I was following a car home last night which was all over the road, weaving across the white line right into the opposite carriageway then coming back across and nearly clipping the kerb, speeding up then applying the brakes (on a straight road), taking completely the wrong position on a roundabout, stopping in the middle of the road to read a sign, etc, etc. The driver looked about 80. Convinced he was drunk, I phoned the police who quickly responded, pulled and breathalysed him. They then phoned me back to thank me for my concern, but that he had not been drinking. How can anyone drive that badly sober?! I really think that compulsory re-tests should be bought in above a certain age.
I think it’s long over due for drivers to have at the very least an eyesight test at 70.
I have an acquaintance who is now 80 and has only peripheral vision in one eye and poor eyesight in the other.
He wrote off his BMW outside his house six months ago so went out and bought a brand new Honda.
He drives regularly from Stoke down to his son’s home in Brighton.
At the weekend he drove down to our coffee morning complaining of a headache over his good? eye.
A doctor friend of ours insisted he went straight to the eye department at our local hospital where he was diagnosed as having suffered a small stroke!
This sort of behaviour will continue until there is the same sort of standards applying to all drivers as to truck drivers.
In their defence of course is the independence drivers are used to, and the poor state of public transport.
That defence does don’t wash. There needs to be some sort of continuing education and medical assessment. There are too many cars on the road nowadays for you not to be at a certain level at all times.
With my dispassionate head on. There is no difference between getting behind the wheel drunk, and getting behind it when you know your faculties are all there.
I was first on scene at an accident where an elderly driver had got confused between the pedals and knocked a young girl down. She was ok thankfully, just a fractured arm and sore all over.
Medical, eye test, and an information pamphlet, on changes to the highway code would be a good start.
In my humble opinion it should be compulsory for ALL drivers to undergo n assessment every 2-3 years to show they are still competent on the road and not developed any “I own the road” or “the highway code does not apply to me any more” habits. Not test standard as such but just to show they still have a level of respect for the road and other users. Then once you get to,say,60 it shortens to every year.
There was a story not long go of a guy who had a history of blackouts. He was driving on Buchanan street in Glasgow,blacked out and mowed down two women,killing them instantly. He had suffered said blackouts for over 5 years yet no one though to remove this guys entitlment to get behind the wheel. How many people driving right now suffer from conditions that impairs their ability?
There are going to be many who - put on a show of good driving - if safe driving assessments - not tests - were introduced but at least it would make drivers think about their driving every so often
F-reds:
That defence does don’t wash. There needs to be some sort of continuing education and medical assessment. There are too many cars on the road nowadays for you not to be at a certain level at all times.With my dispassionate head on. There is no difference between getting behind the wheel drunk, and getting behind it when you know your faculties are all there.
I was first on scene at an accident where an elderly driver had got confused between the pedals and knocked a young girl down. She was ok thankfully, just a fractured arm and sore all over.
Medical, eye test, and an information pamphlet, on changes to the highway code would be a good start.
I was actually involved in a crash where a 75 y/o Parkinsons sufferer in a Skoda Octavia wiped out a Mini, the parked Transit I was sitting in, then across two front gardens ending up destroying the porch of a house and embedded in the front door. Lucky nobody was hurt, only minutes later the street was crowded with youngsters just off the school bus. It was an automatic car, he admitted to all and sundry to “pressing the wrong pedal”. The Police sent him on a driver improvement course. He passed and was back on the road in a brand new car soon after. I saw him driving it a few weeks later, 30mph on a national limit part of A15, the front bumper was already smashed in, his neighbour told me he’d done it driving into his garage, a foot too far over on the right side, also that he’s always on his own as his partner had refused to ride with him! What chance do we stand when they let people like him keep driving?
Bernard
My plan (when I’m transport minister) is that on the say so of a police traffic officer drivers observed driving badly could be forced to undergo a driving test. This test would be Government funded, however a failure would mean that remedial lessons and further retests would be paid for by the licence holder.
This would be of benefit in many ways; firstly, and most importantly it could remove from the road many of the truly staggeringly bad drivers we see every day. Secondly it would provide employment for both instructors and examiners who would through their tax and N.i contributions help out the countrys coffers.
i’m in my 70s and retired , and i’m quite aware that my reactions aren’t as sharp as they were when i drove for a living . i drive accordingly and take care of my eyes . i don’t dawdle about , but i do pay attention to what goes on around me . many of my generation have only ever driven a few miles to work and never developed the driving skills from when they passed their test . i know several people with medical problems who won’t see a doctor in case he stops them driving , which makes the case for more stringent checks on older people . if i get to the stage where i doubt my own abilities dvl a can have my license back , i don’t want someone’s life on my conscience .
rigsby:
i’m in my 70s and retired , and i’m quite aware that my reactions aren’t as sharp as they were when i drove for a living . i drive accordingly and take care of my eyes . i don’t dawdle about , but i do pay attention to what goes on around me . many of my generation have only ever driven a few miles to work and never developed the driving skills from when they passed their test . i know several people with medical problems who won’t see a doctor in case he stops them driving , which makes the case for more stringent checks on older people . if i get to the stage where i doubt my own abilities dvl a can have my license back , i don’t want someone’s life on my conscience .
if the rest of society had your attitude, this topic wouldn’t even be under discussion.
Whilst I agree that people that are unfit to drive should be taken off the road it may be wrong to assume that older drivers are the ones that should be targeted, take a look at the official government statistics and you might want to go for the middle ages drivers!
Read Table 1114. Licensed Drivers and Number in Accidents by Age:
https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1114.pdf
I know it’s the USA stats but I’m sure age has the same effect everywhere.
It’s not that every elderly driver is slow and unfit to drive in the same way not every youngster is reckless. but I think medicals for older drivers, maybe every 5 years after 60 going up to annually after 75 would be a bad idea.
And regular assessments and theory test for all drivers and not just the elderly, would be a good idea, every 10 years maybe.
As ROG says people might not drive as they normally do when they’re being assessed, but once every 10 years they’ll have to think their driving and have a look at the highway code. I’m sure at least something will go in for the next 10 years.
I worked for a boss whose mother was registered blind but she still had her driving licence,the problem was that her grand children would get her to take them out for “Driving lessons”.There are people who passed their test in the 60s in a Morris Minor who have done nothing about updating their skills.
I think some form of retest would be a good idea, not just age related though perhaps any form of really careless driving triggers it.
Now I’m not talking sitting the car test again with parralel parking, hands at 10 to 6 bollox.
Perhaps 30 minutes out on the road with an examiner to see how your driving standard is followed by 30 minutes in the classroom to discuss stuff. Serious issues could mean further lessons and perhaps a resit but if alls fine just a slap on the wrist.
That said I have witnessed driving instructors doing some strange things on the roads but then as LGV drivers our roadcraft skills are probably higher… apart from mine I’m crap.
can you all make the letters bigger please I’m struggling to read this post or even better put in brail :lol: 
I’m now over 70, and remember thinking when I was 25 or so that “old” people should not be allowed to drive! Those of you who are condemning old drivers, just wait till your turn comes.
When my wife began to think that her reactions were slowing, around about 67, she voluntarily surrendered her licence. Now I have to walk home from the pub!
Having said that, I would welcome some sort of assessment, say for those over 70, particularly after an accident, however minor.
dreamlands2001:
can you all make the letters bigger please I’m struggling to read this post or even better put in brail :lol:
Heres a thought, why not go into a pitch black room open your eyes and when you realise you can see nothing then imagine life like that all the time…
After the shock and fear, feelings of total despair / dependance on others and the thought of whether your wife / loved one would look after you in this situation have subsided then come back and let us know how lucky your are to be able to see.
Also count yourself lucky that you can now go and google how to spell brail properly- clue its ‘Braille’…
Just messin with ya …merry chrimbo. 
emmerson2:
I’m now over 70, and remember thinking when I was 25 or so that “old” people should not be allowed to drive! Those of you who are condemning old drivers, just wait till your turn comes.
When my wife began to think that her reactions were slowing, around about 67, she voluntarily surrendered her licence. Now I have to walk home from the pub!
Having said that, I would welcome some sort of assessment, say for those over 70, particularly after an accident, however minor.
I don’t think anybody saying all older people shouldn’t be allowed to drive, just there should have regular assessments and medicals to make sure they’re still ok to drive.
Lots of people 70 and over who are switched on and active, I know a bloke of 75 who drives a race support truck around Europe in the summer, no question about his ability. It’s a great job for somebody like him, part time, hotels and expenses paid all the way and loads of time to get to and from the circuit. I’m eying the job for myself when he calls it a day, but hopefully he still has a few years to go.
emmerson2:
Having said that, I would welcome some sort of assessment, say for those over 70, particularly after an accident, however minor.
+1
Although age does play a part in some cases its not the same for everyone and some form of retest (and I don’t mean sitting the standard car test) is needed, maybe some tuition on advanced driving and a reaction test could work but it needs to be developed carefully so those in need will benefit.
It comes to us all so theres no point being agesist.
I’m in my 40’s now and could not drive the same way as i did in my 20’s (or early teens if I’m being honest), reactions slow but are compensated for by experience but when old age comes in and we forget the experience then problems are likely.
Don’t get me wrong theres many young drivers on the roads today that are more dangerous than some old codger leaving a mile between parked cars these are also the ones that need sitting down and retesting or in some cases a good smack round the earole.
Martin:
Whilst I agree that people that are unfit to drive should be taken off the road it may be wrong to assume that older drivers are the ones that should be targeted, take a look at the official government statistics and you might want to go for the middle ages drivers!Read Table 1114. Licensed Drivers and Number in Accidents by Age:
https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1114.pdf
I know it’s the USA stats but I’m sure age has the same effect everywhere.
The tables show a poor use of statistics, as a six year group (19-24) is used as well as a ten year (25-34, 35-44 etc). If a nine year group for the younger driver is used (19-24) it shows they are responsible for 21.2% of all accidents, or over a fifth. Taking the sixteen year olds out removes the non-car drivers and takes an eight year spread of 17-24 year olds to 20.8%. In contrast, the ten year age groups (25-34, 35-44 etc) shows a rate of around 18% or less. It would also be useful to see the statistics on a ‘miles driven’ basis, as working age drivers will do more miles and, therefore, be involved in numerically more accidents even if they are as safe as the older, retired drivers.
Ll
Be careful what you wish for.
Recently the ageist attitude has been quietly gaining momentum, non productive, pensions, too ill, too slow, now they shouldn’t be on the road.
Remember how you feel about the oldies now, because unless you kick the bucket before gaining retirement…wouldn’t that suit some, especially the government…you’ll be an oldie one day, and your car might be the only thing keeping you away from societies predators, in that respect and for social mobility a car is a lifeline for the older generation.
At one time old uns were sacred, no thief or low life would dare touch them, if they were stupid enough to prey on pensioners they’d better hope it was the old bill that caught them (not as they’d be doing the modern police social worker thing then) and not the genuine criminals in an area who ensured they didn’t come back for a second dose.
No car, the old uns are stuck.
Now us here, we’re professionals apparently, and pro’s give a driver no longer in the first flush of youth a bit of leeway and make allowances.
Might pay us all to take note of how the Indian community treat their elders, with respect and cared for by family, not shoved out the way into a un-rest home, too much trouble, no longer of use or wanted, except for the inheritance?