Driving Refresher Course for over Seventies

I haven't done one lately (I'm not quite 70), but I did a refresher course several years ago after I hadn't driven for a while and had lost confidence. I think it's a brilliant idea. In fact, I may see if I can do another.

Alternatively, you could do as my husband did and book a one-off assessment of your driving, in your own car. He did it because I'd been moaning about his driving for ages! The instructor was brilliant, told him he was "ok" and gave him a few tips to be even better.

Glad you are going ahead Patsy to get some help to return to driving. I think a lot of us have felt a bit of confidence loss due to lockdown. I try to drive once a week to keep my hand in. I find a sat nave helps me when I am going to places I do not know or where I have not been for so long now that I no longer feel confident about the route. It lowers the stress to see and be told how many yards to the next turn or when to move over to the right lane etc.
Good luck. Keep us posted on your progress.

Try the Institute of Advanced Motorists or very similar name. If you join they appoint one of their people to take you out for as many times as necessary to get you up to their standards.

I took the Advanced Driving Test through the Institute of Advanced Motorists 11 years ago when I was in my mid 60's. I had about 30 hours of driving with an observer and then took the 2 hour test. My observer was so encouraging and I found my confidence was restored. I am now thinking of having a Mature Driver's Assessment which lasts about an hour as I feel my confidence is waning somewhat and the style of driving has become more aggressive over the years.

Should be retests at 70. Ask any policeman.

Flexagon Not everyone will move over to next lane to let you join even if they have plenty of space to do so.
I find it quite irritating that people these days expect the driver on the motorway to pull over to let them join the carriageway. There is a ‘give way’ marking for cars joining the motorway, and they should not expect cars on the main carriageway to give way. I have seen many near accidents because of this, and it seems to have become the norm.
I used to be an Observer for the IAM and it surprises me that drivers do not seem know to adjust their speed when joining the carriageway in order to filter safely.

I think madelaine45 has written some sound advice here. Thanks.
I still drive and actually prefer being the driver as I have become an extremely anxious passenger as I’ve got older. Planning is essential and as Madelaine says, don’t be put off by your partner!

I would advise finding your local Institute of Advanced Motorists group. You could have an assessment drive and they will advise on any weak areas of driving. I was very nervous of driving on the motorway and found them really helpful and I went on to be an Observer myself.

Thank you Kitty. A very good and explanatory web site. I have been thinking of having an assessment for a while.

faringdon59

Yes, I think there should be a re-test at 75.
Recently talking to a friend who knows someone who only has sight in one eye and continues to drive! Worrying!

Perfectly legal, if they’ve had their vision tested and it’s been confirmed that they’ve adapted to deal with it.

Patsy70, go for it. Anything to make you more independent. I have a couple of friends who don’t drive any more (usually they get no encouragement from their husbands) who then can’t get about when their husbands are unwell or in hospital.

Many many are still working past 70. I do think GPs have to take on the task of the 80+ resitting driving tests. I think 70 is just a little too young fir retesting. Just when we need our independence reinforced we come against reassessment. So many older folk don’t live on a bus route but need to be safe driving. It’s a difficult time for the older generation but we all need to be safe on the roads.

Supermarket car parks and erratic older drivers? Can't say I've seen any. What I do constantly see are young drivers especially females speeding. Their focus when in a car park seem to be get to the nearest to the store parking space before anyone else and then drive out as if their house was on fire. I often think there must be many young illiterate drivers as they don't seem to recognise speed limit signs in such places, often 10 mph.

You may find a refresher course a booster but I have been driving for more than 45 years here and abroad. I have done hospital car driving taking patients usually from very rural areas to hospital. I found that many women had been good drivers but were either put off by husbands/partners who insisted on driving all the time, or critisized their driving and often the car was chosen for the comfort of the man who was often taller. I urged women to get back to driving for their own sakes and also if there is some medical reason such as poor eyesight or a possible time in hospital for the man so that they need to be the driver, and in that situation consider changing the car to something that you feel more comfortable driving. My suggestion is to take it gently but start off looking at your map and working out a simple route to a nearby town. Do that to gain confidence and widen the scope so that you gradually feel ok driving in your own general area. The other thing that I think is very important is that when you are looking to take a longer journey to check on your map and see what other towns are on that route and even look at towns to the left and right of the route you are on. Often you see your destination signed on one roundabout and then the next one does not mention that particular place but will mention another place which if you have looked at it beforehand you will be able to see which route to follow. If you get tense allow a longer time for the journey and be prepared to just go into a layby where you can just get out and walk about a bit or look at the map again. It all makes you feel in control again and when you know the route and have some alternatives in mind in case of road works or accidents on the road ahead you will be able to have choices and that will give you confidence which will grow the more you do it. Dont listen to any negativity and whilst I agree that there are older people who do not drive well there are far more idiotic young drivers causing accidents and driving in a poor manner as the insurance details will bear out. I learnt to drive in London and then 3 weeks after I had passed my test drove to Yugoslavia. One thing that London drivers are usually better at is lane discipline and smoothly feeding in from two roads down to one. Many other places do not think about the lane discipline . Take your time go at your own speed, moving on to busier roads or longer journeys as you feel ready to do so. Choose to improve your driving skills for your own sake and dont let yourself be put off by partners . If they start to complain go out without them until you feel more confident. In rural areas it is not really an option but a necessity to be able to drive to get around, so brush up your skills and carry on enjoying your driving. Good Luck

Lucca..' Personally I'd favour the introduction of a retest at 70....'
Gosh Lucca, how old are you?

The Institute of Advanced Motorists run a course to qualifie as one of them, but also for about £30 run an assessment which was an hour with an instructor who can point out things and say if you could do the course, test of are ok.I did hte course and didn't actually pass but got a lot of confidence and advice. Concentrating is one important thing. I did a one hour thing a few years later too and they did say I could go for the course/test but I had other stuff then.

Please let us know how it goes if you decide to, I am thinking of doing one for all the reasons that have been mentioned here

I think it's a great idea. I did not learn to drive till I was 45 years old and had NEVER been on a motorway. Four years ago I had motorway lessons but did not get on with the instrcuctor. Just make sure you get a nice empathetic teacher because mine was a real bitch. Don't tell someone to get the bus. This government are thinking of removing the free bus pass for over 65's.

I think it very easy to get into the habit of letting one's other half do all the driving. But it does mean that insurance premiums rise for widows...

There used to be a scheme for when you hit 70! It stopped in our area though. I found the leaflet at the Drs surgery.
I think it’s a good idea.

I think that`s a great idea Patsy70.
Good luck.

Fantastic idea patsy, good on you! Agree with farringdon59

I do share your misgivings, but have made the first move and will have an assessment next week. If this goes well, I will book a refresher course and take it from there. I’ll keep you posted. ??

nanna8 Joining busy (UK) A roads and motorways can be nerve wracking. Not everyone will move over to the next lane to let you join even if they have plenty of space to do so.

I'm finding that my night driving vision is not as sharp as it once was. My eyes seem slower to adjust to the dazzle caused by the very bright oncoming headlights on newer cars. If they are behind me, I am thankful for the adjustable rear view mirror that dims them.

I also find the overly-elaborate design of some rear lights distracting, akin to following someone driving with their fog lights on when it isn't foggy.

I don’t like filtering on to freeways these days so I tend to stick to ordinary roads. I wouldn’t mind doing a refresher for certain things. I drive ok, never had an accident but I am not so confident about reversing , especially curved driveways. I think as you get older your spatial awareness isn’t quite as acute. I also know a poorly sighted person who drives. She is really poor at seeing things but has been allowed to keep her licence. Scary. If I saw her coming I’d pull over and let her pass.