Driving at 80

Even if our reflexes do slow down a bit, that has to be seen in the general poor level of driving by people of all ages.

I am not talking about dangerous driving I am just talking about poor driving skills, bad placement approaching rundabouts, unable to back accurately, consistent failure to signal, hogging the centre of the road . Taking ages to turn out at junctions, even when the road is clear.

I am not suggesting I am a perfect driver I know I am not, I too, no doubtnhave bad habits and I think our own bad drivig habits put ourselves and other road users for amore at risk, then a one or two seconds delay in responding to events.

I applied for my driving licence to be renewed mid November., 2025 I am 82 today, so 81 then. Last time I applied it was renewed in a week. I was, of course, a mere 78 then. So far no licence in sight and it ended yesterday as is the norm. I had phoned them early December and was told it was with the medical department. There have been no changes in my medical history, physical or sight/hearing-wise in the last 6-10 years. I had an eye test 2 days before applying online and specifically asked if I was still fit to drive. I now have a sinking feeling that they are not going to renew and I know there is a move to stop 80+ driving as their accident rate increases. I have a clean record. My daughters tell me that they haven't cancelled it yet and closures over Christmas and New Year slow things down. I am not holding out much hope. I can appeal, but doubt it will help. I now have a defunct piece of metal on four wheels outside and a distinct loss of independence.

Dash cams are a good idea for us older drivers. I find it's the younger ones who think they are rally drivers and never in the wrong. Females as well males.

Taking an arbtrary age in this context is meaningless, how people fuction as to reflexes etc. can be vastly different. I really only do short journeys around my local town. I hate driving in low winter sun, I've always found it horribly dazzling, so I don't. Although I've a good few years before I hit 80,I'd like to think I'd be my own judge and jury and would certainly give up if I felt it was time to.

Agree, an arbitrary age isn’t helpful. Everyone is different in both attitude and ability.

devorgilla Don’t give up hope. A friend was referred to the medical department (aged 82), enquiries were made to her GP, she was told she could drive while enquiries were finished. The outcome? Carry on driving. Mr C last renewed at 81. He has a declarable medical condition. As it’s well controlled his new licence came quickly. Perhaps check again next week. If you get the same answer I’d ask how to contact the medical department, things can and do get misplaced. Hope all ends as you’d wish.

Thank you. I really only wanted about one more year. Just hate decisions been made for me especially when, seemingly, based on age.

Seems that you did make a good decision based on all things considered.
A lot of ageist comments here as all of us are very different and pig headedness apart we should all be prepared to quit whilst we are ahead and not wait for something awful to happen to someone else. It would be down to the drivers who are aware of their own limitations.
My personal weakness is allowing my oh to drive me too often, how many of us do that ?

It does seem that the 80 year old people who have given up driving all live in areas where there is good public transport. Not so easy for those of us who live in rural areas. I would however give up if I thought I wasn't coping as well as I should.

What sodapop says.

Greenfinch

What sodapop says.

Ditto.

I gave up driving about 18 months ago, I'm 77. I'm fitter than I've been in a while because I walk a lot more. If I don't walk I catch a bus (or train) and if I don't feel like using public transport, I Uber or use a minicab service, both are cheaper than running a car because of the handful of times I do pay for a cab.
Apart from walking fitness, I feel I have benefitted from carrying two heavy shopping bags home - strength training (I can gauge perfectly how much I can manage to carry and I shop daily or every other day - supermarket is not very far).

I very occasionally miss driving e.g. for getting somewhere I can't get to otherwise, but my OH or DD will drive me if I ask.

I don't miss the stress of driving at 20mph as is required in my area. I don't miss trying to park our car in a tiny space at the supermarket. I don't miss being hooted at for sticking to the speed limit! Overall, I don't miss driving.

Some people are excellent drivers at 80 and better than younger drivers, my OH being one of them.
We're in SW France and there's a really tricky bit of the motorway where a stream of large lorries join the four or five lanes of the motorway via a slip road.
One huge lorry joined too fast and too close to our car. It was all over in a moment. Massive wheel up against the left front window: OH kept his head and moved quickly , quietly and efficiently into a gap in the adjoining lane. Luckily there was one.
I didn't have time to be afraid. I call it his "Lewis Hamilton moment".
It could otherwise have been a terrible accident.
So no-one should say that 80 year olds can't drive safely.

Some people are bad drivers others are good, safe and competent all independent of age. To tar all octogenarians with the same brush is barmy.
I am eighty and whilst not boasting about skills - I'm not qualified to do that - I have driven more than a million miles in my driving lifetime doing 50,000 miles per annum for a decade. I have only just sold my track day car - a Westfield replica of a Lotus Seven. Abilities vary widely.

InnocentBystander
My 79 year old partner still does time trails at SantaPot.

I worry about those who say they can’t give up driving because of a lack of public transport. If their eyesight or other faculties deteriorate, they will have no choice.

I think we all appreciate that.

I worry about women who let their/
DH /DP drive and rarely drive themselves. What will they do if their DH /DP can’t drive ?

DH still drives, he is 79. He doesn't drive at night, and only short distances.

I have just had an application form to renew my licence but I don't think I'll bother.

We both use Uber a lot and sometimes taxis. If not, there is a bus to town every 10 minutes, and a railway station in town.

I gave up driving 2 years ago, I didn't renew my license. I hated driving at night, if I want to go into town,I get a taxi, but I don't go very often, I feel that now I've no car to upkeep that when I have to get a taxi I can afford it, I get all my groceries delivered.
I do all my shopping online, I do miss my car for going to garden centres and antique fairs, but other than that no. I don't miss taking it for mot's services and repairs. and it was always me who had to do that ,as my husband didn't drive. I was 78 when I gave it up.