Should drivers over 70 be retested

[bobmac]

a compulsory quick fit to drive test would be a step forward

Who would carry out these tests?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I can assure you Phil, when you get to my age (63 soon) and its suggested that you have a test at 65 you'll be the first to complain that you're as good, if not better, driver than you were at 20. I do agree that there are menaces on the road and a 10 year short driving test would be a good idea

But if you are fit to drive then what's the problem with doing a quick fit to drive test ?

It wouldn't bother me if at 70 I was asked to do a medical and a fit to drive test

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Who would carry out these tests?

Driving examiners possibly ?

 

[bobmac]

Driving examiners possibly ?

''There are currently an estimated 10.37 million people in Britain over the age of 65'


They are going to need some more then.

 

[Hobbit]

The price of insurance premiums for young and old isn't derived from a finger in the air method. Let's be honest, insurance companies wouldn't structure their business to not take the money/mitigate the risk in the wrong area. For me, its that simple.

Yes there's some anecdotal, headline breaking news that there's the odd horrific accident involving an oldie. How many horrific accidents involving youngsters are there?

And as an anecdotal comment from the police sgt that visited me in hospital, post failed pedestrian incident, said youngsters lack experience. They get themselves into a position through lack of forethought and experience. Someone who has been driving for 40-50 years doesn't tend to lack experience.

 

[chrisd]

But if you are fit to drive then what's the problem with doing a quick fit to drive test ?

It wouldn't bother me if at 70 I was asked to do a medical and a fit to drive test

My only gripe is that I think singling out people on age is wrong, there are many drivers who are just as dangerous on the road as, say, a 65 year old may be. 10 year tests of competency would be fine for me because you Phil could be a much more dangerous driver than me!

Driving examiners possibly ?

Absolutely, say 30 minutes of normal driving and proof of eyesight would be OK

 

[Deleted member 15344]

''There are currently an estimated 10.37 million people in Britain over the age of 65'


They are going to need some more then.

Thankfully I'm suggesting over 70 :thup:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

My only gripe is that I think singling out people on age is wrong, there are many drivers who are just as dangerous on the road as, say, a 65 year old may be. 10 year tests of competency would be fine for me because you Phil could be a much more dangerous driver than me!



Absolutely, say 30 minutes of normal driving and proof of eyesight would be OK

10 year tests just isn't workable - yes would be ideal

People reaching the ages of 70 and above will naturally have slower reactions and eyesight issues and possibly illnesses etc

As in said - it's just a possibly first step to looking at possibly making the roads a tiny bit safer

I also think new drivers should have a fit to drive test a year after the pass

 

[ger147]

Why are 10 year tests not workable?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Why are 10 year tests not workable?

Because the idea would get thrown out

Cost , time , administration etc

 

[ger147]

Because the idea would get thrown out

Cost , time , administration etc

Thrown out by who?

And those issues are the exact same ones you would encounter by starting to test 70's and over so I fail to see how one is a good idea and the other is unworkable.

 

[bobmac]

Thankfully I'm suggesting over 70 :thup:

That's different, brings it down to a measly 7.1m

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Thrown out by who?

And those issues are the exact same ones you would encounter by starting to test 70's and over so I fail to see how one is a good idea and the other is unworkable.

Because the frequency will be far less with one retest later in life as opposed to 5 for example

 

[ger147]

Because the frequency will be far less with one retest later in life as opposed to 5 for example

You didn't say who would throw it out?

And we'll have to disagree as intorducing more than 1 test would cause all the issues you outlined no matter when it is carried out, and I personally think if it's about removing unsafe drivers from the road it seems odd to start targetting the safest drivers on the road first.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

You didn't say who would throw it out?

And we'll have to disagree as intorducing more than 1 test would cause all the issues you outlined no matter when it is carried out, and I personally think if it's about removing unsafe drivers from the road it seems odd to start targetting the safest drivers on the road first.

Government I believe would throw it out

And having 1 more test at any age is more workable that have 5 tests at ten year gaps

 

[ger147]

Government I believe would throw it out

And having 1 more test at any age is more workable that have 5 tests at ten year gaps

I haven't seen any evidence to suggest they would throw it out.

And both would cause issues as the current system isn't set up to deal with either at the moment, and both could be workable if that is what is wanted.

As I said above, we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[Tashyboy]

I agree that there are drivers of every age, sex creed and colour that are bad drivers. But the fact is that they have (mostly) passed their test and according to the law are able to drive. In the vast majority of cases their poor level of driving is not caused by their physical condition. However with the over 70s statistically the physical attributes you need to be able to drive safely will start to diminish.

So if there is an opportunity to remove drivers from the road that physically can not drive safely then why should we not do it? Very few drivers will voluntarily do it and I bet every one on here has a story of an elderly relative who insisted on driving but was a liability to themselves and other road users.

Yes we should be doing more to tackle bad drivers of all ages and stop being obsessed by fining speeders to just mostly raise revenue. As we are getting to the stage where someone doing 80 on motorway in the middle of the night is demonised and much more likely to be fined more that some pensioner who has poor eye sight and the reaction times of a sloth. But that does not mean we should not tackle drivers who do not have the required level of sight, hearing or reactions to safely drive. And statistically that will be the elderly.

Excellent post hacker, when the pit shut a lot of lads went back to previous employment and in mutt mutts case (he was mutton deaf) he went back to being a class one driver driving 40 tonners 😳.
In essence what I am trying to say is that hearing would not be a safety requirement to be considered when driving, Seeing as most elderly have natural hearing loss.