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

I’m 77 and I love driving. I regularly drive long distances to visit my family. What stands out as a red flag for me is the number of people I know who tell me they can’t visit their family because they live about 40 or 50 miles away. If they decided I needed to retake a test or go to a driving school for an assessment I would happily do it, in order to retain my license.
I’m aware that there are old people who should not be driving , but I don’t think that all bad drivers are old, I have witnessed some terrible driving from young people. And I have had conversations with middle aged people who think that the drink driving laws are ridiculous. I even met one man who told me that his driving was better after a couple of drinks because alcohol gives him confidence.

I'm not really in favour of driver retesting but regular eye tests should be mandatory for all drivers every two years.
I developed cataracts in my 40s and would not have known if I wasn't in receipt of regular eye tests.

This is exactly what they do in Spain. Normal driving licences are for 10 years. On renewal.you gave to pass exactly the test you suggested. After 70 you only get a renewal for 5 years and after 80 I think it's less.

It's never been a problem for people with good sight and reflexes whatever their age. They pass and renew.

We have authorized testing centres, usually but not always doctors surgeries where forva modest fee you take and hopefully pass that test and continue driving. When you fail it is usually because you cant see properly or have dangerously slow reaction times. It's safer for everyone.

As an easy fix and potential half way point:

Why isn’t it compulsory for eyesight tests for drivers over 70?

Every person over 70 is eligible for free eyesight tests, why can’t they be like MOT tests for your car.

Surely if garages can submit MOTs to the DVLA then opticians can do the same.

I think rather than trying to get older people re take driving tests or more rest periods (who's gonna police this?) or eye tests or reaction tests or whatever....
@InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava please think about making a First Aid course mandatory for passing your driving test.

To answer who would Police the eyesight tests.

To tax a car with the DVLA they have to check that you have an MOT and insurance for that car.

In the same way every 3 years the DVLA renew your driving licence after 70, so the same checks can be made.

Thats why I made the comment and linked a garage sending an MOT to the DVLA and an optician sending an eyesight test. The system is there already.

It’s not just about eyesight, it’s reactions, hearing as well, and as I said before other countries have designated centres for licence renewal and it is compulsory to go to one, unlike the U.K. where no one has to produce evidence of having reached the criteria for driving. It’s only when the police stop a driver who is driving erratically that they discover their eyesight is deficient!

Being blind in one eye doesn’t prevent someone from driving , but they should have told their insurer and dvla. Presumably the remaining eye is ok!

I do think there should be some testing or additional measures in place. A 31 year old man was killed, probably just picking up some bits for tea, by a 70 year old driving in to a supermarket:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwrky7j13r4vo

Norway, Denmark, Hungary and Switzerland have first aid courses on their licences
Could learn a thing or two
Norway also has a pretty much a zero alcohol limit , and a health test at 80 - and the lowest road fatalities in Europe
I feel they may very much be onto something

Don't be so unbelievably stupid! Most people couldn't cope with the stress of it every 5 years and would not pass tests designed for those that have just had lessons and new to driving and still in the habit of the perfect DVLA way if driving! Do you have the mental capacity to understand the consequences of such a sadistic regime! Your idea would end catastrophic amounts of employment because most people will have to abandon driving which puts most people out of a job! Nobody can cope with the mental torture of a test every 5 years and if you fail that test that backlog would be many years because that's consequences of bullying the country into frequent driving tests!! No getting to jobs, must ambulance drivers, police drivers, fire engine drivers all gone, barely any staff in schools shops hospitals doctors surgeries and all because you want to make it almost guaranteed that everyone of working age loses their licence! Forget getting to elderly relatives, forget any care staff getting to them, forget women getting home safe after a night out because there'll be barely any taxi drivers! I don't understand people like you that think driving licenses are not needed and that everyone should have them closed and the country close down! Forget food in the shops because nobody will have a lorry license! Did you really not see the consequences of your sadistic suggestion! How long do you think learners are waiting for test dates now!

An assessment is fine in older age! Some of you are sadistic with your obsession for full.driving tests! It's not needed and it's cruel! The driving test system wouldn't cope with it and the government wouldn't be stupid enough when an assessment is brilliantly adequate for an older driver! Nothing else is needed and you take driving license away from most of the working population! Not ever! Unless you are really rea thick and want all of society to collapse.

Someone dying at the hands of an elderly incapable driver who should have been stopped would be a greater emotional burden!

The eyesight requirements to drive are ridiculously low. I reckon most 80+ would pass, but still doesn't mean their sight is good enough to be safe.

My parent with scarily low vision (even with glasses), poor peripheral vision and i can't remember the technical term but slow eye movement reaction (as in it takes longer than average for the eyes to shift focus to look at something new) still is consider fine to drive by the DVLA. They have regular specialist hospital eye care. They stopped driving in their late 60s because they didn't feel safe with their vision, but technically they still could. They still have their licence.

Its the guidance that needs to change.

Edit: typo

You and boredzelda both love the "let's end employment for most people and collapse the country* approach! You cannot bully working age people into taking frequent driving tests! You would cancel most employment and put most of the country out on streets when they can't pay their rents or mortgages. If people can't get to workplaces then everything in the country collapses including healthcare and buying food!! Get a grip! The driving test backlog would go from months to countless years! Do you two work for a living or drive to suggest such an awful thing!

Well, obviously. And that's why I told my dad that he needed to stop.

But the point is, it's incredibly difficult to have that conversation, and some people will therefore avoid it or put it off. Plus some older people won't necessarily have anyone who could have that conversation with them in any case.

So the responsibility shouldn't be left to people's children or other relatives. The state should take responsibility by ensuring that people remain competent to drive.

This is a slightly daft thread. Where does it end? Having said that, requiring people to undergo additional hurdles simply because of their age is unlawful discrimination unless it can be shown by objective evidence that these tests are justified. So im afraid OP deciding to exclude reasonable comparisons with other age groups - like young men - as to who the unsafe drivers actually are - would land us in hot water. Insurance companies usually know whose premiums need to be high. Their business depends on it. As for the rest of us, probably the only lawful way is to test everyone every few years.

I signed up for a police awareness driving assessment. Had to wait a year as they have such a shortage of staff. Eyesight tested then had to drive my own car on a route as instructed by officer. That part 40 mins then withouf a break had to also give an observational commentary for 25 mins. Will adnit, that part was nerve wracking. At end of assessment only one observation that I could improve but officer declared he would have no hesitation getting in a car with me driving. I am 80 and was given a pass certificate. All age groups have faults and I have to say one of the worst groups for careless, too fast in suburbs driving is young females.

Everyone should be re tested every 5 years - 10 years.

No, but we could do more to improve pavements to reduce trip hazards not least extending the London pavement parking rules to the rest of the country. Parking cars entirely on the pavement now seems to be a thing where I live, which isn’t going to help our problem with cracked pavements.

I actually don’t see a problem with eye tests starting at 70 as ideally you would want the tests to start slightly before most people start to develop problems so they have time to plan for when they do.

Can i ask what the fuck barely being able to walk has got to do with it. Posters keep saying that ppl who can barely walk shoudnt be driving. My friend has trouble with his mobility but is a very good driver. He would be fucked without his car Housing association has refused to allow him to have a mobility scooter or somewhere to store and charge it. He is on the ground floor. Whats not being able to walk got to do with it. You are basically saying that Paralympians shoudldnt be driving Fucking stupid

Young drivers are more at risk, that’s why their insurance is extortionate.

I do agree with this proposal.

Ageing is very personal and I know quite a few folk in their 70's who are fit and able. So over 70 does seem like overkill and will cost a fortune to implement.

Where I live here in Oz, it is compulsory to be assessed by your Dr and an Optometrist every year once you reach 75. Then on reaching 85 you are required to not only have the medical and eyesight test but also take a physical driving test.

I am almost 77 and agree entirely with this requirement if it takes unsafe older drivers off the road. My husband is due to undertake his physical driving test next year.

There should be a competency test at the very least. Most of my near misses have been with older drivers, they have rarely had an eye test, learnt when the roads were very different. And I base this on the behaviour of my own grandparents and parents to an extent.

The case of Xander Irvine in Edinburgh by a 91 who should not have been driving, had no insurance or MOT as 'they rarely used the car and did not want to pay for it'. Had parked on a pelican crossing and was trying to do a U turn before mounting the pavement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx252v6l60lo