Government plans compulsory eye tests for over 70's

1. I have those over the glasses, glasses for reducing the glare. They definitely work for me at night to reduce the blinding glare of the blue lights especially in the rain. I only wear them on the really busy roads where this a lot of in coming traffic.

2. I have my eyes tested every year for free.

3. The speed limit is a limit NOT a target. If someone is driving at 35 in a 40 or 15 in a 20 that is not a them problem its a you problem for being impatient. Even driving at 50 on a motorway in the left lane is not a them problem. It is if they sit in the overtaking middle lane though.

infoman

Some stats from DVLA,that 265 drivers over the age of 100 still hold a full driving licence.
This would be a true figure,but there and never can be any data that they are still driving unless they were contacted directly.

I suspect a number keep renewing their licences so that they can continue to have one current document to prove who they are. I know a number of people well below 100 who do not drive but keep their licence up to date.

Some years ago I had the problem of trying to find an uptodate official document for a relative in a care home. Driving licence and passport were out of date, they had no utility bills. It was a real nightmare

Madeleine folk can learn how to tow safely. The Caravan and Motorhome Club run courses for those new and not so new to towing a van. Safely off road. Mr C attended one many years ago when we first had a touring van, amongst other skills he learned was how to reverse safely. He then taught me.

Some stats from DVLA,that 265 drivers over the age of 100 still hold a full driving licence.
This would be a true figure,but there and never can be any data that they are still driving unless they were contacted directly.

I keep my eye appointments religiously and now as a diabetic have those checks too, so know that my eyesight is, so far ,good and have appropriate glasses to wear. I will be very sorry if the times come that I can no longer drive, but have actually thought about that situation, which is partly why I moved to live in a town where there are public transport availability. Looking at the cost of running a car, it actually could be less expensive to use taxis on occasion and public transport. However the big problem is that with your own vehicle you can go at a time that suits you and wherever you wish to go. The taxis here are all very busy with school work and if you needed a taxi in a hurry in the afternoon you would have a problem, so that is again part of the wish to remain as a driver for many people.

My husband and I both had the very good test for older drivers by the police brought to a group. we belonged to. It was very worth while and ensured that people were aware of their eyesight and reaction times without endangering themselves or anyone on a road because it was a test screen and you were able to check that your driving and reaction times were still up to scratch. It tested your reactions and I actually had one of the quickest reactions of the group. In fact the tester asked me to retake the test as he seemed to not believe what it told him!

As I have driven for many years, here and abroad and been a hospital car driving as a volunteer, I think that the continuous amount of driving I do in town and in rural areas keeps me up to date.

The particular area I would like to see some testing and checking is to do with caravans. You find drivers who obviously only get their caravans out for their holidays yet dont seem to do any preparation for long trips, or make sure that they know the width and length of either their cars or caravans. Travelling up the dales as I do a great deal you meet people who almost stop at every corner, or seem to have no idea of how to drive on narrow roads or roads with passing places. As far as I know there are no local sort of practise places where people can just drive safely and make sure they remember how to drive towing after many months of just having the car. You do see many caravans swaying about rather dangerously on motorways too, and it obviously is something that is more difficult than having a motorhome. This is particulary obvious when you get things like crosswinds or bridges that traffic go over. When you hear people discussing getting ready to go away, it is always about what needs to go into the caravan, but not about trying a little run first.

Chestnut

It isn't just eyesight that needs to be tested, it's reflexes and co-ordination. The brain needs to be able to send a message to the arms or legs within a fraction of a second, to enable a quick response. Older drivers frequently put their foot on the accelerator instead of the brake, and this is the result. In one case I remember a young child was killed from a driver doing this.

Awful, but usually from automatic cars.

I’ve been short-sighted since childhood, but after cataract surgery last year my distance vision is good.😎 The optician still advised me to wear glasses for driving though, as it’s not absolutely perfect. The downside of cataract surgery for me is that now I can’t read without glasses, so I just wear varifocals all the time. Can’t be messing about with reading glasses!

I really don’t see that there’s any debate to be had.

Eye tests are free and you’d be an idiot not to take that up to protect your sight, whether you drive or not.

If you failed, why on earth would you go on driving knowing you couldnt see🙄

My friend's father drove until he was 93 without incident.

Paperbackwriter

Who are these super-humans who have absolutely no eye problems and are over 70? Whatever they're on, please can I have some? I can't imagine NOT having a test every year!

When I was working as a live-in carer one of my clients was 97 and didn't need either hearing aids or reading glasses! (Don't know about distance vision as she didn't drive due to knee problems)

If they can't see properly they shouldn't be driving anyway.

I live in a place without good public transport. I can't afford to move house and at my age it woukd be very disruptive. I intend to continue driving as long as possible. I've never had an accident and I'm probably a lot safer than an over-confident young man or woman.

Good. Long overdue. Hopefully cognitive and reactive tests will follow.

Before ticking the boxes to renew my licence when I reached 70 I went for an eye test to reassure myself that I could honestly tick those boxes. I ended up needing new glasses as my prescription had changed a little but it only seemed to affect my use of my laptop where things got clearer.
Personally I think more people should have compulsory eye tests whenever they renew their licence, not just the over 70s. I'm also aware that when I eventually move house to downsize and live closer to my family, where I move to must have good public transport and ideally be within walking distance of many of the services I regularly use. This is to future proof my independence, assuming that at some point I may have to give up driving.
As others have said it is not acceptable to continue driving just because you live in a place without good public transport. I remember seeing a tv programme about the police stopping motorists to check their ability to pass the basic eyesight test of reading a number plate at the prescribed distance. Shockingly many motorists failed, and not all were over 70!

Probably a good idea. I have a friend who is almost blind from macular degeneration and he still drives locally when his wife is not around to stop him. He just renewed his license, no checks. I think his family are going to report him - I would if I was them.

TG3465

There was a TV programme on a while ago in Channel 5's Cause of Death series, called Licence to Kill. It featured elderly drivers who had all been told by their doctors that their eyesight was not good enough to drive, but lied on the DVLA forms and carried on driving. All went on to kill pedestrians/other drivers. It was a shocking programme.

Perhaps testers need to report failures to DVLA?

kjmpde

when a car drove into my car some years ago, the police did a test for all of us to see if we had alcohol in our blood. I suggested to the police that he did an eye test as I didn't think the other had seen me. The police ignored my request. I wrote to the senior person in charge - my letter was ignored. I'm so glad that testing will become the norm.

An elderly gent ran into my rear passenger wing as I was taking a roundabout. He got out and did apologise, but was unable to see well enough to write his name and address.

LizzieDrip

I’m not opposed to the idea but it may leave many older folk isolated, particularly in rural areas.

Will more bus services run so that people can get out and about - I doubt it🤔

I have mine done regularly as do most folks I know.

However, there are people driving who should not longer do so. Perhaps a simple reaction test might be in order too. I followed a driver who pulled out right in front of me (luckily a 20mph zone and I was slowing for a speed bump). I followed him at 15 mph in a 30 zone to the roundabout where he sat with nothing coming until I beeped. He pulled away and stopped, then moved off at 15. He pulled right out into the opposite side of the road to turn left, then drove straight at an oncoming car where the single lane expected him to give way. Then parked about 2ft from the kerb while his passenger then opened the door into my path. I passed and parked. As I was getting out, he starrted forward into my rear bumper, so I banged his bonnet to stop him. I spoke to his wife suggesting that perhaps it was time for him to stop driving.

I totally agree with the proposal for compulsory eye tests but also wonder how many people won't be able to afford the test and so will carry on driving anyway until they're caught out? I think if it's compulsory it should be free but has the country got the resources for that, I think not!

Good job too!

when a car drove into my car some years ago, the police did a test for all of us to see if we had alcohol in our blood. I suggested to the police that he did an eye test as I didn't think the other had seen me. The police ignored my request. I wrote to the senior person in charge - my letter was ignored. I'm so glad that testing will become the norm.

I think it should be for all drivers as a lot of youngsters are reluctant wear glasses

I agree Martavtaurus - dithering drivers are the worst, especially those driving at 34 mph in 40/60 zones and continue at the same speed on reaching the 30 mph zone

eazybee

It is sensible, but I hope the government also takes action about the increasing use of dazzling headlights and those wrongly positioned; my optician told me of increasing concern about the dangers these pose at my recent eye-test.

Really good point about dazzling headlights. Surely someone must have noticed this problem at the design stage.

Why were they approved?

I imagine it will start with the renewal dates of driving licenses. When you need to renew, have an eye test!