Drivers over 70 stay at home!

[Wack]

I don't see why a mandatory eye test at 70 before the licence is renewed couldn't be done , even if it were just at a local optician

Testing 40 million drivers every 3 years is never going to happen , how could anyone run a business not knowing if their drivers would have a licence

 

[Steve and Denise]

Every decade? Every year? Before you go out each day?

We have plenty of folk complaining about how effective CV19 tests are and how long they are valid: surely something similar should apply to another potentially life-threatening situation.

Gordon

Not sure how often but at seventy our body and reactions are bound to be more susceptible to deterioration than when we are younger, saying that most drivers of 70 plus are good competent drivers so should not be any problem

 

[nicholsong]

If you’re so sure that oldies are better you’ll have no problem with an observed drive then eh?

At just under 70 I was driving for a travel company in UK and the company decided to put us all onto an advanced driving course.

A colleague and I were one of the first candidates. We did all sorts of things - like going round the E.Grinstead one-way system with several traffic lights, 'without stopping' - low gear and anticipation stuff.

End of assessment the ex-police driving instructor said 'If everybody drove like you two we would not have many accidents on the road'

I think it was not just we two, because after a few tests of all our drivers the course was dropped as being a waste of time as the overall standards were good.

I remember watching on TV decades ago a Police film where the driver iterated what danger he saw ahead and how he should react to them. I do this mentally all the time. I have not had one of these sort of assessments under the current test condition [child bouncing football near kerb, woman wheeling pram to zebra crossing, Uber drive on phone], also looking 100-150m ahead of one's position.] I reckon I could pass it.

I also think I could still fly a Boeing 737 in standard operation, but I am sure I have forgotten some of the emergency procedures, but not the main ones about only stopping between 80knots and V1. Engine fire (without loss of thrust) - take into air and sort it out.

I would happily go on another driving assessment course, but only if I were confident that the assessor were competent.

Geoff (age79)

 

[G-RMPS]

In a similar vein, I’m 71 and have a private pilot’s license. I have to fly for an hour with an instructor every two years. It’s not a “test” where I can “fail”. However the instructor will not sign me off as fit to fly safely if he/she isn’t satisfied. In that case I have to spend more time under supervision until I am deemed competent. So no stigma attached to “failing” (no one else needs to know) but equally no further risk to passengers or 3rd parties on the ground until reassessed.

This is an evaluation of competence, not medical fitness (eg eyesight) which is another matter. And I get my eyes tested annually, by choice.

 

[Skez]

I look forward to your replies

I agree with all of your post except driverless vehicles. A competent human should be the final decision maker in my opinion.

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

 

[Thedriver]

In thirty years as a fireman I can only remember going to one crash where the driver was a young drunk driver. I went to many caused by older drunk drivers. It’s just not socially acceptable to the younger generation. Education does work, it just takes a generation or two to become noticeable.
70 years of age is probably a good time to retest as the licence runs out then anyway. Perhaps not as in depth as first test but more of an observed drive would be more acceptable.

A driver assessment. I would volunteer for one of those. Bruce

 

[Barclaybasher]

You don't have the absolute right to drive, you earn respect and permission to drive safely and well. Break that respect and you should be a passenger from then on. Self driving cars with proper collision avoidance should be welcomed for the lives they will save. A bunch of stubborn old codgers that refuse to accept that their faculties decline with age and that driving is a potentially dangerous activity are the first that should be retested

I look forward to your replies

Yes elderly unfit and unsafe drivers should be taken off the road but.......

What about those banned repeat offenders that just carry on driving uninsured, hit and runs...... mostly young

1 million uninsured cars on the road

It's the young driving without licences that need sorting first

 

[The Wino]

As someone pointed out the article doesn't suggest making it harder to keep a licence. It suggests that some who at the moment are unable to keep their licence on medical grounds would be allowed to keep driving in daytime only for limited distances. It seems it's not about getting codgers off the roads but keeping more on them!

 

[scally]

Nowadays you cannot draw a line at an age for whatever reason. People are living longer and by definition being mostly heathier now than 50 years ago. All diabetics should be having eyes tested and photographed every year. This should be passed to DVLA, as should parkinsons and other debilitatory illness details. I'm type 2 diabetic I have my eyes tested annually. I'm 83 both my daughter and a close friend of mine monitor my driving regularly. My Father was still towing his caravan at 92, monitored by me regularly. He was mentaly fit and stable with excelent vision. So no an arbitrary age line will not take the dangerous ones off the road but 0bligatory information from doctor to DVLA might.

 

[kevenh]

:? Looks like HarryML7 posted then ran. What was their opinion?
Anyone caught it?

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

 

[Nigel P]

There are still drivers on the road who have never had to sit a test. IN WW2 you could just apply for a licence when you reached the qualifying age!! Once acquired you kept it for life. We had one such, mature, driver a bit further along our road in our first property. He was as deaf as a beetle, and routinely would take the back out of his garage. He would sit in the car revving the nuts off it whilst peering over his shoulder unable to hear the clutch slipping, blue smoke emanating from the poor clutch would fill the air, that was his cue to drop the clutch and , shoot forwards at great speed through the back tin wall of the garage and into his veg patch because he had selected first gear instead of reverse, again. Comic to watch, but the thought of some poor sole taking at face value the scene that because the driver was straining to look over his shoulder behind him, he was actually going to go that way!!
Mike

A bit like this one?

 

[Nigel P]

A driver assessment. I would volunteer for one of those. Bruce

RoSPA experienced driver assessments £55.00.

 

[HarryML7]

:? Looks like HarryML7 posted then ran. What was their opinion?
Anyone caught it?

Just observing reactions. My opinion ? You can’t have broad legislation, too many freedoms being taken away.

 

[68c]

I also think I could still fly a Boeing 737 in standard operation, but I am sure I have forgotten some of the emergency procedures, but not the main ones about only stopping between 80knots and V1. Engine fire (without loss of thrust) - take into air and sort it out.,........

Geoff (age79)

I was an aircraft maintenance engineer my whole working life, mainly helicopters and exec jets. I noticed there were two differences between Pilots and Engineers, Engineers wash their hands before pissing, for some reason Pilots would rather wash them after - just messy I suppose. The other difference is an Engineer has all the time in the world to make a decision, sit down read the manual, ask a colleague. But the Pilot may have a very short time to decide on an action, often alone. Yes, Engineers do secretly admire them.

 

[sedge]

Who will be carrying out these tests on the 40 million registered licence holders in the UK
View attachment 478347

strewth! if that was any indication of how many never bother getting a licence in the first place but still drive on the public highway it might be of some help .....

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

 

[bobnick]

My 30 year old son has to be the most boring 30 year old driver on earth. Never speeds, always tries to get another 1 mile out of a gallon. Conforms to every law and rule written for road safety.........what a boring sod, wouldn't think he came from a father that was 15 years a rally driver and screamed up and down the road all his life, including now in his 70s.

 

[barsteward]

Having narrowly avoided an elderly driver head on going the wrong way down a dual carriage, it makes perfect sense.

 

[barsteward]

As does a curfew on all the young people texting and calling on mobiles whilst ploughing into the back of a queuing traffic.

 

[barsteward]

In thirty years as a fireman I can only remember going to one crash where the driver was a young drunk driver. I went to many caused by older drunk drivers. It’s just not socially acceptable to the younger generation. Education does work, it just takes a generation or two to become noticeable.
70 years of age is probably a good time to retest as the licence runs out then anyway. Perhaps not as in depth as first test but more of an observed drive would be more acceptable.

And how many accidents during your career were due to drugs and super glued to hand mobile phone syndrome.
I'll bet there weren't many older drivers so yes your right education certainly works especially with the younger drivers.

 

[barsteward]

My 30 year old son has to be the most boring 30 year old driver on earth. Never speeds, always tries to get another 1 mile out of a gallon. Conforms to every law and rule written for road safety.........what a boring sod, wouldn't think he came from a father that was 15 years a rally driver and screamed up and down the road all his life, including now in his 70s.

You should be banned for life.

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

 

[Wack]

And how many accidents during your career were due to drugs and super glued to hand mobile phone syndrome.
I'll bet there weren't many older drivers so yes your right education certainly works especially with the younger drivers.

Why are the older drivers so offended by comments that are factually correct , just ticking a box on a form to say your safe to drive without so much as a "can you see" test is crazy

Eyesight and reaction time deteriorates as you age , I know one woman who's as blind as a bat because she's too vain to wear glasses , thankfully she no longer drives.

Driving is a perishable skill , as you drive less your skill decreases

As electric cars come down in price and the elderly who never go out of town start buying them I can see a big increase in accelerator / brake confusion crashes only with much more serious concequences as the 0-30 times are faster than ICE cars

 

[tonyidle]

It’s just not socially acceptable to the younger generation.

It isn't acceptable to this 73-year old either

 

[Phileas Fogg]

My late father was still driving accident free well in to his 90's, unfortunately he then had his first accident and gave up. Cause. a 20 year old shot out of a junction on the wrong side of the road and hit him head on, just lost his nerve after that. It isn't always the older ones!

 

[TheMachMan]

A bit like this one?

Why are the older drivers so offended by comments that are factually correct , just ticking a box on a form to say your safe to drive without so much as a "can you see" test is crazy

Eyesight and reaction time deteriorates as you age , I know one woman who's as blind as a bat because she's too vain to wear glasses , thankfully she no longer drives.

Driving is a perishable skill , as you drive less your skill decreases

As electric cars come down in price and the elderly who never go out of town start buying them I can see a big increase in accelerator / brake confusion crashes only with much more serious concequences as the 0-30 times are faster than ICE cars

Indeed, near us we’ve had a couple of elderly drivers get confused between accelerator and brake in autos. Resulting in fatalities of driver and pedestrians.
Electric cars have incredible acceleration.

 

[Barclaybasher]

Indeed, near us we’ve had a couple of elderly drivers get confused between accelerator and brake in autos. Resulting in fatalities of driver and pedestrians.

Actual fatalities?

If you feel they are a danger have you done anything about it?

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

 

[TheMachMan]

Actual fatalities?

If you feel they are a danger have you done anything about it?

Not sure I understand. These were events that happened. Are you suggesting I’ve made it up?

 

[Barclaybasher]

Not sure I understand. These were events that happened. Are you suggesting I’ve made it up?

Not at all .... just not a lot of information - was the cause of any incident put down to the age of those concerned ?

Unusual for a 'couple of incidents' involving the elderly.....

 

[busby]

As someone pointed out the article doesn't suggest making it harder to keep a licence. It suggests that some who at the moment are unable to keep their licence on medical grounds would be allowed to keep driving in daytime only for limited distances. It seems it's not about getting codgers off the roads but keeping more on them!

At last someone who has read it properly..BUSBY.

 

[barsteward]

Indeed, near us we’ve had a couple of elderly drivers get confused between accelerator and brake in Resulting in fatalities of driver and pedestrians.
Electric cars have incredible acceleration.

I know of two younger drivers near me in the last three years one mowed down a 50 year old on a zebra crossing killing him (22 year old) and the other a young lady who mowed down an 80 year old on a zebra crossing causing a brain haemorrhage several broken bones and 18 months in hospital. The young lady in question carried on down the road and parked her car up in a side street. She was picked up by accomplice and disappeared for 12hrs when she eventually handed herself in.

She has just been convicted for drugs/drink driving,

I don't believe it is mandatory for young people to visit an optometrist at any time prior to their test nor at any period of time after that up to the age of 70.

You can't possibly get more confused than a person who can't see a zebra crossing, but of course it's only older people that are doddering around at retirement age that suddenly become the target of the younger ones and then wonder why older people become offended.

And no, I am not getting confused about my information I knew/know both of the victims personally.

 

[Wack]

Actual fatalities?

If you feel they are a danger have you done anything about it?

I didn't read that as he knew them personally

Other than reporting them to the DVLA if you see a bad driver what else can you do ,confronting people in the street might not go so well

I know of two younger drivers near me in the last three years one mowed down a 50 year old on a zebra crossing killing him (22 year old) and the other a young lady who mowed down an 80 year old on a zebra crossing causing a brain haemorrhage several broken bones and 18 months in hospital. The young lady in question carried on down the road and parked her car up in a side street. She was picked up by accomplice and disappeared for 12hrs when she eventually handed herself in.

She has just been convicted for drugs/drink driving,

I don't believe it is mandatory for young people to visit an optometrist at any time prior to their test nor at any period of time after that up to the age of 70.

You can't possibly get more confused than a person who can't see a zebra crossing, but of course it's only older people that are doddering around at retirement age that suddenly become the target of the younger ones and then wonder why older people become offended.

And no, I am not getting confused about my information I knew/know both of the victims personally.

I believe that's why the law was changed to 6 points for using a phone while driving

If you accumulate 6 points in your first two years of driving the licence is revoked so new drivers already have something in place where their licence can be revoked which doesn't apply to the rest of us.

I don't see why having an eyesight test at 70 before they renew the licence is such a problem

Very few people give up the independence a driving licence gives you voluntarily.

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