mature drivers facing compulsory driving re-tests?

I agree too, if your driving is only safe under specific circumstances it’s time to give up.
An urgent call for a sick grandchild after dark might be too tempting, but dangerous.

Yes I agree witb growstuff, if you can't pass at the very least an eye test then you shouldn't be driving. How would anyone feel about a bus driver not passing his eye test and saying its a shame as he will lose his job so let him drive. Please no.

NittWitt

Cabbie21

I wonder who pays for these reviews in other countries? The drivers? Our overworked NHS GPs are unlikely to provide this service free of charge. Another opportunity for the private sector? How would it be policed?
I agree that reform is long overdue.

In Scotland, eye tests are free. Are they not already free in the rest of the UK?

I think expense to the government of doing the tests is worth it to prevent dangerous driving & possibly injuries and deaths caused by people who can't see properly.

Eye tests in England are free for over 60s and some others.

Cabbie21

I wonder who pays for these reviews in other countries? The drivers? Our overworked NHS GPs are unlikely to provide this service free of charge. Another opportunity for the private sector? How would it be policed?
I agree that reform is long overdue.

In Scotland, eye tests are free. Are they not already free in the rest of the UK?

I think expense to the government of doing the tests is worth it to prevent dangerous driving & possibly injuries and deaths caused by people who can't see properly.

Yes definitely everyone over retirement age should be re examined and any illnesses or defects should be reported straight to DVLA not left to the person to report as we know older people sometimes don’t see or recognise their own lessening abilities
I knew an elderly lady who drove straight after a stoke, a man with Alzheimer’s driving and someone who can’t remember where they are going these are not close friends that I could speak to but their families need to

Grantanow

Re- testing 70 year old would risk forcing many off the road at a time when rural bus services are mostly non-existant. Taxis are expensively out of reach for many and thin on the ground in rural areas. One has to weigh the upside and downside of any policy. Paying attention only to well-publicised accidents risks undervaluing the high percentage of non-acident related driving.

An eyesight test would be relatively easy and cheap to administer, as others have already pointed out. If people of whatever age can't pass one, they shouldn't be driving, however expensive taxis are. People who can't see properly are a danger to themselves, their passengers and other road users.

Re- testing 70 year old would risk forcing many off the road at a time when rural bus services are mostly non-existant. Taxis are expensively out of reach for many and thin on the ground in rural areas. One has to weigh the upside and downside of any policy. Paying attention only to well-publicised accidents risks undervaluing the high percentage of non-acident related driving.

One thing I would do is to ensure that, after passing the driving test, newly qualified drivers should have at least one lesson on a motorway.

I did that the week after I passed my test, when I was 35.
We went for two hours on my local motorway, coming off and on again at every junction for an hour, then did the same coming back again.

My instructor kept up a running commentary the whole time about the appalling driving of other people along the lines of, "Look at that idiot."
By the time we finished I was a nervous wreck.
Looking back I should have waited at least a month before I did this exercise.

Nowadays I don't even like being a passenger in a car on the motorway.
I am however quite happy driving at night, both in town and on the country roads.

After two awful cataract operations I am now recovered and have 20/20 vision, quite unusual for someone in their seventies. I’m alright Jack and have the paperwork from the eye hospital to send to the DVLA, but I do reluctantly feel people over 70 should be required to show their eyesight capabilities.

One of the many things I’ve learned throughout my life is that, quite often uber confident people aren’t always as good as they think themselves to be and that people who do actually question themselves are often much better than they think they are. I’ve known some pretty confident drivers that I would never get in a car with again.

Crossstitchfan. There is a lot of sense in what you say because we can never really know what is going to happen when we are out driving.

What happens if someone is driving in daylight but then gets stuck in a big holdup for hours and meantime it gets dark?

What happens if someone is driving on an A road but a diversion due to a major incident sends them to the motorway?

Drivers do need to be capable and confident of driving on every kind of road and in all conditions.

Well, I can’t actually walk very well these days due to my dodgy knee. So I’ve adapted by driving more.

MayBee70

It hasn’t helped at all. You’ve basically told me that I’m not fit to drive a car. At all. Ever. Can you tell me then how I can help with holiday childcare for my grandchildren, take my dog to the vets and visit local national trust properties or country parks. None of which involve motorway driving or driving after dark . Oh or get my doctors which is in the nearby town…

What would you do if (heaven forbid) you actually went blind or lost a limb in an accident?

The truth is you'd have to adapt.

MayBee70

It hasn’t helped at all. You’ve basically told me that I’m not fit to drive a car. At all. Ever. Can you tell me then how I can help with holiday childcare for my grandchildren, take my dog to the vets and visit local national trust properties or country parks. None of which involve motorway driving or driving after dark . Oh or get my doctors which is in the nearby town…

Ignore, it's just someone's opinion.

I hope this has helped. It wasn’t my intention to preach

Unfortunately it comes across as preaching Crossstitchfan and, unless you know these drivers personally and are a qualified driving examiner then I fail to see how or why you are advising what others should do.

In fact, looking at ths qualifications required to become a driving examiner, they are quite frightening in their limitations.

One thing I would do is to ensure that, after passing the driving test, newly qualified drivers should have at least one lesson on a motorway.

It hasn’t helped at all. You’ve basically told me that I’m not fit to drive a car. At all. Ever. Can you tell me then how I can help with holiday childcare for my grandchildren, take my dog to the vets and visit local national trust properties or country parks. None of which involve motorway driving or driving after dark . Oh or get my doctors which is in the nearby town…

Athrawes

I too don't drive at night now and I prefer to drive locally as well. Reading the comments on this subject I think I must make another eye appointment - just in case - as I've not done it for a while [though not too long I hasten to add]

I am sorry to say this, and it applies to all drivers, not just elderly ones, but if you want to keep driving, you should not be doing so if any of the following applies to you:-

If you can’t/won’t drive at night, then you should not be driving at all.
If you only want to drive locally, there must be a reason. Are you afraid of driving in places you are not familiar with? Are you scared to be too far from home? Only driving locally is limiting and not a good indication of your driving skills.
If you go on the motorway but won’t go above 50 or 60mph, even if it’s safe to do so, you shouldn’t be driving.
In my opinion, if you can’t drive in normal places, at any time of the day or night, then you should give it up. A nervous driver is not a good driver.
Driving in snow or fog is an understandable no-no. If you are not used to it and haven’t been shown how to deal with it, you should either find an instructor to teach you, get public transport or stay at home.
If driving regularly scares you, please don’t torment yourself. Driving should be fun, but not if you are likely to have white knuckles and be hunched up on the edge of your seat.
I was on a local motorway today driving mostly at 70mph and it was heaven. I loved it, and it was safe as the traffic was fairly light, and it was a beautiful day, perfect for driving.
These are just my thoughts. I am 79, and have been driving since passing my test two months after my 17th birthday. Recently I asked my adult grandson for an honest opinion about my driving skills and he was happy with my demonstration. I also had an eye-test today and was told my eyesight was perfectly fine for driving.
In a nutshell, all the while I and my family think I am safe and a good driver, I will continue.
I hope this has helped. It wasn’t my intention to preach, but just to help some people understand what to be aware of before they get behind the wheel if a potential killing machine.

Seems sensible to me to have regular eye tests as we age regardless of if we drive or not. Although It does make me cross to single out a particular age group when poor eyesight can be experienced by young and old alike.

madeleine45 I think the test on the computer is a good idea.
It's a safe way to check peripheral vision too.
I would be happy to go to a test centre to check out reactions etc.

Madmeg

It isn't just a case of sight failing. Some older people (and probably other age groups too) simply do not "see" the whole picture when driving - for example a car about to turn out of a gateway or a slow pedestrian crossing the road. It's a combination of eyesight and mental communication that can cause accidents. The first might be fine but the second not and I am not sure how that could be tested properly.

But, at the same time, years of experience have made me and my partner aware of when a younger, less experienced driver is going to do something really dangerous. We make allowances for it; speed up, slow down etc. I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve said about another driver ‘ he/she didn’t even see us’. Same thing happened with a young lad on a bicycle today. Oblivious to what was happening around him. I’m sure a younger driver would have driven into him. I’m quite happy to have eye tests and medical tests but feel a bit aggrieved at having to take a driving test to prove I’m safe to drive on the sort of fast roads that I never drive on anyway ( mainly because I hate how fast and aggressive many drivers are).

It isn't just a case of sight failing. Some older people (and probably other age groups too) simply do not "see" the whole picture when driving - for example a car about to turn out of a gateway or a slow pedestrian crossing the road. It's a combination of eyesight and mental communication that can cause accidents. The first might be fine but the second not and I am not sure how that could be tested properly.

Nonspaghetti is correct about Danish requirements for drivers over 70, but even younger people may be banned from driving if their eyesight is poor, or have a proviso written in to their driving licence stating they must wear glasses of a specified strengh when driving.

It is illegal to drive if you take prescribed drugs marked on the packaging with a red triangle, as these can cause drowsiness or reduced reaction times. Doctors and pharmacists are obliged to point these side effects out when prescribing/ fulfilling the prescription.

I believe certain physical disabilities apart from poor sight can likewise prevent anyone from legally driving.

I remember taking my DDs to the optician in Sweden as you need a specific eye test certificate to even get a provisional licence.

The Swedish driving licence agency can also place conditions such as wearing glasses on your licence.

I'd be happy to take an eye test and have a medical to ensure I'm still fit to drive, but I'd find retaking my driving test a nervewracking experience. I'd prefer to have a few sessions with a driving instructor and let them (and the optician/doctor) decide whether I'm still safe to drive.
I agree with Maybee that public transport could be made a lot better and more affordable.

Personally that’s the bare minimum. I think all over 70s should have to pass a test every 3 years.

Grantanow

Older drivers are much safer than young male drivers. Why not re-test at say 21?

Young drivers are far more likely to be physically fit. They generally have accidents caused by drugs of all types, along with bravado. Not likely to exhibit either during a formal test.