How would you feel if you had to retake your driving licence in full- when over 70?

The number of collisions per billion vehicle miles travelled (bvm) declines with increasing age until about age 70, when it starts to rise sharply. Drivers who are at least 86 years old are involved in more collisions per bvm than young drivers aged 17–24.

Did anyone look at the graph in my earlier post above?

I think the number of collisions per million as we get older speaks for itself. It's up to "new young driver" levels pretty sharpish.

Stats showing drivers killed or injured doesn’t show who else was killed or injured though does it? So it’s not really an indication of safety,

I think that’s a good idea, rather than road testing Framilode, but probably for the over 75s? It’s a fact that more older people, particularly women, hold driving licenses now. Our faculties are bound to decline to some extent as we age.

When I looked at the stats, drivers killed or seriously injured in U.K. per million, were: 1. 20-29 yr old at 185 per mill. 2. 16-19 yo at 154 pm, and 3. 80+ at 143 pm.
70-79 yo came in 5th.

I think it should be compulsory, and that after 70 you should have your driving skills evaluated every second year.

In the EU country we lived in after you reached the age of 70 you were regularly tested on a computer for reaction times. Eye sight and blood pressure was also tested. A certificate was issued if the required level was reached which had to be kept with your vehicle documents. As you became older the tests became more frequent. This seems like a good half way house to me.

I agree MOnica. While people believe that speeding causes accidents they then believe that because they drive moderately they are safe drivers.

Whilst speed is a big factor amongst the young in older drivers the safety factors are a decline in reactions and in judgement, hesitancy and a lack of awareness of other road users or conditions. The trouble is when they have lost some of the alertness necessary they don’t know, so they think they are still driving safely because they are slower and more “careful” which often means more nervous.

You only have to think how older people stand in other peoples way or walk out in front of them as pedestrians without being aware they have done it and then apply that to their driving.

I am very sorry for your family’s loss and injuries. I lost a friend who was hit by an older driver with poor eyesight who thought he was safe on quiet roads.

My sister was killed by a lorry travelling at walking pace - he knocked her off her bike. DD was disabled for life by the actions of a driver, driving within the appropriate speed limit and at the same speed as the rest of the traffic, who failed to see another car that was in its blind spot before it manoeuvred. I too was involved in a major motorway pile-up, when everyone had slowed down and increased distance between them in driving rain, but, on a downhill section a car braked and skidded and other cars all took avoidance action and ran into each other. Thankfully no one was hurt.

I think speed courses mean people associate accidents only with speeding when that is anything but true, people can be killed and disabled at any speed as my experience shows

I think attendance at a speed awareness course could be compulsory at age 70
I think speed awareness courses would be of more use to young drivers.

Perhaps we should all go back to riding wee (or not so wee) donkeys!

Lucca

DillytheGardener

Oh Jesus Mary and Joseph , onus not anus.

????. Thank you for that fabulous typo!

oh, and i thought you were referring to family who can't be "asked" to deal with it.

Gelisajams great idea, random testing.

I also like the idea of having black boxes that mostly young drivers have to lower insurance costs fitted in all cars. If driving is bad then insurance is cancelled for a month.

I think this is one of those suggestions based on innaccurate facts and also is not actually do able. There are 4.5 million drivers over 70 in the UK and this figure is increasing as people get older and remain active. to give them all tests in one year would mean testing 12329 per day every day of the year and all the while you are testing, more are getting older. As things stand, when an over 70 renews their licence, they have to declare that they are fit and if they are a glasses wearer then they MUST have regular sight tests and MUST wear glasses when driving.
I do wonder how many people who are over 70 think its a good idea and of those who do, how many avail themselves of the older driver assessments that are currently available?
I used to work for the NHS dealing mainly with older people and my experience is that the vast majority of them do behave responsibly, curtailing their driving or stopping altogether appropriately. Its one of those situations where news items don't reflect the truth....I mean goodness there's a surprise!

MawBe

“???
Not forgetting the wee donkey!
Nearly a cafe/iPad incident there”

‘Definately’ don’t forget the wee donkey! I’m laughing my head off now alone in the house. Glad I didn’t make that typo in the family WhatsApp or I’d never hear the end of it

I completely agree with PolarBear2, I think attendance at a speed awareness course could be compulsory at age 70 - it's a very good test to see how aware you are of things that have changed since you first took the test.

Peasblossom

I don’t see the problem. If you’re fit to drive you’ll pass the test.

If you don’t pass the test you’re not fit to drive.

If you think you’d fail the test, why are you still driving??

^

Absolutely this.

DillytheGardener

Oh Jesus Mary and Joseph , onus not anus.

???
Not forgetting the wee donkey!
Nearly a /iPad incident there!

I know Lucca the shame of it! My autocorrect thwarted me once again

It’s not fair on the burden being on children or family members to stop older relatives driving. I think it’s an excellent idea.

I always remember that programme on tv about 100 yr old drivers or something similar. Old guy in a test drive. Cars parked along roadside. Instructor says “what do you think when you see these cars?” (I.e. hazard). Old guy says in a very posh accent “they have no bloody garages!” ????

DillytheGardener

Oh Jesus Mary and Joseph , onus not anus.

????. Thank you for that fabulous typo!

I agree sparkling. Driving has always been about independence for me. My dad mostly always drove my mum so I didnt want that for myself.

I must add, it's is the end of Independance for a lot of people when they can't drive, it effects them physically and emotionally, I dread it.

How many if us had an aged parent that refused to be told they were not on tge ball with driving. Where in live three people in their 80's only packed up after they caused accidents, one reversed out of his drive right across the road up the kerb and landed in some ones front garden, he said the sun was in his eyes, my Fil frightened the life out of us, he eventually was stopped driving by driving wrong way round an island and had a dreadful smash. No one hurt badly but cars were. I am clocking the miles up now and think I am ok but there should be checks on you when you get into your 70's eyesight, reactions to situations etc. because a lot of us can't be told.

The Institute of Advanced Drivers runs assessment drives for the over 70s.

Oh Jesus Mary and Joseph , onus not anus.