Driving Refresher Course for over Seventies

Thank you everyone for your comments and encouragement. I will definitely update you on the outcome of the initial assessment, which may not happen until the middle of August, as we’re away next week, on a narrow boat in Stratford with the family. ?

Well, I promised to update those who are interested on my driving assessment, which happened this afternoon. My instructor is very well recommended and taught two of my granddaughters, who passed first time. I drove for an hour, incorporating a couple of large roundabouts and a busy A road. He prompted me to use my mirrors more, but apart from turning left off an unfamiliar roundabout a little to quickly he said I’d driven confidently with no signs of anxiety and he felt very comfortable. I feel quite exhilarated and am very much looking forward to next Saturday’s motorway lesson and will report back. ?

That’s most interesting, Patsy70. Well done! Thanks to the recommendations here I booked an assessment with the Institute of Advance Motoring which I had yesterday. For various reasons I hadn’t driven for several years. The assessor was very positive and encouraging and I now feel much more confident about getting behind the wheel again.

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!

As far as I know medical professionals and that includes opticians have to inform the DVLA if a patient is unable to drive because of a medical issue.

Yes, I think it's a good idea Pasty70. Lots of us seem to have lost confidence a bit since covid.

Oh , sorry. I meant Patsy70 not pasty!!

I took an assessment offered by ROSPA, it was free.
A very pleasant young lady sat in with me whilst she took me round town, into car-parks etc. We did the usual manouvers I remembered from my driving test, many years ago. I am 80.
I asked her a lot of questions and she gave me some helpful hints on reverse parking, and also pointed out changes to the highway code.
You don't 'pass' or 'fail' but she gives you a written report afterwards. My weakness is getting too close to the vehicle in front whilst waiting at traffic lights.

I'm interested to see that you're 80, ExDancer
I'm 85 now and stopped driving 3 years ago after a near miss.
I'd been driving since I was 24.
But I would love to be able to help out my husband with driving on long journeys. As we will be doing soon. I'm not even sure if my driving licemse is valid.

I'm conscious that the time is coming when I'll have to decide and it frightens me. We live on a fairly isolated farm and there are no busses, so it will mean taxies everywhere so no spur of the moment visits unless I re-learn to ride my bike. That should be fun!

If you feel you'd benefit from a refresher course then go for it, it's a great idea to boost your confidence. I'm a bit weird in that I've always loved driving on motorways.

I did a refresher course in my late 20s as I really lacked in confidence and it changed my life she took me on the all the routes I was not confident doing, all the things I HAD to do day to day or week to week, driving through city centres, going on motorways, parking. Then she made me drive every single day in between the lessons and report back with anything else I was worried about and we worked on those issues. As I said, it changed my life. I am confident enough to do several hour long journeys and drive on the M25 etc I still think I am a massive overthinker with respect to driving but I don't think that is a bad thing

Was taught to drive by my father who had passed the driving Examiner's test, (not unlike the PSV that i took and passed from his account )
Having had to drive professionally as part of my job, have rarely been worried, but with increasing years have to admit to being a little less confident (I didn't wear glasses all those years ago)
If driving at night is a concern, have the headlamp alignment checked and if needed, rest.
Just had our cars MOT'd. have never been impressed by the lights. NO wonder!, Set at or below the minimum.
Had them raised to the maximum permissible.
Used them tonight for the first time. A vast improvement.
Tips
Obey the 2 second rule, and look well ahead. In this way for a lot of the time you can control speed by just shutting the throttle rather than dabbing the brakes. It should allow you to stop in an emergency before hitting the vehicle in front!
Keep a good mirror watch, so that you are aware of what is going on around you.

Watch other drivers and you will many who do none of these things! Example, 6 cars collided in Lane 3 of M6, but in the space for 5. No.3 was on the roof of No 4!
Competent driving saves lives, fuel and time