Potential New Driving Laws

[Arthur Wedge]

Over-70s face driving ban for failing eye tests

The proposed changes in England and Wales come after a coroner calls the UK's licensing system the "laxest in Europe".

www.bbc.co.uk

Happy to see these being looked into

 

[Neilds]

Shouldn't just be for over 70s. Would like to see eye tests for all renewals as eyes can change a lot in 10 years and I bet a lot of people don't have regular eye checks.

 

[Robster59]

As someone who will be 70 in 2029, this is important to me, but nobody should be driving with poor eyesight.
My late Father-in-Law used to keep on self declaring himself fit to his mid 80's. He got very aggressive if we challenged him on his ability to drive so in the end we spoke to the doctor and he declared him unfit (mentally as much as eyesight) as he couldn't argue with that.
He actually never passed a test but actually bought his licence in Ireland, a practice that was apparently quite common at the time.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Shouldn't just be for over 70s. Would like to see eye tests for all renewals as eyes can change a lot in 10 years and I bet a lot of people don't have regular eye checks.

Would be more than happy to see regular Eye checks from the age of 50 for driving - potentially every 5 years

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Would be more than happy to see regular Eye checks from the age of 50 for driving - potentially every 5 years

That's a bit excessive, 70 is fine.

 

[Neilds]

That's a bit excessive, 70 is fine.

Really? Have a look at the cataracts thread and I bet none of those who have suffered are over 70.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

That's a bit excessive, 70 is fine.

My eye sight has got progressively worse since 40 , know plenty of people who have had to start wearing glasses in their 50’s

 

[road2ruin]

Driving is not a right, it's a privilege, it might be a hard decision but once you're no longer up to it then you hand your license back. If you won't do that then it must be taken off you. Personally I think 70 onwards is fine as that's where incidents rise considerably with age.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

My eye sight has got progressively worse since 40 , know plenty of people who have had to start wearing glasses in their 50’s

So has mine, so I wear glasses now. No need to enforce a check every 5 years. Knee jerk reaction.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

So has mine, so I wear glasses now. No need to enforce a check every 5 years. Knee jerk reaction.

Why not if it ensures people are fit to drive and potentially reduces the risk of accidents

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Why not if it ensures people are fit to drive and potentially reduces the risk of accidents

Yes , but every 5 years from 50 is an overreaction and would have little support.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Yes , but every 5 years from 50 is an overreaction and would have little support.

Every 5 years isn’t that much of a hardship

It’s a 30 min appointment to check current eyesight and away you go

I have one every year

 

[Imurg]

They missed out on a golden opportunity when photocard licenses came out...
Unlike the paper ones, the cards have to be renewed every 10 years with a new photo.
If the Powers that Be were really interested in road safety they would have introduced an assessment with a qualified person
It would only have needed 30 minutes of general driving, pointing out potential flaws and getting a reminder der of rules etc.
They would also have an eyesight test...read a number plate from 20 metres - that's what they do on the driving test and if you can't read it you don't go out.
I asked the CEO of DVSA many years ago why this wasn't in place and the simple answer was...Cost.
Nobody wants to pay for it...so it'll never happen.
To think you can go from 17 to the day you die without anything other than a self declaration scares the living bejeezus out of me.
And it shows in the standard of driving out there.....I'd rather get in a car with a kid that's just passed their test than many of the 40/50/60+ year olds I see...

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I have no problem with an eye test every so often once you get to 70.
What would also like to see is life bans for drink driving over a certain limit, for repeated driving without insurance, for driving without a license and along with a lifetime ban, a huge fine or prison.

 

[AliMc]

Are there not supposedly 000's of folk driving who are over the points limit that would mean them losing their licence for a while (or is that just a Daily Mail made up story !)
If so how about getting them off the roads

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I have no problem with an eye test every so often once you get to 70.
What would also like to see is life bans for drink driving over a certain limit, for repeated driving without insurance, for driving without a license and along with a lifetime ban, a huge fine or prison.

Think the idea of re test I think is a very good one but I don’t think it’s practical because of not just cost but also the amount that would be needed and there seems to be a lot of delays at the moment

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Are there not supposedly 000's of folk driving who are over the points limit that would mean them losing their licence for a while (or is that just a Daily Mail made up story !)
If so how about getting them off the roads

I think what happens is people are able to appeal that they need to have a license to work etc so they carry on

Seems daft to me

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Think the idea of re test I think is a very good one but I don’t think it’s practical because of not just cost but also the amount that would be needed and there seems to be a lot of delays at the moment

I didn’t say anything about a retest. Only lifetime bans for driving.

 

[Burnsey]

Get the oldies off the road, by any method.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I didn’t say anything about a retest. Only lifetime bans for driving.

Sorry was supposed to quote Imurg

But agree on bans