driving re-test for the over 66yrs?????

My 18 year old son has just passed his test, and the theory test is really hard now. There's far more to learn, and the computer part is something that he found he needed to practise - how many older people have computers? Still not all that many. I wouldn't mind the test as long as the theory isn't included!

For the theory test I took my son to the centre, where he was stripped of all his possessions, had his shirt sleeves and pockets checked, his ears looked at for earpieces and his phone, coat, watch and all else had to go into a locker. I was asked to leave. I was astonished. I didn't know where to go but didn't know how long the theory test would take - about 45 minutes as it happened.

So different from the four questions I was asked at the very end of my test 30 years ago.

Funnily enough you can drive freely on the roads here if you come from another EU country. You might never have driven on the left before, you might not speak the language, the standards in your country might be very different but it doesn't matter.

Even though it would leave me less mobile if he failed, I`d like to see my husband`s driving tested again, as he`s a bit hair raising, to say the least. He`s 69, and slow to the point of exasperation in everything he does, except for driving, never sticks to speed limits, and sometimes scares the living daylights out of me! His reply to my pleas to slow down? "Shut up, I know what I`m doing"!

I'm sure I've mentioned this before but, about 40 years ago, a neighbour of my grandmother drove even though he had bad cataracts just as long as his wife could come with him to issue instructions eg 'Bit near the pavement then, dear' and 'Coming to a T junction, slow down a bit!'

I don't think I've mentioned this before on here but, when we lived in Australia and had to take a driving test, DH got 95% and I got 100%. I have mentioned this to DH once or twice before, I've just not mentioned it on GN

It just dawned on me as I was pottering about in the garden just now that the government think that we're quite capabale of holding down responsible jobs till we're [whatever age it is at the moment pension wise..68 and counting probably] but not capable of driving to said place of employment. Can't help but feel that there's a government minister somewhere with shares in a newly formed driving refresher course company .

The police were stopping certain drivers when I was driving home from work the other week - diverting them off to a coach park. I read later in the local newspaper they were checking the eyesight of older drivers who weren't wearing glasses.

Now, did they not stop me because I look so young for my age, or (more probably) because I was wearing my sunglasses?

From the original post, "let's snap this in the bud before our licenses are taken from us all"

If you are capable of driving safely, your licence will not be taken from you. If, however, you are not.......

The important thing is to protect all road users.

Then stop all 17 year olds from driving if that's the case.

Personally, I wouldn't have any objection to my driving ability being re-tested at intervals after a certain age to make sure I wasn't a danger to myself or others. I do think, though, that a test for speed of reaction would be a good idea as reactions tend to become slower with age.

But our reactions do slow down as we get older so we tend to drive slower to compensate for it. Will we be expected to have the reaction time of a 20 year old and, if not who's going to decide what's acceptable?

I'm sure a test could be devised to differentiate between what is a reasonable reaction time to an emergency and what is just too far outside acceptable limits.

Its other people's actions we need to react to, does driving slower make much difference? Of course the older we get the slower our reactions which is why I have no objection to being re-tested to see if I am within safe limits with how I react to situations on the road.

I think experience compensates for reaction time and there's probably no test for that .

Wonderful idea. Too many old ditherers behind the wheel these days

Not my problem Aka (see Speed Awareness post above)

Me too. I have one of those SatNavs that tells you when a speed camera's coming up.....so I can wave two fingers at it!

For me it's a questions of priorities: The bad drivers I come across all seem to be young lads - which sounds very discriminatory but is unfortunately true. I think they should pick on younger people first - they cause the most accidents - if they're going to pick on on a sector of society. Our local courts are full of young people without insurance or have been speeding. This latest idea is the Government's way of getting more money out of older people because you can bet your life these tests will not be free! I'm all for regular eye tests and health checks but for EVERYONE, not just older people. Also the number of people I see clamped to their mobile phones whilst driving beggars belief. I thought there was a law against it. Why make laws if they're not upheld. I even saw a refuse collector manoeuvring a bin to the lorry with one hand and a mobile in the other. OK he wasn't driving but purlease........

Perhaps people over pension age should have to attend a driving course which included an eye test. This would be a positive way of approachng the possibility of driving skills deteriorating. This could then be repeated at say 75, 85, 90 perhaps.

A recent programme that I watched tested driving in teenagers and over 70s (I think) - the older drivers came out on top simply because they approached things steadily and the youngsters went like a bull at a gate.

I remember that. The older drivers did very well.

As others have said 66 is too young, after all the government seems to think that people of this age are perfectly capable of carrying on working. However as time goes on I suppose it may be a good idea, but really all this is just another way for the treasury to grab itself a whole load more money off the motorist, it's favourite cash cow.

I come across bad drivers of all ages, but the really dangerous ones are the over-confident boy racer types and dithery old drivers. So yes, I'm happy to be re-tested, and, as JO said if I don't pass then so be it.

When budgets everywhere are being cut how is this going to be financed? With the numbers of over 65's growing all the time more examiners will be required, possibly even more test centres - depending how often they intended to test us. I'm not against retesting but I do wonder how it will work.

My ex, who is now 74, was always a terrible driver. When he did his National Service, he drove a lorry for a bit in a convoy and was given a driving licence at the end of it. In other words, he had never taken a driving test and boy, did it show. I would like to bet there are quite a few men of his age group in a similar situation, so I would like to see all drivers who have never taken a driving test compelled to take one if they wish to keep on driving.

Deedaa there's too many unemployed. Retrain suitable candidates as testers. Get them off the dole and paying tax.

My husband has macular degeneration in one eye, brought to a halt with treatment, but cannot see small print very well at all. He seems o.k. with the larger print, and is able to drive quite confidently now, but will not drive when it is dark, (unless it is locally in well-lit roads). He has to have yearly tests by an optician recognised by the DVLA, and the DVLA remind him of this. A recent yearly eye test with his own optician showed that his vision is within the law, but we still have to wait for the DVLA optician's testing in August. I think this is as it should be, we all need to be safe on the roads.