Older drivers. Should we take a test at 75?

@ExDancer, this is an excellent idea and a very good compromise. It would be a good idea to make it compulsory for all older drivers.a

No. It's not changed I don't think Grammaretto - I only thought about it this time as I was about to renew my insurance.

I spoke to him about it after I'd asked my insurance company (and called the old broker we used to use many moons ago) to see if he could go on with a US license.

My son said he knew he wasn't entitled to a UK license anymore as he doesn't live here and wasn't surprised I couldn't add his US one!

He said he thought he could renew it (some years ago after he'd moved) - but apparently not.

He can, and does hire a car on a US license Grammaretto whenever he visits. I thought I'd save him an extra expense as since about February we don't need both cars very often.

There are apparently "some unusual cases" where a UK license may be retained but not in my son's case.
Maybe your son is one of these? Or NZ is different?

MaggsMcG

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.

While l agree with you that many older people are perfectly capable of driving, as l hope l have made clear in my earlier posts, I am horrified by your idea of x number of accidents in a year that are attributed to the older driver's age. I suspect you are thinking of the reversing into a lamppost variety, but, if we take this to its logical conclusion, a tragedy of the type mentioned in the op is inevitable. None of us like the idea of having to take a test, but something has to be done and the rules for very elderly drivers made more stringent in order to avoid more tragedies.

I was thinking today of the effect would be of not having a car. I couldn’t get to my daughters in the next village. Couldn’t take my dog to a secure dog field. Couldn’t visit the nearest National Trust property or country park. No garden centres. Visits to the vet would be difficult as would doctors appointments. I’d feel like a prisoner in my home. It cost my partner £50 in taxi fares to get to A&E the other day.

PamelaJ1 I was told that your licence has to reflect your home address and using my address for it was illegal as you have to sign that it is your primary residence.

I will have to look that up.

sorry i don't think taking another driving test is needed. i'm 77 and have therefore renewed my licence twice.
i have regular sight tests and, as i have type 2 diabetes controlled by diet and not insulin, have a diabwtic sight test every year.
i am in control of my car and am a confident driver.
so i see no need for another driving test.
when i feel i should not be driving i will give up.

I have NO public transport where I live and could not afford a taxi every time I want to go out. I use very narrow, hilly, single track roads and can reverse long distances if the needs arise - which is more than many of the younger visitors to the area can do, taking chunks out of the banks alongside the roads and most have no idea how to use their wing mirrors. I am 89 years, no accidents in my life, and hope to continue driving safely for many more years!

A couple of years ago RoSPA offered a free assessment to drivers over 75 (I think) and as I am over 80 I arranged to have one. I live in the country and we're not on a bus route so I'd be really isolated without my car.
You don't pass or fail, you get a sheet of paper with ticks or crosses, and recommendations, after driving round town and performing the manoeuvres you did in your original driving test. She didn't have the authority to ban me from driving but no doubt could have recommended I stop.
I found it really helpful , some things have changed since I took my test, and I'd developed some habits which she pulled me up about. (like driving too close to the car in front at traffic lights).
I think we should undergo such assessments at, say, 70 and 80
It was free but I would willingly have paid.

I frankly feel that everyone, irrespective of their age, eyesight etc. should be required to sit a driving test at 15 year intervals.

I know scores of drivers of all ages who blatantly disregard what they were taught and others who without realising it themselves have developed bad habits.

Has the rule changed recently NotSpag?
He hired a car this year because they were going to England from us. It was actually 2 years ago when I added him to my insurance. I have kept him on to keep the lower premium.
I said it was weird.

As there is an extremely long waiting list for young drivers making older drivers take another test would make waiting times to be over a year which is why it cannot happen

Why single out older people. I drive every day and sometimes long-distance. I see all age groups being reckless on the roads.

Very much in favour of tests 70. 75 80. Poor little toddler. Too many on the roads that clearly shouldn’t be. And not just elderly some of the young ones don’t always look and speed along pull out in front of you a lot of road rage too. Yes I’m driver but stick to the speed limits. If I ever thought that my reactions had become slow or there was a situation where I was getting nervous driving then I would book a few refresher lessons or failing that give up. A nervous driver in my opinion who is jumpy and hesitates too much does not make a safe one.

I am curious as to why no one has actually picked up and discussed my suggestion about manadatory congnition tests done in the surgery by a nurse and opticians reporting those with driving licences whose eye sight falls below driving requirements to the DVLA in the way doctors have to report anyone diagnosed with dementia.

It may be that those are totally stupid ideas because I have missed something obvious, but it would be nice to have some feedback.

In the meantime if you are worried about your own driving. The Institute of Advanced Motorists offers mature driver reviews, where one of their experts comes to your locality and you drive them round your area following your most frequent journeys and they give you a sheet at the end reviewing your performance. It is not like a test, just a revie. It costs £85.

www.iamroadsmart.com/courses/mature-driver-review

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!)

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?????

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.

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.

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.

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