Good or bad?

[Buckman]

Apparently there is an ongoing consultation regarding drivers over 70 having to do a mandatory eye test to ensure they are safe to be on the roads. I do not see a problem with the eye test, but are people over 70 involved in more accidents than people under 25? How many accidents a year are caused by drivers over 70 where their eyesight has been the cause? How many accidents are caused by people under 25 speeding, reckless driving etc?

If it goes ahead, who will be paying for the driver to have the eye test or will it be a cash cow for opticians good or bad? Secondly will opticians be able to cope with the increased number of appointments?

 

[RogerL]

My view is that "passing" the standard opticians sight test should be mandatory at 3-yearly licence renewal for over-70s and mandatory at 10-yearly licence renewal for younger drivers.

All people, not just drivers, should be having their sight tested at those intervals, or more frequently, so there's no additional cost for those people. In any case, over-60s can get 2-yearly free eye tests in the UK.

I also agree with the proposal to reduce the drink-drive limit in England & Wales to the same level as Scotland - and to using the drug roadside wipe test as evidence to prosecute drug-drivers.

 

[birdman101]

As I have always had Opticians test every 12 months for the last 60 years due my Mother having an eye condition, I could of inherited,and also Hospital checks every 12 months means that as tests are 6 months apart my sight is checked every 6 months. And every time Opticians and Hospital before tests ask DO YOU DRIVE. Each time after tests and pictures are told I am good to drive. It is the people with undiagnosed Dementia I think is more the problem ,who loosed their speed of reacting to a situation.

 

[RogerL]

As I have always had Opticians test every 12 months for the last 60 years due my Mother having an eye condition, I could of inherited,and also Hospital checks every 12 months means that as tests are 6 months apart my sight is checked every 6 months. And every time Opticians and Hospital before tests ask DO YOU DRIVE. Each time after tests and pictures are told I am good to drive. It is the people with undiagnosed Dementia I think is more the problem ,who loosed their speed of reacting to a situation.

I don't think the DVLA sight test is tough enough - my wife gave up driving voluntarily because of reduced "field test" caused by Glaucoma but gets told at every eye consultant appointment that she's still ok to drive.

Sadly, the industry has perpetuated the myth that 6/6, aka 20/20 is perfect sight - it isn't perfect it's just normal - in my view 6/6 should be the required standard for drivers.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

Apparently there is an ongoing consultation regarding drivers over 70 having to do a mandatory eye test to ensure they are safe to be on the roads. I do not see a problem with the eye test, but are people over 70 involved in more accidents than people under 25? How many accidents a year are caused by drivers over 70 where their eyesight has been the cause? How many accidents are caused by people under 25 speeding, reckless driving etc?

If it goes ahead, who will be paying for the driver to have the eye test or will it be a cash cow for opticians good or bad? Secondly will opticians be able to cope with the increased number of appointments?

Eye tests for people over 60 are free. So that's not an issue. I believe everyone should have to retake the driving test every 5 years. The roads would be a lot quieter.

 

[otherclive]

A friend of mine didn’t have eye tests, preferring to go to shops that sold cheap glasses. I commented once why when driving down a B road he was continually correcting the steering. He said it was because the Audi was getting on a bit. But the same happened with the new Fiesta. Except one night returning from Portsmouth he found oncoming headlights extremely dazzling. He hadn’t driven at night since the previous winter. But shocked when the optician told him he had glaucoma. Then followed a long series of hospital visits, painful medications and operations. Nett result his wife now drives and he's hardly ably to pour wine in to a glass.

I have always had 12 monthly eye tests since the late 1970s despite there being no history of family eye disease. Until I was 60 years I paid for them. Now I have 12 monthly tests on the NHS but pay about £25 extra for extra diagnostics and scans. These picked up “moles” on my retina and two years ago an anomaly in the optic nerve. So I was referred to the Bristol Eye Hospital and nothing untoward was found.

I think 3 yearly is too long a period. Over 70 should be annually. Heavens sake it’s free!!

Wrt under 25 accident rates, they have absolutely nothing to do with over 70s vision tests. So just deal with the under 25s as a separate risk category, as are those who drink and/or take drugs.

 

[otherclive]

Apparently there is an ongoing consultation regarding drivers over 70 having to do a mandatory eye test to ensure they are safe to be on the roads. I do not see a problem with the eye test, but are people over 70 involved in more accidents than people under 25? How many accidents a year are caused by drivers over 70 where their eyesight has been the cause? How many accidents are caused by people under 25 speeding, reckless driving etc?

If it goes ahead, who will be paying for the driver to have the eye test or will it be a cash cow for opticians good or bad? Secondly will opticians be able to cope with the increased number of appointments?

I assume you are aware that NHS eye tests are free for over 60s? They check more than just driving vision, they look at eye health too.

 

[birdman101]

As for reducing drink driving, for those who already offend will not make as scrap of difference . If you ever watch the Police programs on Chanel 4 and 5 the number stopped and fail through Drink or Drugs ,don’t even have a license in the first place.

 

[Buckman]

I assume you are aware that NHS eye tests are free for over 60s? They check more than just driving vision, they look at eye health too.

Isn't it only free once every two years? After having an eye test, how long will that eye test be valid for? At the moment the police cannot even catch drivers that have no driving licence, no insurance etc so not sure how they are going to cope with stopping over 70s to check on them? It is all very good bringing in these regulations, but you still need it to be policed. Currently in our area for every 44 crimes, only one is solved!

 

[Buckman]

Eye tests for people over 60 are free. So that's not an issue. I believe everyone should have to retake the driving test every 5 years. The roads would be a lot quieter.

Here you go. https://olderdriversforum.com/ Why not try doing one of the physical tests? I am positive that many youngsters who acquired a driving licence recently would fail the IAMs test. Our 17 year old grandson would probably be one of them! He doesn't drive fast, but it is the way he drives!

 

[RogerL]

Isn't it only free once every two years? After having an eye test, how long will that eye test be valid for? At the moment the police cannot even catch drivers that have no driving licence, no insurance etc so not sure how they are going to cope with stopping over 70s to check on them? It is all very good bringing in these regulations, but you still need it to be policed. Currently in our area for every 44 crimes, only one is solved!

Over 60 eye test are free every two years - BUT - if the optician recommends a shorter period, eg 1 year or 6 months, then that's free as well.

 

[RogerL]

Here you go. https://olderdriversforum.com/ Why not try doing one of the physical tests? I am positive that many youngsters who acquired a driving licence recently would fail the IAMs test. Our 17 year old grandson would probably be one of them! He doesn't drive fast, but it is the way he drives!

Although I think the IAM test would be a good standard in a perfect world, it's not going to happen.

Many of those who passed the IAM test some years ago would fail if they took it again - it's so easy for bad habits to creep in.

 

[Buckman]

Over 60 eye test are free every two years - BUT - if the optician recommends a shorter period, eg 1 year or 6 months, then that's free as well.

Thanks Roger. However it will be the government insisting on a shorter time frame, but no ones yet what that time frame will be. After all, if time is set for every three years to coincide with the renewal, this will fall out with your 2 yearly eye test. You could be going to two eye tests in the same year, one normal and the other for the driving licence.

 

[Buckman]

Although I think the IAM test would be a good standard in a perfect world, it's not going to happen.

Many of those who passed the IAM test some years ago would fail if they took it again - it's so easy for bad habits to creep in.

Very true however I will be applying to do the IAMs test as the last time I did a similar but stricter test was way back in the early seventies.

 

[RogerL]

Thanks Roger. However it will be the government insisting on a shorter time frame, but no ones yet what that time frame will be. After all, if time is set for every three years to coincide with the renewal, this will fall out with your 2 yearly eye test. You could be going to two eye tests in the same year, one normal and the other for the driving licence.

They haven't said how long a previous eye test would be valid for

 

[RogerL]

Very true however I will be applying to do the IAMs test as the last time I did a similar but stricter test was way back in the early seventies.

Good luck - if you pass you'll be a Fellow of the Institute and have to resit the test every three years - if you fail you not only lose the Fellow qualification but also the Member qualification!

I did an informal evaluation with one of the examiners, with a view to obtaining my Fellowship later, but made a total pigs ear of it and decided not to do the retest!

 

[otherclive]

As for reducing drink driving, for those who already offend will not make as scrap of difference . If you ever watch the Police programs on Chanel 4 and 5 the number stopped and fail through Drink or Drugs ,don’t even have a license in the first place.

That’s one of those offences where in the road enforcement is necessary. But as you say many offenders don’t have a licence and are probably not insured either. But how about two strikes and you are in clink might help, if only to keep them out of the way. But I also cannot help but notice that when we are out for lunch there are always a number of retired/elderly persons imbibing the grape or hop and not departing by taxi or bus.

 

[otherclive]

Isn't it only free once every two years? After having an eye test, how long will that eye test be valid for? At the moment the police cannot even catch drivers that have no driving licence, no insurance etc so not sure how they are going to cope with stopping over 70s to check on them? It is all very good bringing in these regulations, but you still need it to be policed. Currently in our area for every 44 crimes, only one is solved!

The eye test details could be registered with DVLA and presumably would be valid within a certain date of licence renewal. Police can already accces licence details. But if your eyes didn’t meet the legal requirements you would not be getting a licence anyway.

 

[otherclive]

They haven't said how long a previous eye test would be valid for

There could be an overlap period, and when applying for licence renewal there would probably be a time period prior to licence expiry when a new eye test is valid for supporting the application for a new licence. Since I passed 70 I’ve gradually bought my annual eye test appointments in line with the three yearly renewal date. I cannot see why some see it as so difficult. After all its not just driving that vision affects.

 

[otherclive]

They haven't said how long a previous eye test would be valid for

It’s going to be out for consultation in a number of road safety measures. No need to get ahead of ourselves and find obstacles that have not even arrived yet.

 

[Sam Vimes]

While eye sight is an important aspect of safe driving, there are many other health related aspects as well. Just look at the list on the over 70s reapplication form. Just tick boxes. Does any authority follow up on what you've not ticked. I doubt it.

Then of course along with advancing years comes other aspects, such as poor reaction times, situational awareness, ability to concentrate etc.

 

[Jcloughie]

I am not decrying the IAM. But I once did an informal evaluation as Roger did above. It came after a first class series of theory driving lesson put on by our police. I don’t know if these still happen but they should. It was well worth doing.

I drove for about 5 miles. I was then told it went fine except for one bit. I needed to hang back behind a parked car until the on coming traffic had cleared. She said that I was too far to the left and therefore I did not have a clear view of the on coming traffic.

I think she meant that from the passenger seat, her vision was restricted. I could see right down the road. If I was any further out a lorry would never have got past.

It put me off progressing. But it should not have done.

John

 

[Buckman]

Good luck - if you pass you'll be a Fellow of the Institute and have to resit the test every three years - if you fail you not only lose the Fellow qualification but also the Member qualification!

I did an informal evaluation with one of the examiners, with a view to obtaining my Fellowship later, but made a total pigs ear of it and decided not to do the retest!

If you use the link I supplied, you can have a test drive with an IAMs examiner who does an evaluation, but do not actually do the IAMs test itself. You do not become a member and do not have to resit the test every 3 years.

 

[Jcloughie]

If you use the link I supplied, you can have a test drive with an IAMs examiner who does an evaluation, but do not actually do the IAMs test itself. You do not become a member and do not have to resit the test every 3 years.

In my example in #22. I just went with a volunteer member, not an examiner.

John

 

[Dustydog]

I am not decrying the IAM. But I once did an informal evaluation as Roger did above. It came after a first class series of theory driving lesson put on by our police. I don’t know if these still happen but they should. It was well worth doing.

I drove for about 5 miles. I was then told it went fine except for one bit. I needed to hang back behind a parked car until the on coming traffic had cleared. She said that I was too far to the left and therefore I did not have a clear view of the on coming traffic.

I think she meant that from the passenger seat, her vision was restricted. I could see right down the road. If I was any further out a lorry would never have got past.

It put me off progressing. But it should not have done.

John

As a past Local IAM Chief Observer I can appreciate her comment. Most people stop barely one car length from the parked car awaiting clearance of the oncoming traffic. Long distance vision is compromised as is the amount of steering needed to swing out. Hold back at least four car lengths and you will be amazed what a difference it makes to your long distance view.

Think about your towing mirrors compared to the cars standard ones. Your field of vision is much greater .

For decades I have said if everyone learnt to the IAM standard the roads would be a much safer place!