Ah yes ... another government gem!

[U.Toadifact]

Get your medical appointments in early! This should cause mayhem.

Another sledgehammer to crack a nut?

WWW.opremethodsmeeting.org/new-uk-driving-license-rule-for-seniors-begins-august-2025

 

[Oldrat]

I don’t know the answer to the following but maybe Oldrat might clarify.

A stay in lane sign is advisory unless each lane has a solid white line each side.

An overhead gantry speed limit sign is enforceable as is a red X for lane closed.

I’m always amused when drivers think the oblong signs with a speed limit indicated think it’s an actual speed limit sign.
It’s not it’s an advisory speed

Quite right.

A red cross above a motorway lane equates to 3 penalty points for passing under it, same as a red traffic light.

Stay in lane signs are not mandatory, but advisory.

Solid white line systems are mandatory, and don’t just apply to the centre of a carriageway, they also apply to solid lines which can be found around the outside of some ‘ghost islands’ areas of diagonal white lines.

Otherwise keep left unless you are actually overtaking.

I did a speed awareness course some years ago, out of 22 folks there, 18 thought it was not only perfectly proper to drive in the ‘middle lane as a matter of course, but they thought they had been taught to do so as it was supposedly safer!!!

Switch off now if you wish…
Incidentally, on the topic of penalty points….
Parking on a pedestrian crossing zig zag to avoid the nearby double yellows will get you a fine and 3 points whereas the yellow lines are just £££s.
The number of times I see that is unreal, but I guess nowadays the chance of it actually being enforced is quite low.

 

[Ray-Vic]

Regarding people driving in the middle lane, Vic was chatting to her elderly Mother a couple of months ago and was told about the awful journey her and her Stepfather had driving on the motorway down to Devon, and witnessed an awful accident in the driving rain. Her words to Vic were along the lines of......"people simply don't know how to drive. It was pouring down and you could hardly see a thing. We were safely driving in the middle lane at 40 and people were all over the place"! Vic didn't even bother to enter into a discussion about it but simply asked how close to her the accident happened?

I know it was made an offense, but driving in the middle lane is one of those offenses which people simply ignore, either through ignorance or arrogance (or a mixture of both).

 

[Burge]

4 Lane Motorway & Folk sitting in Lanes 3 & 4 does my Ed in .....Pass em all in Lane 1

 

[Silver-Fox]

Quite right.

A red cross above a motorway lane equates to 3 penalty points for passing under it, same as a red traffic light.

Stay in lane signs are not mandatory, but advisory.

Solid white line systems are mandatory, and don’t just apply to the centre of a carriageway, they also apply to solid lines which can be found around the outside of some ‘ghost islands’ areas of diagonal white lines.

Otherwise keep left unless you are actually overtaking.

I did a speed awareness course some years ago, out of 22 folks there, 18 thought it was not only perfectly proper to drive in the ‘middle lane as a matter of course, but they thought they had been taught to do so as it was supposedly safer!!!

Switch off now if you wish…
Incidentally, on the topic of penalty points….
Parking on a pedestrian crossing zig zag to avoid the nearby double yellows will get you a fine and 3 points whereas the yellow lines are just £££s.
The number of times I see that is unreal, but I guess nowadays the chance of it actually being enforced is quite low.

Thankyou for qualifying that.

One thing when I was younger i soaked up rules as a learner.
It was back in the day when you could be asked virtually anything on your test.

It always amazes me the lack of knowledge your average driver has.
In fact it’s scary sometimes.

As for drivers using front fog lights

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[Oldrat]

Thankyou for qualifying that.

One thing when I was younger i soaked up rules as a learner.
It was back in the day when you could be asked virtually anything on your test.

It always amazes me the lack of knowledge your average driver has.
In fact it’s scary sometimes.

As for drivers using front fog lights

To he honest..
Whilst I was a traffic cop for 15yrs, that was a while ago, so whilst I maintain an interest, I’m not always up to date with more recent technical changes.

I am in the habit of buying a new Highway Code when it’s updated (I prefer books), whereas I suspect many haven’t read one since their test.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I am in the habit of buying a new Highway Code when it’s updated (I prefer books), whereas I suspect many haven’t read one since their test.

I wonder if some have ever read it

 

[Jonno1103]

There was a time, and I'm sure many members did it, when there were no mandatory lessons needed to apply for a driving test. You simply nipped into the post office for the form. It's the same for licence categories. Driving anything larger than a family sized SUV requires a bit more nouse. Same goes for towing, it's a skill learned not an entitlement that should simply be handed out.

To be honest & in hindsight I'm pleased that my C clasification on my licence was removed. It's meant in later life I needed to be taught by a qualified instructor. I've learned a lot.

I was more than happy to declare my damaged leg -this restricted me to auto's and as said removed my grandfather rights but I could still drive a car & a 3500kg motorhome. I was also happy to declare my Diabetes - just a simple form & sorted.

I'd only be kidding myself and possibly put others at risk.

 

[The Wino]

It was the lower half ( the smaller letters) of exactly the same chart as the opticians used at the time, and still did for my HGV & PSV medical a few years ago, so why is it not legal for driving?

Can I say though, I think it's wonderful how you can make such a definite judgement without ever seeing it!

Because having a certain level of sharpness of vision isn't enough. You could have very sharp vision but tunnel vision with no peripheral vision you couldn't drive legally or safely in that case.

 

[jongood]

There was a time, and I'm sure many members did it, when there were no mandatory lessons needed to apply for a driving test. You simply nipped into the post office for the form. It's the same for licence categories. Driving anything larger than a family sized SUV requires a bit more nouse. Same goes for towing, it's a skill learned not an entitlement that should simply be handed out.

To be honest & in hindsight I'm pleased that my C clasification on my licence was removed. It's meant in later life I needed to be taught by a qualified instructor. I've learned a lot.

I was more than happy to declare my damaged leg -this restricted me to auto's and as said removed my grandfather rights but I could still drive a car & a 3500kg motorhome. I was also happy to declare my Diabetes - just a simple form & sorted.

I'd only be kidding myself and possibly put others at risk.

I reckon many motorhomes would be driven better with a bit of training, especially reversing.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[scotjimland]

On topic of DVLA efficiency ..

Applied online for licence renewal on Saturday ... came in the post yesterday .. amazing

..next renewal due when 79 .. yikes..

 

[VXman]

Get your medical appointments in early! This should cause mayhem.

Another sledgehammer to crack a nut?

WWW.opremethodsmeeting.org/new-uk-driving-license-rule-for-seniors-begins-august-2025

Can't be bothered to read 6 pages but I have searched and there is nothing on any reputable sites to suggest this 'announcement' is true.

(Has anyone any idea who opremethodsmeeting.org are?????? Seems to be a US based organisation)


Not that I have any problem with the idea. It's not a sledgehammer, just reasonable checks and any sensible 70 year old and above driver should be happy with it to keep them and others safe.


Sadly I doubt the government will manage to get this implemented within it's term.

Maybe 70 year olds should also have mandatory training on how to determine truth from fiction in the internet!

 

[B+W vanman]

Can't be bothered to read 6 pages but I have searched and there is nothing on any reputable sites to suggest this 'announcement' is true.

(Has anyone any idea who opremethodsmeeting.org are?????? Seems to be a US based organisation)


Not that I have any problem with the idea. It's not a sledgehammer, just reasonable checks and any sensible 70 year old and above driver should be happy with it to keep them and others safe.


Sadly I doubt the government will manage to get this implemented within it's term.

Maybe 70 year olds should also have mandatory training on how to determine truth from fiction in the internet!

Everybody should have training on determining truth on the internet, particularly social media……..
Problem is, 99% of current content would be discarded…..

 

[VXman]

I have a distinct feeling this is deliberate misinformation intended to cause panic and problems. Try checking the DVLA website and reliable news sources.

A lot of these problems could be solved IF drivers had to pick up their licences from a local office instead of through the post from Swansea. Then a eye test could be carried out before the issue.


The Government wants Local Councils to have more input into local business, why not start here?

No need for that. Opticians eye tests are free for over 60's. Just get them to issue an OK TO DRIVE certificate agree your teat and submit to DVLA with your license renewal. Shouldn't be to difficult to implement.

What sort of "eye test" are you thinking of and how many staff would the DVLA need to recruit! What happens in remote areas where the nearest office could be a couple of hundred miles round trip. It's totally impractical.

See above

On the spot fines in the UK, I've never heard of that?

Basly worded I reckon. You can be reported 'on the spot' you just pay later.

Quite right.

A red cross above a motorway lane equates to 3 penalty points for passing under it, same as a red traffic light.

Stay in lane signs are not mandatory, but advisory.

Solid white line systems are mandatory, and don’t just apply to the centre of a carriageway, they also apply to solid lines which can be found around the outside of some ‘ghost islands’ areas of diagonal white lines.

Otherwise keep left unless you are actually overtaking.

I did a speed awareness course some years ago, out of 22 folks there, 18 thought it was not only perfectly proper to drive in the ‘middle lane as a matter of course, but they thought they had been taught to do so as it was supposedly safer!!!

Switch off now if you wish…
Incidentally, on the topic of penalty points….
Parking on a pedestrian crossing zig zag to avoid the nearby double yellows will get you a fine and 3 points whereas the yellow lines are just £££s.
The number of times I see that is unreal, but I guess nowadays the chance of it actually being enforced is quite low.

A brilliant example of why bringing in new laws is pointless. We have plenty enough laws but not enough police on the streets enforcing them. I heard recently that we have the smallest number of police per capita than any country in Europe (or maybe it is the world,?)

 

[The Wino]

No need for that. Opticians eye tests are free for over 60's. Just get them to issue an OK TO DRIVE certificate agree your teat and submit to DVLA with your license renewal. Shouldn't be to difficult to implement.


See above


Basly worded I reckon. You can be reported 'on the spot' you just pay later.


A brilliant example of why bringing in new laws is pointless. We have plenty enough laws but not enough police on the streets enforcing them. I heard recently that we have the smallest number of police per capita than any country in Europe (or maybe it is the world,?)

If part of the driving test is a visual field exam I would hope opticians would no longer do it for free I would have thought a fee equivalent to the mot at least would be appropriate.