Should over 70s have to retake their driving test?
Currently, there is no age restriction on when Brits should stop driving with the law only requiring drivers to renew their licences every three years from the age of 70.
Figures from the DVLA show there are 4.5 million over 70s still on the road with 239 licence holders aged 100 to 108.
Half of British drivers are calling for the over 70s to retake driving tests before they are allowed back behind the wheel. Research by website Confused.com also found a quarter of UK motorists want to see a maximum age limit imposed on all UK drivers with two in ten citing 71-75 as the cut off.
But elderly drivers have fought back and one in three insist they are better drivers today than when they were in their teens or twenties. And four in ten said they would be willing to take a new test to prove it.
More than half turned the tables on younger motorists saying they were more reckless than silver haired motorists and caused more accidents.
What are your views? Should there be an upper maximum age limit imposed on drivers? Would you be willing to retake your driving test after the age of 70? Have you ever had to shop a much older friend or relative amid fears their doddery driving would cause an accident behind the wheel? Or is it the younger drivers that are more reckless on the roads?
What are your views?
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On the road I have always been careful as I need to protect my competition license. I still drive thousands of miles a year and in doing so I remain very aware of my driving skills.
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Just like everyone else in their 70s my driving skills are diminishing I am not as good a driver as I was in my 40s , 50s , and 60s.
The general standard of driving is appalling and the level of sheer pig ignorance and aggression combined with a piece of metal and glass is frightening.
As we get older our reactions are slower and whether we like to admit that the aggressive manner of driving today is not ideal for older drivers. Still perhaps if we had more or even some in some areas traffic police things might improve.
even if the patients themselves do not inform the authorities.
She was a terrible driver (sorry Sylv) yet she PASSED!
Enough said!
This should apply to people driving electrically powered vehicles too!
If they have never driven (this applies to many), some time for education in the Highway Code and driving protocol would be useful
The public should not be allowed to walk into a shop and purchase a piece of equipment for which they have not been assessed both personally and vehicle-wise
Many people no longer allowed to drive a car go on to purchase an electrically powered vehicle
I also believe that young people should undergo advanced driving courses, but that would be unmanageable sadly.
Self awareness is key in driving, anger management too, oh and the biggest fear I have is seeing, usually, elderly women behind the wheel of a car they can barely see over - bumper seats for shorter drivers please!!
I am insured through IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) and that has become cheaper, but the biggest advantage for me is self awareness.
I worry too about drivers who are clearly afraid behind the wheel, the car driving them rather than them in control and relaxed - driving should be fun and enjoyable.
Just a thought.
As the holder of a full driving licence for forty eight years, also an HGV Class 1 and four agricultural licences I feel at least qualified to comment the worst drivers on British roads are young women and young men. The former seem to know only how to go forward at speed and the latter want to display their range of road skills learned on computer games. To make matters worse I and my young friends were keen to hone our driving skills without endangering others.
Is that the general case today? No. We issue driving licences as easily as TV licences and the roads are the less safe for it.
As far another test at seventy years old, well, pass parameters are so abysmally low now it is unlikely someone with the range of licences I've held, and that without a single accident, would ever pass!
As with another commenter, I'm not willing to further fill the DoT coffers, or is it DVLA now? I don't know. Why not spend time and money enhancing the skills of new drivers, enforcing driving penalties?
If health is a factor then any assessments should be applied to anyone regardless of age.
As for triennial renewals; what a farce. All we have to do is fill in a form. What does this achieve?
In any case, as all experienced drivers know the driving test bears no resemblance to real life.
Is this about trying to achieve safer roads or just another attack on older people?
The end result will be a lowering of road craft standards, booming accident rate, NHS bills soaring ... actually, just like the education system, work to the lowest common denominator.
Additional annual eye and hearing examination would be an important
benefit to the driver, the public, insurers and the NHS
Surely more driving experience makes you a better driver.