DVLA Renewing licence when over 70!

Oh, that's so sad, glass. I know a lot of men get terribly attached to their cars, and driving generally - OH would absolutely hate having to give up!

glamma I think he knows that his driving days are over and the car stands from one month to the next unless he has to take it to the garage, I go up and if he wants to go somewhere I drive. He turns the engine on and lets it run for an hour to "keep things oiled" without moving it

Good for you glass I would be mortified if my eyesight was that bad that I caused an accident and injured innocent people.

glamma I wont get in a car with my FIL, I insist on driving.

dorsetpennt I agree with you on your post,reflexes and observations do get slower as we get older,also there are countless drivers who do not keep up to date with new additions to the Highway Code,would you consider going on a bus/train/plane with someone responsible for your safe arrival if they only had 50/50 vision ?

I live in an area with a large population of elderly people, most of whom shouldn't be driving!. We frequently have people driving their mobility scooters on the road, turning the wrong way, parking on the zebra crossing etc. When I worked at the Medical Centre a pensioner in a high powered car crashed into us whilst parking as she had put her foot on the wrong pedal - she had had several similar accidents. A friend who'd driven in many countries said my area was the worst to drive in due to the dangerous manoeuvres made by our elderly population. Of course plenty of people are more then capable of driving when they reach 70 and beyond. However, lets face it your reactions aren't so swift and you suffer from various aliments that hinder your driving. I think a test that includes reflex action as well as sight should be implemented. My uncle refused point blank to driving with my late G/father as he drove so close to parked cars and shot the lights frequently. It's all pride isn't it rather then admitting that you may not be up to driving anymore.

I know that DVLA can take ages to answer, but until you hear I guess you can still drive!

gramps my FIL is 78 he has glaucoma and very little vision in one eye, since he was 70 he has had to keep renewing his license but is still driving, he drives a 2 seater sports car (he calls it his babe machine ) He is sure that come September it wont be renewed again but then he worries at every renewal.

I renewed mine at 70 but it is valid for three years. When I get to 73, I will exchange it for a French licence, which does not have an age limit!
My brother had cataracts removed and was able to continue driving afterwards.

I have written a bit about a mobility scooter for my husband on this subject. He has macular degeneration in the left eye, this has been halted with treatment and has been driving like that for about two years, but his licence ran out in June, and early this year the DVLA reminded him of this and he had to fill in all the details of medication etc. They had already been advised of the macular problem. After 90 days - the time DVLA take to sort these things out he was asked to visit the optician chosen by them, but that he could continue to drive, using the letter of authority sent with the appointment. The optician advised him that his eyesight was borderline for driving, a catarract in the other eye not helping at all, but that the DVLA would let us know. My husband continues to drive for the simple reason he has not been told not to, as the optician did not say he should not, but he still only has the letter of authority, no proper driving licence.