Just heard on news that the DVLA are looking at yearly compulsory medicals for the over 70’s to ensure that they are safe to be on the road in their cars. Not a moment too soon IMHO 
i wouldnt make them have a medical i would make them do a test. 
Well, I agree Penfold. Although I’m sure it must be a serious blow to anyone to have to give up driving, all drivers have a duty of care to other road users, and I am sure I am not alone when I say that I have seen motorists who are a danger to themselves and others because of the problems brought about by old age.
The fact is that someone who is (say) eighty years old would probably have started driving in the 1940’s when motoring was much more forgiving of errors than it is nowadays.
This isn’t to say that all drivers of this age are unfit, far from it. I had a fascinating chat with an 82 year old just yesterday, who had driven his 1935 Baby Austin from Sidcup to Chatham Dock for the steam and vintage rally, and he was completely “on-the-ball”. Sadly, many others of his age aren’t.
Vince
A good idea, but why wait until 70 ?.
I know someone well past their 70th birthday who still drives many many miles safely,he is fit & healthy, both mentally & physically, but grand daughter will not travel with him, he is just not up to driving on todays roads despite his driving record & what his physical & mental health suggest.
At least with a proper driving medical being carried out, say every 5 years from a certain age, we are promoting the right attitude towards driving ethics.
i agree but i would have the test for your 65 birthday.also i would bring a medical out for motorway driving,if you are 65+ then you need to have a medical to say that your fit enough to keep up to motorway driving,and if not then some sort of restriction sticker should be issued by dvla.do you’s think i’m being to hard 
kitkat:
i agree but i would have the test for your 65 birthday.also i would bring a medical out for motorway driving,if you are 65+ then you need to have a medical to say that your fit enough to keep up to motorway driving,and if not then some sort of restriction sticker should be issued by dvla.do you’s think i’m being to hard
Whether you’re being too hard is one thing, but if it were brought in, I would say that it should apply to all driving, not just motorway driving. The ability to look ahead and have fast reaction times is arguably more important on urban and country roads, where there are more unpredictable hazards.
Aren’t you already required to take a medical every 5 years after 70 anyway?
I’d say every year is a little excessive.
I don’t know if it happens already (long time til I’ve even got to have an HGV medical let alone a car medical) but do doctors ask questions about driving if you see them about a condition that could impair your ability?
Well for me at 70 they shouldnt be driving at all but if they insist on doing so then they should be made to take the 3 hour extended retest like someone who has just come of a ban has to then if they pass that fair do’s they can have there license for a further 12 months
simon
Not a moment too soon.
Its about time they started looking at the driving standards amongst older people instead of blaming young drivers for everything. I’m not saying young drivers are any better its just that there are measures to ensure they are up to standard ie the 2 year probationary period but nothing to regulate older drivers.
My Dad’s an Optician. He couldn’t actually report someon to DVLA for having defective vision whilst driving, only reccomend that their doctor refers them to a speacilist consultant (which could take months 
).
Bring it on. And make the sight test a mandotory thing 
.
I think all drivers should have to sit a driving test at least every 10 years, I would sit another car test tomorrow although I don’t think I would like to sit my class 1 again
Captain Matt:
I think all drivers should have to sit a driving test at least every 10 years, I would sit another car test tomorrow although I don’t think I would like to sit my class 1 again
Why would you need to test peoples ability to drive other than for possible health reasons? Even then only a medical is required IMO. I don’t see any need for what you’ve just suggested.
Andyroo:
Captain Matt:
I think all drivers should have to sit a driving test at least every 10 years, I would sit another car test tomorrow although I don’t think I would like to sit my class 1 againWhy would you need to test peoples ability to drive other than for possible health reasons? Even then only a medical is required IMO. I don’t see any need for what you’ve just suggested.
I agree with Andyroo.
When we ‘learn to drive’ we are only really learning to pass a test.
The DSA can’t handle the number of tests they do at the moment so it would be almost impossible to make people re-sit a test. I do think those convicted of serious motoring offences should re-sit though.
Lets face it though, the retest for motoring offences is more of a punishment than a means of ensuring that somebodys standards are up to scratch. I’m pretty sure I could pass car test after car test and I’d like to think I could pass Class 2 again, if I had to do so, without much bother.
Andyroo:
Captain Matt:
I think all drivers should have to sit a driving test at least every 10 years, I would sit another car test tomorrow although I don’t think I would like to sit my class 1 againWhy would you need to test peoples ability to drive other than for possible health reasons? Even then only a medical is required IMO. I don’t see any need for what you’ve just suggested.
The roads have changed conciderably though in the length of time many people have been driving and introducing re-tests might get us away from the I’ve been driving since god was a lad mentality and might highlight reaction time. Rather than cases like an old nieghbour of mine who hung her keys up when she found herself going the wrong way round a roundabout at shift kicking out time out side the jag and she was convinced everybody else had lost there minds. The most dangerous thing that comes with a few pensioners (may I point out that I don’t mean all) is the arrogance that goes with the years of experience I have one friend who I love to bits but she bumped the car 3 times in the last 12 months but has been in and around driving as a proffession for many years and is a clever and talented woman but she sees easing off on the driving as an admition of defeat over old age so in the mean time everybody else has to watch out for her.
Ladytrucker679:
The roads have changed conciderably though in the length of time many people have been driving and introducing re-tests might get us away from the I’ve been driving since god was a lad mentality and might highlight reaction time. Rather than cases like an old nieghbour of mine who hung her keys up when she found herself going the wrong way round a roundabout at shift kicking out time out side the jag and she was convinced everybody else had lost there minds. The most dangerous thing that comes with a few pensioners (may I point out that I don’t mean all) is the arrogance that goes with the years of experience I have one friend who I love to bits but she bumped the car 3 times in the last 12 months but has been in and around driving as a proffession for many years and is a clever and talented woman but she sees easing off on the driving as an admition of defeat over old age so in the mean time everybody else has to watch out for her.
True but you are talking about older people again here.
I passed my car test when I was 18 and I’m now 24, so going by what Captain Matt suggested I’d have to take a retest in four years time at 28, then 38, 48, etc. Is that not silly, unless something happens to me that renders me unable to drive properly, it’s uncalled for. If something were to happen to me when I was 29 I could have another 9 years before I’d need to worry anyway.
Anybody who is physically and mentally able to drive ok and has been doing so for even as little as say, six months since learning, should be able to pass as many tests as you can throw at them.
Totally agree re-tests and medicals after a certain age IMHO.
I’m not too sure about re-tests, though for those that have never taken a test then it may be a good idea to take one.
Medicals - well we have them already, every 5 years from the age of 45. But it should be extended to cover all drivers not just HGV.
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