Compulsory re-testing for over 65's

[lewisdmz]

What do you lot think about this? Very controversial decision to make as obviously taking away an elderly persons car could significantly reduce their quality of life but at the same time some of them are a tragedy waiting to happen and shouldn't be on the road.

Was prompted to write this after following an old man doing 15mph through a 30mph in clear weather conditions, wander across two lanes (probably didn't realise it had split into two lanes) and then run straight through a red light into a very busy round about - completely oblivious.

I'm not sure how much contact GP's have with the DVLA but I think when they come in for an appointment the GP should be able to make a recommendation to the DVLA that they should be re-tested if their level of physical or mental ability is looking risky.

[Curt]

About time IMO, I get what you're saying about taking away there independence but so many are a liability it's scary

[Jonny b]

Old guy across the road from me is deaf as a post! Bounces his nova saloon off the rev limiter every time he pulls away and don't fully take his foot of the clutch for about 500 yards down the road! His son stopped him driving last year after he careered across the road straight into the side of a neighbours car. Ten minutes before the school opposite kick the kids out!! Should have been off the road years ago

[Tom]

In a way yes i do agree some old people i've seen driving are absolutely dreadful, dangerous and damn right scary buut on the other hand both my grandads are 70 and i couldnt fault there driving tbh :/

[Matt]

my grandad will loose his then. He's not a bad driver takes it all in his time. But there is no way he'd pass a theory test or anything. He lives in the country too so there is no way for him to do anything without his car.

[Jonny81191]

In a way yes i do agree some old people i've seen driving are absolutely dreadful, dangerous and damn right scary buut on the other hand both my grandads are 70 and i couldnt fault there driving tbh :/

In which case the'yd probably pass a retest, so nothing to worry about!

[r3k1355]

There should be compulsory retest every 10 years in my opinion, there's plenty of younger drivers who are well below the required ability.

Compulsory retests for the over 65's is an intelligent safety move in my eyes.

[burnmw]

I think it's a good idea and should be introduced. If you are competent and pass the test then there is no reason you shouldn't be on the roads, if you fail the test then you are not safe and should not be driving. And yes I know the counter argument is that "it will take away their independence", and "without my license I can't get anywhere/do anything".

You wouldn't let a youngster fail a test but give them a license anyway just because it "takes away their independence". If you are danger you should not be on the road, for your own safety as well as everyone else who is on/near the roads. If the only person that could be killed in an accident was the driver then OK but it's usually the innocent third party who dies, and that's wrong.

[WiNgNuTz]

There should be compulsory retest every 10 years in my opinion, there's plenty of younger drivers who are well below the required ability.

Compulsory retests for the over 65's is an intelligent safety move in my eyes.

Exactly this. I drive for a living, and see countless examples of atrocious driving on a daily basis, and not only by elderly drivers! I reckon maybe when your license expires (every 10 years), you'd have to take a re-test before being able to renew it.

[CJ_Derv]

on the plus side dont you get a bus pass at 65? i can understand this but my grandparents dont drive and never have any theyve still been able to do everything theyve wanted to

Although i did find it funny teaching my 83 year old grandad a few years ago on a private carpark he seems to like wheelspins, i certainly wouldnt want him on the roads.

I can totally agree with it all if it is vetted properly (which if done by dvla it wont)

[Oil-burner]

compulsory retests every 10 years Is the way to go IMHO.
I think they should be like a pass plus where an advanced instructor sits in the car with you for an hour and assesses your driving. not like a driving test where your marked down on not having your hands at 10&2 etc but just generally of your road awareness and safety.

I keep getting stuck behind the sunday driver brigade recently and it's really annoying, coming home from my mums the other day and I followed a elderly couple for 9 miles and honestly never broke 25mph, this included a 3mile national speed limit back road and at least 2 miles of 40mph limits.
I couldn't overtake as I was 4th in the line.
They cause more accidents driving at stupidly low speeds, as it annoys people behind them who then take have to take unnecessary risks overtaking them

[Kwik]

should be a retest for over 65's but every 10 years is a bit to much.

what people should really focus on is training from the beginning. if the car system was more like the motorbike system there would be alot more savvy drivers. dangerous drivers should have to do something like a cbt and go out on a ped to experience the road from other users point of view. when they notice that there is more then them on the road and realise defensing driving is a good thing there would be less accidents. being able to ride a superbike safely in London says a hell of a lot or my road skills.........

[C2K]

Think the argument two posts above is most logical. They shouldn't have to pass a driving test, because lets face it anyone aged 25+ would fail a test as you pick up bad habits, but pass a driving competency test - ie you prove that you're in control on the vehicle, aware of hazards, risks, surroundings etc - in other words you can drive, not pass an exam.

[CJ_Derv]

I couldn't overtake as I was 4th in the line.

Need XUD and bigger turb then IMO lol

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They should have to do what i did to be allowed on company insurance, i had to go out and show i was competant behind the wheel. basically a test just to see how you do actually drive and they assess you and then do a little test at the end answering some questions n stuff.

[Ed Doe]

I agree, tbh there's nothing wrong with compulsory re-tests from an earlier age still.

I'd go further still to say that advanced driving techniques should be made compulsory, and the process for getting a license should be fundamentally changed. It's too easy to get a license, and young driver's (myself included when I first passed for sure!) don't know enough about how to control a car, or what to do in some situations, purely because they haven't had enough time & experience behind the wheel.
On that note, the Pass Plus is a joke. So you passed your test, but have never driven on a motorway before, and chances are you haven't got much night time experience, or adverse weather experience, so they charge you MORE per hour to do that. It should be part of the test.

Intensive '1week guaranteed pass' block lessons shouldn't be allowed either.

I learnt more about how to control a car in a field pissing about with my mates and some stakes we made into a slalom course than I did during my driving lessons... all 10 hours of lessons before passing first time....and then crashing a week later having driven the sum total of 1hour on the road since passing... (locked up in the damp in my Citroen ZX and went into the back of an Audi, thankfully no damage to the Audi, so they didn't claim; lesson learnt, and never did that again........ )

Bring on the driving tests like Sweden's, with 2years of learning, skidpan practice, forest driving practice, ice driving etc.!

[burnmw]

They cause more accidents driving at stupidly low speeds, as it annoys people behind them who then take have to take unnecessary risks overtaking them

Not true, nobody forces you to perform dangerous overtaking maneuvers. Although I will agree, people do take more risks trying to get round these poor drivers - I know I have, those moments where you go for the overtake, get half way round then think "f@ck me that was a bad decision" but by that point you're already committed to the overtake.

EDIT: Agree entirely with what Ed's saying RE: messing about in a field/skid pan driving - I'd love to get some training on a skid pan/field.

[Poodle]

Bring on the driving tests like Sweden's, with 2years of learning, skidpan practice, forest driving practice, ice driving etc.!

Took the words out of my mouth.

More realistically though, I think a retest every ten years isn't unreasonable. Wouldn't have to be the full caboodle, not on the theory side of it anyway, but it's definitely necessary imho.

I'll admit I probably wouldn't pass a driving test now, and i've only been fully licensed for two and a half years. We all pick up bad habits and I don't think it'd hurt to be reminded every few years.

[Niall]

We are no where near strict enough over here on our drivers. The most dangerous drivers are the ones who are completely oblivious to whats going on around them and they can be any age, male or female! The initial test needs to be made better, we need retests every 10 years when you have to get a new licence anyway and over 65s should have to retest every 4-5 years.
Also, foreigners should have to test after a few months. so often now, you see so many accidents caused by indians (that is not a racist comment before anyone tars me with the same brush as rowell!) because they drive so aggressively in india, they think they can do it over here!

Oh and bus drivers...there all wankers and we should be allowed to skin them in the middle of the street for using their buses like a battering ram!

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and young driver's (myself included when I first passed for sure!) don't know enough about how to control a car, or what to do in some situations, purely because they haven't had enough time & experience behind the wheel.

still dont otherwise you would be driving a diablo right now

/troll

[Dum-Dum]

IMO re test everyone every 5 years irregardless of age.

[CJ_Derv]

I know I have, those moments where you go for the overtake, get half way round then think "f@ck me that was a bad decision" but by that point you're already committed to the overtake.

I disagree - As you should only overtake when safe to do so (and have to power to ) LOL i recommend you retake a test if this is happening

Oh and bus drivers...there all wankers and we should be allowed to skin them in the middle of the street for using their buses like a battering ram!

Oh please dont get me started on bus wankers!!! one pulled out of a street only the other morning when i found out my abs doesnt work and nearly ploughed into the side, shame i didnt thinking about it as he just pulled out over a stop solid line into my path

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IMO re test everyone every 5 years irregardless of age.

And be able to opt for EXTRA reversing classes too

[Kezzieboy]

Something everyone is ignoring is cost, I could barely afford to learn to drive when it was £20 a lesson, and I got 11 for the price of 10. Skid pan training? Extended lessons? Minimum tuition hours? I wouldn't be driving now if that were the case.

The wonder of the Scandinavian countries is that they have wonderful socialism, so shit gets subsidised, good luck generating enough taxes to cover that in this country!

[Oil-burner]

Insurance company's should cough up the money for retests IMO, its in their interest that people drive safer and for longer!

At the end of the day my insurance have had around £5000 off me without having to fork out a penny so £200 every 10 years is a drop in the ocean tbh!

[Dum-Dum]

^^^ f*ck the cost, poor people should stick to buses, driving should be privileged and skilled.

With less people able to afford to drive and less people who are essentially too stupid to control a ton and a half of 120mph battering ram there would be less crashes and make it safer for the rest of us.

Driving is a privilege not a right.

[Oil-burner]

Best get a bus pass then dum!

[Xud Missile]

I've got 4 octogenarian grandparents who all have licenses. 2 have stopped driving as they realise they're not safe at the wheel anymore and the other 2 are good drivers. I think retests could be a wise idea, and it's not like "all drivers above X age are now banned". One of my grandparents is very stubborn so even if he became a danger I'm sure he wouldn't want to stop, that's obviously an issue.

101 year old still drives a straight 8 packard:

[Dum-Dum]

Best get a bus pass then dum!

This is my point though, I can see many many reasons why I am not a good driver but I also consider my ability to be well above average.

I hate the fact that we have a system in this country where everyone gets to have a driving licence no matter how crap they are and the standard here is so poor that people can come over from third world countries that have no f*cking driving standards and yet their standard of driving fits right in here.

How is this right?

[Kwik]

should be a retest for over 65's but every 10 years is a bit to much.

what people should really focus on is training from the beginning. if the car system was more like the motorbike system there would be alot more savvy drivers. dangerous drivers should have to do something like a cbt and go out on a ped to experience the road from other users point of view. when they notice that there is more then them on the road and realise defensing driving is a good thing there would be less accidents. being able to ride a superbike safely in London says a hell of a lot or my road skills.........

As i said by me in post 12 the dangerous drivers should spend time on 2 wheels to learn road awareness..........

[cully]

we all dont live on bus routes

i think not to retest the person by taking a driving test again
but to have everyone pass a medical which includes an eyetest every year like the car MOT

[Ed Doe]

Something everyone is ignoring is cost, I could barely afford to learn to drive when it was £20 a lesson, and I got 11 for the price of 10. Skid pan training? Extended lessons? Minimum tuition hours? I wouldn't be driving now if that were the case.

The wonder of the Scandinavian countries is that they have wonderful socialism, so shit gets subsidised, good luck generating enough taxes to cover that in this country!

Yeah but consider the amount spent by the Government on Police & the NHS in dealing with RTCs, and how much it could be cut with additional tuition, and ultimately rooting out the people who just can't drive... I'd almost go as far as to suggest they'd have change from it after subsidising the additional tuition... Might even be able to put that towards seeing to the hideous state of the roads these days...

[cwspellowe]

Just to throw my 2p in, I think people that drive for a living should have much more frequent driving assessments. Taxi drivers especially. f*cking nut jobs in the majority. And everyone everywhere should have a minimum of 5 hours indicator training and 10 hours roundabout/junction lane usage training. The number of times I've had to lock up the abs on a 3.5t transit because some retard doesn't know what lane to be in I don't know.

There's a roundabout near my work base. Four exits including the one you approach from. Two lanes. Common sense says left lane for left turn/straight on just like every other roundabout in the uk, right lane to take the 3rd and last exit and turn right. So of course I take the right lane every single time, and some clueless twat starts alongside me in the left lane, no indicators, and proceeds to travel all the way round the roundabout and block off the third exit, resulting in me coming to a stop in the middle of the roubdabout waving my arms in a fit of rage that someone is so clueless. First time it ever happened I almost ended up head on into a lorry.

Lost count of the number of times thats happened there. I now approach Assuming everyone will do ye same as no doubt one in three times they will. It's safer to assume that, but I shouldn't have to..