Potential New Driving Laws

[Imurg]

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

A number of years ago the footy player Joe Cole got off points that would have led to a ban because....
His Mrs had been threatened a few months before and was now terrified of using public transport to get around.
She had to be able to get to certain health appointments which, now, only Joe could get her to.......
Er.....Joe....you were being paid 60 or 70 thousand a week by Chelsea...hire a bloody driver...
He got let off........system has been screwed for decades

 

[Mandofred]

Who is going to pay for these millions of eye tests? Who is going to administrate them? Think how hard it is these days to even GET a driving test because of the lack of openings.

In the US there are plenty of driving tests sites with plenty of people working at them. You don't have to waits months and months just to get a test. Granted....passing the driving test is mostly about not running any pedestrians over or running into other cars....it's a pretty crappy test, but at least you can get it and they have supplied the sites to do so. It's also amazing how many people fail the test....fairly scary. Also....when you renew your license you have to look into a machine and get a quick eye test. Heck....even the Americans can do it.

Kind of strange timing though after the post I put out about cataracts. I've already been doing some research into getting it done one way or another this winter. I don't know about the NHS waiting times, but I tend to think I will just go private. My long distance vision doesn't seem to be taking a hit yet (I'm 68) although it's never been amazing, but at the moment the cataracts seem to be messing a lot with my arm length to 30ft distance a lot more and it's changing fast.

 

[larmen]

Who is going to pay for these millions of eye tests? Who is going to administrate them? Think how hard it is these days to even GET a driving test because of the lack of openings.

I pay for it myself, and I do it at boots, specsavers, …
That’s what I did when getting my 1st license some 30+!years ago in Germany.
Similar or same test I get for glasses from work every 2 years.

When I did motorcycle here I read a number plate of a car I could have just remembered from when I arrived at the rest centre.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Who is going to pay for these millions of eye tests? Who is going to administrate them? Think how hard it is these days to even GET a driving test because of the lack of openings.

In the US there are plenty of driving tests sites with plenty of people working at them. You don't have to waits months and months just to get a test. Granted....passing the driving test is mostly about not running any pedestrians over or running into other cars....it's a pretty crappy test, but at least you can get it and they have supplied the sites to do so. It's also amazing how many people fail the test....fairly scary. Also....when you renew your license you have to look into a machine and get a quick eye test. Heck....even the Americans can do it.

Kind of strange timing though after the post I put out about cataracts. I've already been doing some research into getting it done one way or another this winter. I don't know about the NHS waiting times, but I tend to think I will just go private. My long distance vision doesn't seem to be taking a hit yet (I'm 68) although it's never been amazing, but at the moment the cataracts seem to be messing a lot with my arm length to 30ft distance a lot more and it's changing fast.

I pay for eye test every year

So no reason the driver can’t pay for it in the same way they pay to renew the license

 

[Deleted member 35927]

I pay for eye test every year

So no reason the driver can’t pay for it in the same way they pay to renew the license

No thanks. I pay enough already, no need to add a pointless check that costs me another 35

 

[Hobbit]

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

Every 10 years here till age 65 when it changes to every 5 years. There was talk of making it every 3 years for over 75’s but the idea got dropped. It also includes BP and a very basic spatial awareness test. 30 mins, €25.

It’s no hardship whatsoever to find 30 mins every 10/5 years.

 

[Deleted member 36742]

I have no issue with the eye tests and other cognitive tests for we older drivers. Indeed I think eye tests at regular intervals should be introduced fo drivers of all ages.

However, I cannot believe that the Government are so dismissive of graduated licences on passing the Driving Test for young drivers. Far too many cases of showing off leading to serious accidents and fatalities.

 

[rulefan]

Get the oldies off the road, by any method.

As they probably can't see well enough to cross the road safely - that's your opportunity.

 

[jim8flog]

That's a bit excessive, 70 is fine.

According to my optician most people's eyesight tends to start deteriorating around the mid 40s.

On a personal level my first pair of glasses were bought around then. My eyesight has never been that poor that giving up driving would even be considered although these days I to loose sight of another players golf ball around the 200 yard mark in some light conditions.

I used to worry about my wife's ability to drive in the dark most of the time she was alive, known as night time myopia which is quite common.

 

[jim8flog]

Who is going to pay for these millions of eye tests? Who is going to administrate them? Think how hard it is these days to even GET a driving test because of the lack of openings.

In the US there are plenty of driving tests sites with plenty of people working at them. You don't have to waits months and months just to get a test. Granted....passing the driving test is mostly about not running any pedestrians over or running into other cars....it's a pretty crappy test, but at least you can get it and they have supplied the sites to do so. It's also amazing how many people fail the test....fairly scary. Also....when you renew your license you have to look into a machine and get a quick eye test. Heck....even the Americans can do it.

Kind of strange timing though after the post I put out about cataracts. I've already been doing some research into getting it done one way or another this winter. I don't know about the NHS waiting times, but I tend to think I will just go private. My long distance vision doesn't seem to be taking a hit yet (I'm 68) although it's never been amazing, but at the moment the cataracts seem to be messing a lot with my arm length to 30ft distance a lot more and it's changing fast.

Eyesight tests are free for the older person and any sensible person would be getting their's tested at the recommended 2 year interval, over 70 licence renewal is every 3 years so at worst the eye test would be a year old.

 

[Robster59]

Annual eye tests are free here in Scotland. And even if you have to pay to ensure you keep your licence, as long as the eye tests aren't increased deliberately to make money, I don't see an issue.

 

[Mandofred]

The whole system needs a fix in my humble opinion. Why can't there be a site in every largish town/city for a DVLA that is STAFFED with actual people? Something that important you would think they could spend some money on. Then....every 10 years (or 5...pick the bloody number) you arrange to stop in to the "site"......they take your picture, quick eye test....heck, you could see if they can still juggle or not....and wham bam, new license. But the old excuse of "Oh no...that's not the way we've always done it" comes up.....change. For the better.

By the way.....the check to see if they can still juggle or not had a silly purpose for me. If I couldn't juggle anymore....I'd had more than enough to drink.

 

[clubchamp98]

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.

This for me
Every 10 yrs when you renew your photo license you should send an eye test prescription form with it.
Have a tickbox on the form for Fit To Drive from optician.
If your appearance can change in 10 yrs so can your eyesight.

As a crane driver mine was every six months with a full medical.

 

[clubchamp98]

The whole system needs a fix in my humble opinion. Why can't there be a site in every largish town/city for a DVLA that is STAFFED with actual people? Something that important you would think they could spend some money on. Then....every 10 years (or 5...pick the bloody number) you arrange to stop in to the "site"......they take your picture, quick eye test....heck, you could see if they can still juggle or not....and wham bam, new license. But the old excuse of "Oh no...that's not the way we've always done it" comes up.....change. For the better.

By the way.....the check to see if they can still juggle or not had a silly purpose for me. If I couldn't juggle anymore....I'd had more than enough to drink.

Spot on , use some of the taxes the motorists pay to set this up.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

The whole system needs a fix in my humble opinion. Why can't there be a site in every largish town/city for a DVLA that is STAFFED with actual people? Something that important you would think they could spend some money on. Then....every 10 years (or 5...pick the bloody number) you arrange to stop in to the "site"......they take your picture, quick eye test....heck, you could see if they can still juggle or not....and wham bam, new license. But the old excuse of "Oh no...that's not the way we've always done it" comes up.....change. For the better.

By the way.....the check to see if they can still juggle or not had a silly purpose for me. If I couldn't juggle anymore....I'd had more than enough to drink.

What do you need a DVLA staffed office for in every large town ?

There are opticians in every town

 

[clubchamp98]

What do you need a DVLA staffed office for in every large town ?

There are opticians in every town

It could be a drive through one.

If McDonald’s can do it?

 

[Mandofred]

What do you need a DVLA staffed office for in every large town ?

There are opticians in every town

This is a big problem in this country. Start here.....go to there.....then double back and ask again.... Going to one place to get something....and then take it somewhere else.....etc etc etc. Why not go to ONE place that can do it all? This is important. Make it simple but effective. Don't waste people's time. I'd pay EXTRA just to go into a building that could take care of everything....and not wait months to get it done. Don't get me going about buying a house.....jeez....more beer.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

M

This is a big problem in this country. Start here.....go to there.....then double back and ask again.... Going to one place to get something....and then take it somewhere else.....etc etc etc. Why not go to ONE place that can do it all? This is important. Make it simple but effective. Don't waste people's time. I'd pay EXTRA just to go into a building that could take care of everything....and not wait months to get it done. Don't get me going about buying a house.....jeez....more beer.

What is the big problem you are talking about

There is a DVLA website for everything DVLA related

 

[Mandofred]

M


What is the big problem you are talking about

There is a DVLA website for everything DVLA related

You don't see a problem with wasting people's time? So when it's time to renew my license (soon)....I need to go the DVLA website and find out what I need to do. Then run off to Boots? and get an eye test. (insert forged eye tests here)..Then take that result where? Are they doing it online? Do I take the results by hand to a DVLA site? Blah..blah...blah.... Just go to ONE site and get everything done. Why not? Why make things harder? Why not make things simpler and easier? If you want to make things dependable....make it ONE site with people who can get the job done.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

You don't see a problem with wasting people's time? So when it's time to renew my license (soon)....I need to go the DVLA website and find out what I need to do. Then run off to Boots? and get an eye test. (insert forged eye tests here)..Then take that result where? Are they doing it online? Do I take the results by hand to a DVLA site? Blah..blah...blah.... Just go to ONE site and get everything done. Why not? Why make things harder? Why not make things simpler and easier? If you want to make things dependable....make it ONE site with people who can get the job done.

Renew your driving licence

Apply online to renew your 10-year driving licence, full or provisional - cost, payment methods, documents and information you need

www.gov.uk

It’s all very simple and managed my last one in 10 mins

What time is wasted , do you really think there should be qualified opticians sat in a DVLA office ?