Should there be a driving test and a cut off age?

I would not be in favour of a mandatory cut off age at which people have to stop driving. It is often the case that a person at the age of seventy-five can be in a better physical and medical condition than someone ten years younger.

However, as we all become older we often become subject to medical conditions which in their symptoms or in the drugs or other treatments being received to reduce those symptoms affect our driving.

In that, eyesight is obviously predominant but conditions that affect the neck and limbs can also be important when driving a vehicle. Drugs used in treatments of numerous disorders can cause side effects that can be very detrimental to driving abilities.

A solution that has been put forward by the insurance industry in recent months would mean a numeric risk assessment being brought into being for all who drive vehicles.

Therefore, various disabilities would acquire a score on a drivers licence which may be increased or decreased by a physician depending on the severity of the disability in conjunction with the treatments and drugs being used to control the medical problem.

The above could be invaluable where a person has multiple problems and where various symptoms and drugs are being used to control the symptoms. Therefore where, by example, the numeric five by five risk assessment could incur a maximum total of twenty-five the ultimate number for a person to retain their driving licence when the effects of all treatments are assessed would be between eight and nine.

The above would give any driver a clear numeric total over which they would be well aware they would not be allowed to drive. The foregoing could be brought into being with an annual compulsory medical examination for all over the age of forty-five.

I agree with those who say there should be a compulsory medical - and not conducted by the GP either. The present system of self certification from the age of 70 is just not adequate. I think the person should have to pay towards the cost ( with exemptions of on pension credit). I think it’s a very very rare person whose reaction times do not slow with age. Also I would make it compulsory for all doctors ( GPS and hospital doctors) to report immediately any condition/diagnosis etc that could adversely affect a person’s ability to drive ( regardless of age obviously.

What about an old age plate? We have L plates for learners so why not an O for old? If I see an L plate i assume that it is a learner who is driving and steer clear, in case they do anything silly but also not to put the wind up them.

My dearest friend was killed last year by a driver who had mounted the pavement at speed . The “older driver” driver had a medical condition she had not disclosed to DVLA . Her death has devastated her family and friends . I think there should be a proper medical if people wish to continue driving after 70 , not just a declaration to state that you are still fit to drive . In fact anyone of any age who has a medical condition requiring strong pain killers or sedatives should be assessed by their GP .

I am sure it is not beyond the wit of man/woman to come up with a solution.

I think it should be socially unacceptable to be behind the wheel as you age. Instead of boasting, as FiL used to, that you have driven to the south of France every year and aren't you clever and not going to stop.

What about cheaper taxis?. Dial-a-ride? we already have free buses for older people and senior rail cards.

A car is a lethal weapon and in the wrong hands, it can do dreadful damage.

I quite see why there is an argument for age related driving test.

But I suspect that there are far or fatalities caused by younger drivers, especially in the age group up to 30.

I suspect there are far more under 30 drivers. Some elderly people have already decided for themselves to give up driving and there are some who never learnt how to drive in the first place.

Most of us edit our driving as we get older (not in the dark, not on motorways etc) but it is a bravely honest driver who admits to not being up to driving any more.

I contacted DH’s Parkinson’s consultant to ask her to check his spatial awareness and reaction times because I was concerned about him. She gave him several simple tests and told him that his driving days were over. It was hard for him but he does now say that he had become less good - having been an excellent driver and clocked up thousands of miles for work and visiting the Continent. I was just relieved that he kept a clean licence and never actually caused an accident. I hope I will be as honest when the time comes - and of course there will be nobody to drive me!

How often have we asked as a boy/girl racer roars past us in a super- charged pimped up car: "How did they get through the test?"

For me, the car has always been just a means of transport, to get us from A-B so perhaps I have never understood the fascination with fast cars.

It saddens me when people I know buy cars for their 16 yr old DC. It is done with the best of intentions but these youngsters never learn how to use public transport.

It depends where you live. Some areas hardly have any public transport. Parents breath a sigh of relief when they can stop ferrying their children around.

The lack of public transport affects older people too.

growstuff I agree but think it's high time there was proper investment in affordable, flexible transport.

Going back to the poor old woman whose car mounted the pavement with tragic consequences: She lives in one of the best served cities in the UK for buses, trams, trains. She did not need to be driving. It becomes a habit.

In Scotland, we are still not allowed to drive more than 5 miles from home, due to the covid-19 restrictions, so she will be a local.

Just over half of over 70s have driving licences. So plenty who can’t drive or can’t afford a car. There is no argument for allowing unfit over 70s to drive just because public transport is poor- rather public transport should be better for everyone regardless of age. As for younger drivers, again, because some of them are poor, dangerous drivers doesn’t address the issue of problem older drivers. It’s a separate unrelated issue.

I agree with both points suzie.

In the case of the elderly I suspect it's a matter of pride.

Yes suziewoozie - and of course we were young drivers once (in the days when drinking and driving was commonplace), and the young of today will be old drivers if they survive!

I was collecting DD2 from work in a nearby hospital with DGS2 age 2 in the car when the tragedy had just happened and the traffic was being diverted. We were late and I had to phone her to say why though didn't know what had happened. You could see all the emergency vehicles and it was horrendous. The road has a 20 mph limit and is much quieter just now because of lockdown so hard to imagine why this would happen. Apparently car shot out a side street across to other side and hit a shop having run over the child and his mother. Today the photo of a darling innocent tot was in the paper and the parents are devastated. Quote they have given "What will we do without you Xander?" They have thanked everyone who helped, emergency workers and hospital staff. Last night and tonight DD2 has been in tears about it and I'm not far off. I think being near the accident scene and with a toddler of similar age brings it home. There have been several fatal accidents involving older drivers in this region over last couple of years so absolutely yes there should be a mandatory test probably by 75 repeated every couple of years and sorry but no one of 91 should be driving - not needed and very dangerous. People think they are ok but there is no earthly way reflexes are able to cope in a sudden emergency the same as when you are younger! I witnessed an old lady - still don't know what she was trying to do - outside the health centre shooting forwards into the car in front - shooting backwards into the car behind then shooting sideways into the car on the other side of the road then stopping - a male passer by took the car keys off her as her friend - similar age said " She is a really good driver". Fortunately only the cars were damaged. Some people might disagree but if it saves the life of one child then it is worth it.

After all this we went out this afternoon in the car and an elderly gentleman with what I assume his wife sitting alongside was driving in front of us and his driving was totally erratic, swaying from side to side and slowing then speeding up.

I suppose he could have been drunk, but it really was terribly dangerous.. tbh if I’d had my mobile with me I would have contacted the police.

Research has found that older drivers are no more likely to be involved in road crashes than other drivers. According to a study by Swansea University, males aged 17-21 are three-four times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers aged 70 or over.

Compulsory retesting every 5 years after 70? 75?

I’d be interested in seeing statistics that relate to hitting pedestrians rather than the generic ‘involved in road crashes’.

It might be because the media jump on situations where an elderly driver is concerned but there do seem to be more incidents of mounting pavements, failing to stop at pedestrian crossings or reversing over people in the elderly.

But if you're an excellent driver you'd pass the test, so it wouldn't be a problem.

As for paying, if you can afford to run a car you can afford a test fee. Your insurance would probably get reduced anyway.

Yes driving should be reviewed Certainly by the age of 80.
This could have been an aunt of ours.The final straw in a series of driving mishaps was when she mounted a pavement and narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian.She drove on oblivious but DH was told and had a discreet word with her GP,who called her in for review if medication but then got her to confess she was losing sensation in her feet.At 89 she had just bought a new car -we were all horrified as she'd already demolished part of a wall exiting her drive and other countless smaller bumps.
Within weeks she was using the money she would have spent on fuel insurance and tax on a local taxi account and loving it.And admitting she had driven on far too long.Obviously that's an issue for those living in more remote or rural areas.

I agree with much of grandad's post, particularly the first two paragraphs, the state of one's health is of course crucial and as we age there can be a huge disparity between those who are still physically fit and their reactions and awareness still up to scratch. It's fair to say that young, males particularly, can be a lot more reckless.

My late parents both gave up driving before they died, my father in his late 70s who had type 1 diabetes and increasingly suffered hypos, decided he wasn't as safe as he should be at that stage. My mother, never that keen on driving in the first place, took taxis on her short journeys or more often than not got a lift from friends after he died.

My father in law took my mother in law's car away when he rightly felt she was becoming a danger due to the onset of dementia, frequently getting lost. He drove into his early nineties but also gave up for the last couple of years of his life.

I'd like to think I'd do the right thing if I become really old and my reactions became impaired.

I read about the little boy, how awful, and to have that on your conscience in the last years of life

There is no definitive research on age and RTAs but there is plenty of evidence that links increasing age and frailty, various medical conditions and their concomitant medication and effects on driving etc. Plus younger drivers who are not honest about medical conditions. I still see no argument for not having proper independent medical over a certain age and for doctors to have a mandatory duty to report all patients over 17 to DVLA who have conditions that potentially affect driving ability.

‘I read about the little boy, how awful, and to have that on your conscience in the last years of life sad’

How awful for the parents to have to live with his death for the rest of their lives. She made a choice, they did not.

I think every one should have to be retested throughout their life at varying intervals in order that their driving licence is renewed- maybe not necessarily on the road but on some sort of simulator. After all, lots of us have to repeat refresher courses at work in health and safety etc. at regular intervals, so why should we be allowed to operate a piece of dangerous machinery just because we passed a test when we were 17!

Also, there should be refresher tests of knowledge of the highway code. If anyone fails any of the above mentioned, then they would be required to book a series of driving lessons before their licence is returned. If people are intending to drive abroad, there should also be a test of their knowledge of that countries' highway code before they are allowed to hire a car.