Older drivers. Should we take a test at 75?

I think testing in later life is a good idea, but also we should all be campaigning for better public transport and be trying to shift our thinking to an expectation of perhaps not driving as we age. My mother drove well into her eighties. She loved driving and was a better driver than I will ever be. Her eyesight was good but she was alcoholic and as she got older had lost her judgement about driving after drinking. I anonymously informed the DVLA that I thought she might be drinking and driving and she stopped driving after that. I felt very sorry for her because of how much she loved her car and her independence but was clear those feelings are nothing weighed against the possible harm to other people. Many reading this will feel that the alcohol made it a different case from just ageing, but I think the same applies to changes in vision, reaction times, confidence, judgement. I am only 64 but am currently not driving because of eyesight problems and am waiting to see if recent surgery has left me able to drive again. So I am really feeling the new dependence on my husband and regret if I am not able in future to drive my granddaughters on a 121 outing etc. But again, how would any of that sound if I was explaining myself to the parent of a child I had hurt? And the current level of individual car use is completely unsustainable. We must find other solutions to transport - more lift and car sharing as well as better public transport - and other ways to feel independent.

I don’t think my father would have passed a test at 75. He had been a very safe driver, but became rather vague and had a tendency to drive in the middle of the road. We eventually persuaded him to stop driving in his mid eighties, but it was difficult. He’d been driving since 1943, when I was three years old. Apparently I used to stand in the back shaking the driver’s seat saying “Make it go!”

My heart breakss for the family of the little boy who died. My cousin was killed many many years ago when an elderly driver put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brakes and ploughed into her on a police crossing. I think this is essential and should definitely be made law.
My husband may not agree as he drives a double decker HGV for a living! He is retiring at Christmas and so if he was to lose his licence a few years later he would be bereft. If he was deemed unsafe however he'd just have to accept it in my opinion.

Oh please no! Tests are stressful and often what they test is your ability to stay calm and cool and show yourself at your best, under stress. Many people (myself included) are still living busy, working lives in their 70's and would be devastated without their car. Plus think of the cost, and the waiting lists. However, a test of cognition co-ordination and reaction might be in order, and eye-sight of course. It's a shame that so many older people are too stubborn to admit they are not capable of driving.

I drive locally but that's it. We seem to have some boy racers a fair bit which I find unpleasant as they seem to rule the road. DH continues to drive throughout the UK but he's older than I am and I worry that he's not as careful as he should be - but perhaps that's because I'm becoming a nervous driver once out of my comfort zone. I'm just over 75. I used to drive all over the place - even around London - in the 'olden days'.

I am 75, driving for 58years. I don’t drive as fast as I used to, but I think I am OK and would be happy to take a test. Over 70 you have to renew your licensee every 3 years and declare that you are still fit to drive - your own opinion!
An acquaintance, who is over 90 had a minor accident recently, one of many, and the police were called. It seems that she has not renewed her license for years so is not legally allowed to drive and therefore not insured either. Nobody checks if you don’t renew your license whether you are still driving.

Tests are stressful and may put some people off but surely if you are really keen to continue driving into old age, you must be prepared for a bit of stress.
The alternative could be a tragic accident.

NotSpag I rang the insurers Saga, they needed my son's UK licence number and that was it.

I think driverless cars and taxis could well be the future.

My DS can't wait. Perhaps country pubs will even have a revival?
The fuel could be solar power or whatever is best for the planet.

Good grief. I do not want to sit a driving test.

MOnica I used to work in Insurance and we were always told rules were as follows-
The driver is legally responsible for telling the DVLA or DVA about any such condition or treatment. Doctors should therefore alert patients to conditions and treatments that might affect their ability to drive and remind them of their duty to tell the appropriate agency.

Im sure its admirable to think that we should all be our best when driving and to ensure we are safe and do no harm. But, the ongoing problems with DVLA being completely unfit for purpose is a major concern. There is already a massive backlog and delay in every area, passed off as COVID/ home working/ GP shortages etc that are causing huge hardship and trauma. If additional sanctions are to be imposed I would hope the government department would become able to manage the current deficit before taking on additional measures and allocating resources to others already stretched, ie opticians, GPs etc. I am not for one moment suggesting that we should not expect our roads to be safe, or discount personal accountability, but its much bigger than imposing mandatory routine testing on 70 + year olds.

I don't think we need to take a driving test at 75 but there is some need for a comprehensive eye test and reactions test at maybe 78. There are so many people driving around who shouldn't be who won't stop or who's families are too scared to tell them or to take their keys away. I hope I have the sense to give up if I don't feel safe. Or feel I could be a danger to others. Even though it would curtail my life a lot. I'm 72 by the way a d will need to renew my licence for the 2nd time next year.

Grammaretto I'm sorry I obviously misunderstood. Your son still has a UK license then.

My son doesn't live here anymore so his permanent address is not in the UK (His home is America now). He therefore can't renew his UK driving licence so my insurance company won't put him on.

He can drive here, and elsewhere, on his American license. But not on my insurance.
I was disappointed about this when he was here in April.

Or maybe after X amount of accidents in a year that are attributed to the older driver's age The problem is, there are 85-90 year old drivers who are perfectly safe to drive and it's not fair to lump them altogether.

I’m an American living in the US. We have to take a written test only at 75. Honestly, I feel there should be an actual driving test as well. Here, older people, (I am 67), either drive super slow and unaware or fast and aggressively. We have many critical accidents where the person doesn’t know the gas pedal from the brake🙄. It’s interesting that the same laws are followed in our countries. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to keep impaired drivers off the roads.

There is no way I could pass a driving test now at the age of 78!

Not sure about testing. I do tend to think that if there are conditions people, even those younger than 75, are too scared to drive in then they should give up driving.the worst problem is in those with or developing dementia. Mil was still technically allowed to drive at 85 as she still had mental capacity although having on setting dementia. We hid her car keys, then hid the car - we told her it was being serviced!
That imo is the worst problem which a test may not resolve.

My DH was not safe to drive in the last couple of years of his life. At the time he had undiagnosed vascular dementia amongst other things. His spatial awareness had completely gone in my opinion. I pleaded with his consultants and doctor to stop him, they refused to act. I use to hide his keys, refuse to go with him. He was 62 when died last year so not considered elderly.
Luckily my dad knew himself when to stop as he no longer felt safe to drive, he was 80 at the time.

Grammaretto

Weirdly, my insurance is less since I added 2 younger drivers to it. I lend my car to a 50yr old friend occasionally and was told my new premium would be £100 less annually. My DS is also on mine for when he visits from NZ.

Before my cataract operation last year, my eyesight was quite poor but the optician said I was just on the legal limit. I stopped driving until after the operation but it made me wonder how many others are driving with poor sight.

How did you manage to put your NZ son on your insurance?
I can’t put my DD (Aus) on mine anymore and my insurer told me that no insurance company was offering that facility anymore to non residents.
I have never had a problem in the past.

I personally don't have a problem retesting,think it's a good thing and to clarify the 90 year old lady,it was confirmed had dementia, which asks the question why was she still driving? Surely GP or whoever should have notified DVLA?????

I agree with MagsMcG

How many accidents have you or I had? me, only 1 or 2 and not my fault in either...

I only drive a few, very local miles, and yes, public transport? I would be house bound with my little car. and I have an annual eye test and each time I check with the optician, that in his opinion I am o.k to drive! perhaps an intelligence test? (joke!)

Grammaretto
Just read your reply to NotSpagetti my DD doesn’t have a U.K. licence anymore as she is an Australian citizen and had to take a test out there. You can’t have two apparently.

The driver in question had also cancelled her car insurance to save money, which begs the question would she have still been driving even if they took her licence from her. I suspect she would’ve continued to drive regardless.

Gosh I think some young drivers should have to resit their tests, never mind the older generation but yes I think the older generation should re-sit their driving tests (my dad had a low, he’s diabetic, whilst driving, he was 76 at the time & mum had to change his gears- that very afternoon she sold his car but not long after he was diagnosed with Alzheimers

Once such tests were introduced, with a lead time of say 5 years, the support services such as driving tests and purpose-designed eye tests would fall into place. Public transport would prob take longer.
After eyesight, ability to concentrate prob more important than cognition per se.

I appreciate the opinion that we should take tests at 75. 80 etc. How will that work when new drivers have to wait several months for a test or go a long way away for a test. It would need many more examiners to be recruited.