we ban them also ?

if not - it’s not risk you care about but plan nasty ageism

My mum was exactly the same. She was always the only person among her friends who had learnt to drive, and was a lifeline for her friends. She drove for about 60 years and never had an accident, and I always felt safe in her car. She was a far better driver than a couple of my friends who were very much younger. When she had to give up driving at 92, it devastated her and contributed significantly to her mental decline; however, she realised that she had to stop. She felt that she had lost all her independence and at her age, she found it hard to adapt to using taxis, and just used dial a ride occasionally. Whilst I don’t think that’s a reason for letting someone continue to drive if they don’t meet medical requirements, if my mum had been stopped from driving 12 years earlier when she turned 80, she would have lost 12 years of freedom and had her life disrupted needlessly.

But if she had stopped at 80 when still feeling like learning new tricks she would have nailed using taxis, maybe reconfigured her home to accommodate an electric scooter. Perhaps all those people who stop driving sooner rather than later would push for better public transport that would benefit us all.
My in-laws have no plan B, if they broke a hip skiing they'd be absolutely screwed because they haven't got a grip of online ordering or Uber or any of the amazing but initially complex stuff that would allow them to stay at home making independent choices. But they could have put that in place ten years ago.

I dont think over 80s need a driving test. Someone could just have a look at their car. My mother isn't 80 but hers looks like a banger racer from all the "little" bumps shes had. My Granny's was the same. Neither of them should have been on the road.

Relying on taxis ? For living? Oh I see it’s an “all pensioners are loaded”

No, there are people over 80 who are still fit to drive and have all their faculties.

What we DO need is more regularly testing, not all this "self declaration" nonsense. But that applies to younger drivers too.

I'd say every 10 years up to state retirement age and then every 5 years. Full driving tests, including theory test (as the laws do change over time), and including a proper eye test.

I was shocked at a near pile up last weekend, where a very elderly gentleman nearly pulled onto the motorway at 25mph in front of an HGV, he had about 20 cars behind him all trying to overtake as well (not a good idea but with people coming fast up behind I could perhaps see why). I don't know if Highways actually make a note of the numberplates of drivers like this and take action?

But she didn’t need to stop driving at 80! She was driving perfectly legally and competently, and had to renew her driving licence every three years like everyone who is over 70, and declare any medical conditions. My mum was a better driver than me. She would never ever have used a taxi because she was terrified to do so, having almost been raped the only time she ever used a taxi when she was a teenager.

Of course there are people in their 80s who aren’t competent drivers any more, but there are also many many much you ever people who shouldn’t be driving. Just because someone gets to 80, 85, or 90 doesn’t mean that they are incapable of doing anything any more and should be condemned to sitting in a corner dribbling for the rest of their days. People need their independence and to carry on their life as normal for as long as they can do so safely.

I’ve never understood the vile attitude of so many people on Mumsnet towards elderly people - they seem to forget that they will be old themselves one day. I suspect when that happens, they will be outraged when younger people start treating them like worthless idiots.

I agree 100%. And I think the timescales you’ve suggested are very sensible, although I suppose it would be very expensive to do this.

There's a lot of truth in all of that. My MIL never learned to drive, so was never reliant on a car. She (and her husband) chose where to live within walking distance of amenities and decent bus routes whenever they moved home (they had to move several times due to FIL's work).

She had made her own way to hospital appointments, and even daily rail journeys to our nearest city hospital (an hour away) when her husband was hospitalised for several weeks, sorted out his estate and household finances when he died, even though she was in her 70s herself, did her own shopping, banking, etc. Even though she didn't drive, she never used taxis and was very "au fait" with the local buses and trains!

But she'd have never lived anywhere without local amenities and public transport in the first place.

After she died, her bungalow sold very quickly at full asking price as lots of people were interested in it because it was close to amenities, good bus route and railway station - it sold before the agents put up the for sale sign! Lots of the viewers said the same thing that they were very interested because they were planning for their old age and potential life without a car!

Come on OP, show us "the stats" that prove this.

I know some 80+ people who are perfectly safe on the road, and I know some people in their 30s and 40s who should have their licenses taken away.
It's not as simple as age....

I think if people want to keep driving, then the cost of re-testing is something they need to pay, after all, it's not much spread over 5 or 10 years. I just think getting a licence when you're 17 and never having to do another test for 50/60/70 years is utterly bonkers.

I think I agree with you that people should pay for the cost of re-testing, but this should apply to ALL drivers, not just people over 80, who would probably find it harder to pay than younger working people.

That's what I said. Every 10 years to retirement age and then every 5 years thereafter. ALL drivers, young and old.

My late DF was one such. He was a truly appalling driver. He passed his test on his 6th attempt, I can only think that the examiner passed him just in case he ever had to test him again. He once managed to crash into a petrol pump when leaving a petrol station. He claimed he "forgot" that his wheels weren't straight when pulling away, ffs.

He never should have been given a licence imo. He gave up driving at 70, and I don't know how he kept his licence so long. He'd had several traffic offences, including at least 2 for driving without due care and attention, and more accidents than I could count.

A friend's father carried on driving until well into his 80s. He was completely the opposite, bloody excellent driver, very focussed, and passed his advanced test at 65. His eyesight started to fail and he stopped, probably sooner than he needed to. He never had an accident, or even a near miss.

I don't think it should be a blanket thing, but re-testing older drivers every few years might be a good idea. I'm sure it would have stopped my DF.

My dad is mid 70s and has to have regular checks with the dvla for his glaucoma which he passed fine but we’ve been discussing it recently how it’s more about confidence and comparison sometimes . So I ask him ‘do you feel as confident driving at night as you used to?’ And he’s started to say no and so he’s realising that night driving may become a ‘no’ for him while day driving is ok a bit longer. The eye test from the dvla says he’s fine but it’s not the full picture. I’ve already told him if I think he’s unfit I will report him and I will tell him first.

Exactly. Shall we ban all young male drivers until they are 30?

I know a 94 year old who recently had a speeding fine. He was more than happy to pay it.

A group of us was talking about driving standards last weekend - so many stories of young/middle aged people who are incapable of parallel parking, reverse parking, driving on motorways or in busy cities and one story of a woman who won’t do any right turns because she’s scared! How some of them passed their tests in the first place is a mystery.
Then you have people like my DM who’s 85 and still driving. Not only a car, but a horse box loaded with two horses. She can reliably reverse parking a tractor and trailer, so a much better driver than the younger ones above.
I know there are plenty of older people who shouldn’t be behind the wheel, but it shouldn’t be an automatic ban based on age alone. I think everyone should have their driving skills assessed every five to ten years from passing their tests - might stop some of the arrogance we see on the roads.

I think there should be basic eye tests to pass once you hit 70 and then basic driving tests at 75 or 80.
If you fail you fail. I don’t care if it’s your only transport if you’re not safe.
writing as someone who doesn’t have a licence anymore due to medical return.

Of course they should be able to if they are competent! Both my parents drive, mid eighties, drove all round Spain last year for a holiday. They drive to Ireland annually.
Don’t take away freedom unnecessarily.

Why would the state have to pick up the bill years earlier? What bill? I am old and know that I will have to move from my rural location sometime soon, but I won't be costing the state a penny. I will simply move house.

The stats also show young drivers are dangerous. I suggest we up the age limit from 17 to 35.

I think they should maybe have to take a test but my FIL is 81 and still playing 5 a side how’s he gonna get there 😂

Because she will move into a care home. And once her money is gone, who is going to pay? Her house is adapted for her needs as an elderly disabled woman to remain independent. Stop her driving, she can't carry on living where she is.