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

Elaine1 That must have been particularly poignant ((hugs))
our DD was also very distressed when she heard.
I still shudder when I remember the day a 5 yr old was run over and killed as he dashed across the road outside my DC school. This has at least helped to introduce traffic calming, especially outside schools.

But the more I read on here, the more I think there should be a cut off age across the board.

Ofcourse some people will think this grossly unfair. Maybe at the other end, we should raise the age when you can get a licence.
In NZ, where DS lives, you can apply at age 16 but until 2011 it was legal to drive there at 15 and I can remember seeing what looked like children behind the wheel of an oncoming car. Terrifying.
The reason behind it was that in rural areas and on farms, there was no other mode of transport.

Difficult as peoples health does vary but if you have nothing to hide then why fear this . Perhaps 75 is reasonable as it would also support relatives too as I risked loosing contact with my Dad when he refused to give up driving aged 86 and very frail . GP wouldn't get involved.

re. my previous post, of course how awful for the parents, I thought I conveyed that when I said how awful! and then added awful to have that on your conscience, to have taken a life of a young child in a selfish and unnecessary manner, all because the driver couldn't or wouldn't come to terms with the fact that they were no longer proficient behind the wheel anymore.

There have been occasions in car parks observing some older drivers who are very heavy on the pedals and it flashes through the mind, it's possible that car could lurch forward quite uncontrollably.

At our last house we had an elderly woman who often reversed into walls or fences, she was quite a worry!

meant elderly woman neighbour, she didn't actually live in our house.

TerriBull I am reminded now of a woman I once knew who was fraitfully upper class who drove fast and erratically for far too long and didn't relinquish her licence until well into her 90s when it was taken from her after she was seen on CCTV on a sliproad to the motorway in the wrong direction.

She had probably been driving since she was an ambulance driver in WW2 and she was a skilled young thing. There were far fewer cars then.

That's terrible Grammaretto in fact wasn't there a recent case of an elderly couple driving the wrong way down a motorway, they were both killed, unfortunately I think the person they collided with was as well

The lockdown has scared so many off public transport. Let's all hope that's not a permanent setback for all our sakes.

I booked an assessment from (I think) ROSPA - google it) when I was 80 which was really helpful. She pointed out the little bad habits I'd picked up and gave a lot of tips on making sure I was alert and aware all the time.
Also she took me through the Highway Code and pointed out changes since I took my test at 17.
I am now much more aware and hopefully a better driver. I think a test or assessment at age 70 and 80 should become compulsory. My assessment was free, but I would gladly pay for another, I didn't feel I was being criticised and she pointed out my problems very pleasantly and showed me how to correct them.
I live in a remote area where there are no busses so without my car I would have to rely on taxis - economically impossible

...... hmm, though when you consider the costs of running a car ............. perhaps - when I'm 90?

First of all, I am very sorry to hear that anyone has been killed and condolences to all families. However, why is it the insurance companies charge higher to people of a certain age because they are more liable to have accidents. Moreover, I know of a young lad (18) who, the day he passed his driving test knocked into a person on a motorbike, while doing a right turn. The police told him that he should start driving again as soon as he got over the shock, would they have said that to me?

Try this www.olderdrivers.org.uk/driver-assessment/refresher-driver-training/

Yes, there should be an age where a more extensive set of tests are mandatory- age 68 or 70?

Furthermore, certain medical conditions should trigger further testing as well, disregarding the age of the driver.

This accident was completely preventable. Vanity and ego are not good enough reasons to ignore and deny your skill level is no longer there and you cannot do what you used to do

This crops up when there is an accident involving an older driver. As someone else said there are far more accidents involving younger drivers.
However this does not excuse older people from ensuring they are ft and able to drive on today's busy roads. I read about adult children who are concerned about their parent's driving ability but are afraid to say anything. I think if we know people who are not safe drivers then we should take steps to stop them whatever that may entail.

Not a cut off age but there should be an eyesight test periodically, doctors advice not to drive should be more enforced than it is at present.

There are obviously medical conditions which mean that you should not drive, but poor eyesight it the most common cause of accidents with the elderly

sodapop

This crops up when there is an accident involving an older driver. As someone else said there are far more accidents involving younger drivers.
However this does not excuse older people from ensuring they are ft and able to drive on today's busy roads. I read about adult children who are concerned about their parent's driving ability but are afraid to say anything. I think if we know people who are not safe drivers then we should take steps to stop them whatever that may entail.

It really isn't that easy. My sister and I hesitated for longer than we should have done to take my mother's car away. We'd been bullied all our lives by her and she was a "difficult" woman. As it was, she accused us in almost every conversation until her death of taking her "freedom" away.

I also think it depends on the type of area where you live. eg I loved driving when we were in a rural area, very light traffic, it was a pleasure.
But now in a busy town it's a nightmare.
I'm now 84 and have been driving since 26 but hung up my car keys over a year ago, after a near-miss accident due to my knee problem.
Such a relief. I don't miss it at all.
So with the sad story in the OP, I agree there should be stricter limits on driving - in urban areas - here for elderly people.
Backed up by better public transport, which we have here.

Driving is a privilege - not a right. I am 55 and I would happily be tested every few years - even if this was a full driving test.
By the time my FIL stopped driving he'd had three minor crashes in about a year. He was about 78 then and realised that he was no longer safe behind the wheel.

My DH is a coach driver and since he turned 50 he has been required to undergo medicals (which we pay for) in order to maintain his professional licence. Off the top of my head it’s every 5 years he needs to go and be checked and I think that reduced down to bi-annually from 60.
He’s conscious of the fact that every time he drives that vehicle he’s responsible for the safety of other road users and up to 60 people sat behind him. I don’t think it would be unreasonable to expect “normal” drivers to have to do this too as they age. Perhaps not starting at 50, but given the damage that can be done by a driver stubbornly holding a licence and using a vehicle when they really aren’t fit to then I do think it’s reasonable to have a system in place to safeguard.

Try this www.olderdrivers.org.uk/driver-assessment/refresher-driver-training/

Looks great! Needs to be compulsory after a certain age, with no licence if not passed maybe? Every 2 years after the age of 75> perhaps?

The accident rate for older drivers is very low, most are careful and experienced, it’s highly unlikely that a periodic compulsory retest scheme for older drivers will be brought in. The cost and administration of the sheer volume of tests would be prohibitive, even at 5 yr intervals. Individual abilities vary so much and it is likely that a medical condition limits the ability to drive safely, some may be unsafe at 65 others safe a 85.

GPs don’t want to get involved in stopping patients driving but it might work if they referred marginal individuals to a driving assessment. We can do a lot to check on older relatives even a simple “read that number plate at 20Meters” test often brings home how much they don’t see.

I bet the insurance companies have a pretty good idea about the answer to that question. If you add in that rich but ancient persons should not be able to buy their way into driving then there must be an age limit, sadly but that's life.

Davidhs I agree. My son agreed with me I give up driving when my neck became too stiff to turn properly.

Davidhs - I think you miss my point. Whilst I agree that the experience of an older driver is valuable, based on even just the comments on this post there is concern about people using a licence when they shouldn’t. My opinion (and that’s all this is an opinion) is that the burden of keeping and using a licence should fall on the person using it (as with professional drivers). With that in mind it wouldn’t matter about 65 or 85 if the person is physically fit to continue driving. As the cost is testing is borne by the driver I don’t see the issue. I’m not suggesting retaking a driving test at all. But most of the issues around ageing drivers stem from failing health and that can be monitored in a more structured way, rather than the ad hoc approach taken just now.

I don’t think assessment by a GP is appropriate or helpful, really.
All they can do is state that on one particular day, you’re not suffering from any condition which might impair your driving. They haven’t sat with you in your car and had an opportunity to assess your driving skills, nor are they qualified to do so.

It’s difficult enough to get a GP appointment when you’re ill, without clogging up their appointment books even further.

The Older Drivers assessment mentioned by ExD and Madgran sounds a much better idea.

It’s not GPs as part of their NHS workload who should do the medical but an independent ( not known to the driver)doctor. Just as they do already for eg insurance. It’s private work and they get paid appropriately. Retesting should only be a last resort but a compulsory medical after a certain age is a good idea imo. As for insurance premiums, in general they increase at 75+ and 80+ so that should tell us something. Our current system is among the slackest in Europe.

Many of my clients are over 75, some in their 80’s and a couple in their 90’s.
I have cowered in my kitchen as they negotiate our gate, you do have to do a turn in off our drive but if a cement lorry can manage it!
We’ve lived here for 18years and never had a problem. My colleague and I keep threatening to produce a book as some of the parking is so bizarre. I think that quite a few wouldn’t pass any sort of test.
Keep practicing your manoeuvring all of you.