Driving assessment/course for over 70s

It's just a thought, Kitty but I wonder if Age Concern could point you in the right direction?

It might not be very relevant to your friends position, but I was talking to my hairdresser recently, who is training to be a Driving Instructor.
She was saying that the driving (practical) side had changed so much that without this extra training she would never pass her driving test again ( she is in her late 40s) , the more I asked her about it the more she said to “no” that’s changed you can do that now, I was very surprised.
So maybe your friends Driving Instructor wasn’t being unhelpful, but that they realised your friend might need a few more lessons being taught the new ways of doing things.

Hi, thanks for your replies. I can't find anything on AgeUk's website, lovebeigecardigans.

May be worth seeing if you have a branch of the Advanced Drivers Association in your area as I believe they will take out drivers and give an assessment or contact RoSPA on the web as they have a section on older drivers

I think what she needs is a refresher course. She should contact a local driving school and they will be able to assess her driving and then tailor lessons to suit her.

The Institute of Advanced Drivers does run an assessment course, but if she was not up to scratch, she would still need to organise lessons. The IAM course, is aimed more at testing current drivers than assessing those wanting to come back to driving

Not just the over 70's..!!

Our DD, (41), never what we would call a "natural" driver, (same as me!), recently had a day course in her own car with an instructor (Advanced Drivers).
The instructor was good, DD said, giving her confidence, taking her on the A14 ( they even called to see us for a coffee/loo break!).
DD passed her test at 17, but after not needing to drive much at university, then living in London & USA, (she did have a refresher course after coming back to UK), having 2 DC, & with the lockdowns, she was completely out of practice.

I think finding the right sort of instructor is important, but well worth the effort.

Good Luck to the lady.

Thanks all, you've been a great help.

I would have thought any decent driving instructor would welcome the work to give a refresher course to this lady, it does sound a good idea.

After my Mum died my Dad (90) moved to our town to be near us. We towed his car here on a trailer. He hadn't driven for a few months and didn't know the roads.
For my own peace of mind I contacted a driving instructor I know and she was happy to take him out and assess his driving. They went in her dual-control car the first time and in Dad's car after that.
She said his driving was fine and she was happy for him to continue. It gave Dad the confidence to get behind the wheel again and gave him his independence back.

Katie59

I would have thought any decent driving instructor would welcome the work to give a refresher course to this lady, it does sound a good idea.

In normal times, yes, but with Covid, perhaps driving instructors are very busy with a backlog of young drivers who couldn’t have lessons last year.

Just a thought.

The conditions under which we passed our tests, bear little relation to today's conditions.
When I passed, Dual carriage ways were unusual. Motorways had not been invented.
I was fortunate, my father was experienced and had passed the test for Driving Examiners. So driving was an interest. For one later job, I had to have extra training for heavier vehicles. All stood me in good stead, to continue driving carefully and safely.
But a refresher course is always useful. Surprising, no matter how careful you think that you are, they make aware of improvements that you need to make.
A refresher course will build knowledge, confidence and ability. By all means contact Advanced Drivers to see what they can offer. It will benefit everyone, and might even avoid an accident and injury, due to someone else's error!

I passed my test on the relatively quiet streets of St Andrews in 1959. Three years later, my Dad told me I'd better take a refresher course on city driving, in Edinburgh. I'd be terrified if I had to take a test now. Avoiding heavy traffic and motorways is all I feel fit for now.

Our local authority had a tie up with a local driving school to assess and advise older drivers. I had an hour with an instructor and learned a lot and feel safer behind the wheel in consequence. I booked and paid for another hour and felt it was a really good investment since so much about roads and cars themselves had changed in the decades since I passed my test. I thoroughly agree with finding a driving instructor who is happy with older drivers updating their skills, and wish kitty’s friend all the best.

Wish some of my friends would have the gumption to have a refresher course to give them a bit more confidence.
I'm still working and widowed and so happily still drive and love my independence. However so many of my friends expect their husbands to drive them around or say 'I don't like driving' - so they don't! Fed up up with always being the one when we go out to end up driving. What ever happened to feminism? I do get cross about them all being so wet. God forbid if their husbands have to stop driving or pass away. What will they do then?
So Kittyleicester hats off to you friend for wanting to continue driving.

M0nica

I think what she needs is a refresher course. She should contact a local driving school and they will be able to assess her driving and then tailor lessons to suit her.

The Institute of Advanced Drivers does run an assessment course, but if she was not up to scratch, she would still need to organise lessons. The IAM course, is aimed more at testing current drivers than assessing those wanting to come back to driving

That is far too advanced for someone needing to refresh their skills . Far better with a lady driving instructor. DH redid the advanced driving test ( one for older drivers ) as he had already been a member and he is a good driver.

mumski I so agree. What you describe happened to my mother. DF loved driving, so hogged the wheel so after they both retired, she hardly ever drove and soon lost cnfidence, especially after she had a minor accident.

DH loves driving, but when doing long journeys we share the driving for just that reason. I also keep my own car, so that I can jump in anytime and go where I want.

I have been very glad I did because twice in the last 5 years DH has had occasions when he couldn't drive for health reasons and I had to do all the driving - and it didn't bother me at all.