mandatory retesting for drivers over 80

[InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava]

It’s been a pretty even split on the mandatory retesting for over seventies, and a bit of ‘70 is too young but I’d support 80’, so, in the spirit of research, a refinement to the original query

This is not an opportunity for the ‘what about terrible younger drivers who are reckless and cause accidents’ - it’s agreed to be a problem.
Nor is is ‘what about drink/drug dricing’
Nor is is ‘what about the backlog of driving tests that currently exists’

Its a ‘is it unreasonable for over 80s to do pass compulsory driving test in order to hold on to their licence’

Tje recommendations from the FAI for a little boy killed by a 92 year old pensioner suggested it, there’s Scarlett’s law proposal in NI and someone in the previous thread shared a graph which showed a U curve of accidents against age - high for the 17-25, decreased, ans rose sky high at 80

Eyesight, hearing and reaction tests for over 75s would be good. No good leaving it to the conscience of ageing people, many of whom are clinging to independence and unable to recognise their own increasing frailty.

No to a driving test. Yes to a compulsory (and reasonably priced) medical where sight, hearing, medical status, reaction speed and general cognitive are checked

As I said on the thread about re-testing over 70s, there is already a massive shortage of driving test slots. You can easily wait months for a test. I am strongly against any extension of requirements for driving tests until we get to the point where it's possible to book a driving test slot without having to wait months (which doesn't look likely to happen in the foreseeable future).

Car manufacturers and associated industries who profit from the sale of vehicles will lobby against anything which might reduce their profits.

If you and your siblings had been able to present a united front and say sorry we can't do that you'll have to get a taxi then they would have had no choice.
I do of course appreciate that it's very hard to say no, and the minute that one of you refused your parents would default to a divide and conquer strategy in order to get what they wanted.

Why hasn’t the family friend been stopped from driving?

My mum is 84. Was a fairly unconfident driver even when she was younger. I’ve tried and failed to get her to stop. While she only poodles very close to home now, it will take a prang to stop her. While she is probably still safe, I’d rather it was checked. And if she knew a test was incoming, she’d probably stop voluntarily anyway!
I’d definitely welcome some sort of retest

Wouldn't unversal retakes make more sense? So when uou first pass every 5 yrs? then 10 yrs, etc. until you are 70 + where it goes back down to 5 yrs? or even everyone retakes s test every 5 or so yrs. My elderly relatives naturally stopped driving when they felt it became unsafe or not worth the money anymore.

My mum renewed her licence a couple of years ago. She's 74 now, and got a speeding fine and points on her licence in August as she drove down the A64 near Leeds fest and missed she was still in a 30 zone! She was doing 49 in the temporary 30 zone. She says all the other cars also zoomed off so prob a good haul for whoever gets the fine paid 😬 She paid up then cancelled her insurance - she hated driving and feels relieved now not to have to do it. My in laws are nearer 80 and probably shouldn't be driving, but no accidents so far, so very unlikely to give up without a fight!

There arent even enough tests for everyone first time round though.

how about restricting new drivers (17-21) for at least 3 years so they can only drive cars up to a certain bhp whilst they are still gaining experience. To me it’s absolutely crazy that a 17 year old can pass the test in a bog standard old banger, family car….then get into the drivers seat of an excessively powerful car. Yes, insurance cost is a factor…but we all see young men (mostly) driving high powered , potentially, killing machines.

Don’t wait until she has an accident, get her to stop now!

Research is not a bunch of un evidenced opinions.

How? I’m all ears.
I’ve sat her down and told her not to. I’ve done everything beyond stealing the car off her drive. How exactly can I force an adult of sound mind to do anything?
And possibly she IS safe. But at some point elderly people may not be and my guesswork should not be the barometer

Her GP or Optician could inform DVLA that she’s not fit to drive.

Or book her an assessment!

Both have said she’s fine. It’s her reactions that concern me. But nowhere is that looked at

😂😂 I can book anything I like! Doesn’t mean she’ll agree to turning up

I don't think a retest at at a specific age is the answer. Referral if there is a medical diagnosis, or an incident of careless driving, and retest then. But that should be at any age.

I agree, my late uncle had advanced dementia, drove his car and one night drove the wrong way down the A1, hitting another car, seriously injuring the two occupants and himself. I only found this out at his funeral, I thought at the time, everyone knew about it (other relatives) yet nobody tried to stop him.

Put the fear of God in her!

Clearly you have not met my mother.

Of course it'd make more sense but MN loves a bit of casual ageism to make up for not being allowed to be sexist or racist

I'd prefer an unbiased approach too. Rather than just targeting groups and generalising.
Imagine someone posting all women going through the menopause should be suspended from driving. Citing brain fog, hormones through the roof, emotional etc etc.

I live in a rural area with a high proportion of elderly the amount of times I’ve been stuck behind them at 20/30 mph on a clear road, been cut up at roundabouts due to being in the wrong lane, brakes slammed on for no reason, slowing down because cars are coming the other way. Then when you overtake they’re as close to the steering wheel as they can get and can hardly see over it and it’s usually massive 4x4s as well.

i agree retesting might be a step too far but eyesight/hearing/reaction testing should be mandatory for renewal of license. A lot of the elderly drivers on the road are not as experienced in driving on todays busy roads and many moat likely started driving when tests etc were not as thorough as they are now