Threat to the Oldies

[Hutch]

Just read this in the Mail on line.
A possible restriction on the over 70 year olds, to their driving.

Over 70s in poor health face night driving ban in licence shake up

Drivers over the age of 70 who suffer from poor health could be allowed to retain their licences if they stick to roads in their local area and install a tracker on their vehicles.

mol.im

 

[Beachball]

Just have to wait until I am seventy it five years away .

 

[Gabsgrandad]

They'll be advocating 'euthanasia' next! ---- Start in Westminster first plenty of candidates there!

 

[otherclive]

That’s a real classic. If you suffer from poor health. What poor health would it be ? But given disclosure you can then drive in a 30 mile radius. I’d suggest most elderly accidents probably occur within 30 miles of home.
The statistics of increased deaths are still small given the size of the group under discussion but there’s no normalisation to show death rate in that group rather than deaths.
If eyesight via a concern force applicants to declare their opticians prescription at each renewal. Poor vision has licence withdrawn unless evidence of purchase of glasses.

Periodically these topics arise. One favourite is retest every three years. Why not look at the other end of the spectrum too and restrict driving by tracking etc?

 

[JezzerB]

Loony Mail headline. Am just guessing that it'll be more reasonable when you read the facts-like poor eyesight or some such! At the mo there seem to be plenty of incapable people on the roads and this has nothing to do with age!

 

[Gafferbill]

.........if Benson gets banned or restricted from driving I'll just get a younger chauffeur

 

[Robert_374373903]

When I was in my seventies we had a Hymer M/H traveling all over western Europe without any problems

 

[JezzerB]

I really wouldn't base anything on age and not even retest. In my small minded world every person who has a driving licence would have to have
1)an eyesight test every two years
2)A theory test every 5years. Should this be failed you'd have to have 5 x1hour compulsory driving lessons/assessments with an instructor who would have to sign off they thought you were safe competent. Only if not would you need a retest. Simples.

Theory test ,all on computers these days so no big issue ramping up provision and yes we'd bare the cost ,charge a fee by all means. And driving instructors would relish a bit more business. Something needs to happen but stats prove it isn't the elderly who cause accidents but make headlines since they seem to do biggies like drive the wrong way up the M1. Mind you saw a younger person attempt to drive up the wrong lane recently then realise just in time.

 

[Parksy]

Now that Harry and Meghan have cleared off the newspapers have got to come up with new things for gullible people to be outraged about.
To introduce such draconian restrictions on older people would be a very bold move by any government.
They are only too aware that older people tend to vote without fail.
Such an idiotic proposal would in any case be in breach of the Equalities Act 2010.

 

[JezzerB]

Totally agree Parksy-and see my rant-given the job I do I see a lot of driving in close up detail and the senior cits are the least of our worries. Drinking at the wheel, and watching TV while driving, dogs on laps, a total inability to place the car in a desired spot, driving the wrong way up a clearly marked no entry lane-I could go on -and none of them have been senior cits.

 

[otherclive]

I really wouldn't base anything on age and not even retest. In my small minded world every person who has a driving licence would have to have
1)an eyesight test every two years
2)A theory test every 5years. Should this be failed you'd have to have 5 x1hour compulsory driving lessons/assessments with an instructor who would have to sign off they thought you were safe competent. Only if not would you need a retest. Simples.

Theory test ,all on computers these days so no big issue ramping up provision and yes we'd bare the cost ,charge a fee by all means. And driving instructors would relish a bit more business. Something needs to happen but stats prove it isn't the elderly who cause accidents but make headlines since they seem to do biggies like drive the wrong way up the M1. Mind you saw a younger person attempt to drive up the wrong lane recently then realise just in time.

A good friend of mine fir some unexplained reason didn’t go for eye tests. One evening driving back from Portsmouth he found oncoming lights almost impossible. He eventually got home but went for a test. Result sent immediately to Bath RUH where glaucoma was diagnosed. No more night driving, regular and painful medication to try and slow the progress of the disease.

The strange thing is that when we were out with him we thought his cars (Audi followed by Fiesta) had poor suspension as they continually twitched from side to side. But it was his minor steering corrections due to the deterioration of his central vision and his eyes relying on the peripheral vision.

I’ve always had annual eye tests free or paid for.

Moderator Note: Apologies otherclive , I have replaced one word in your post as when it appeared on the public forum it was starred out. Whilst I know what you were trying to say, and in normal conversation would be perfectly acceptable, the forum software decided it could be another meaning which would not be acceptable.

 

[Beachball]

I really wouldn't base anything on age and not even retest. In my small minded world every person who has a driving licence would have to have
1)an eyesight test every two years
2)A theory test every 5years. Should this be failed you'd have to have 5 x1hour compulsory driving lessons/assessments with an instructor who would have to sign off they thought you were safe competent. Only if not would you need a retest. Simples.

Theory test ,all on computers these days so no big issue ramping up provision and yes we'd bare the cost ,charge a fee by all means. And driving instructors would relish a bit more business. Something needs to happen but stats prove it isn't the elderly who cause accidents but make headlines since they seem to do biggies like drive the wrong way up the M1. Mind you saw a younger person attempt to drive up the wrong lane recently then realise just in time.

Hi JezzerB don"t need M1 I took a wrong way in Lincoln on my Satnav it said your next left well if i carried on i would have been in trouble just manage to get out but at the time had the caravan on the back could not reverse so went forward a bit and i turn it out of there .

 

[Dustydog]

Oh well ! That’s me let off buying an EV🤪🤪🤪

 

[Hutch]

WhenI took my wonderfull Mother in Law, so have her eyes done, for wet related macular degeneration, she could hardly see, things, tunnel vision etc, after many visits to the specialist, he told us, I am going to have to say she will not be allowed to drive any more.
She could not see more than 20 feet, she hadn't driven for over 5 years.

 

[Dustydog]

WhenI took my wonderfull Mother in Law, so have her eyes done, for wet related macular degeneration, she could hardly see, things, tunnel vision etc, after many visits to the specialist, he told us, I am going to have to say she will not be allowed to drive any more.
She could not see more than 20 feet, she hadn't driven for over 5 years.

A real shame at Sixty??😢😢😢

 

[otherclive]

Dept of Transport stated “ Absolutely no plans to introduce graduated licences for over 70s”. Beware the Grey Vote! So they will come in after 2024 👎👎


https://assets.publishing.service.g...a/file/706517/older-car-drivers-factsheet.pdf

ROSPA had a similar assessment. The biggest benefit to the country is to reduce the death and accident rate of the risk groups where accidents not only lead to personal tragedy but also deprives the country of an extended life with work, education and families.

PS looks as if oldies might be better being banned from buses/ coaches and not allowed to walk. But then I guess the percentage fatalities in cars would increase.

 

[Hutch]

I am sure there are police driving days for car drivers, as there are for motorcyclists, which are very good, I shall have to look up about them

 

[Thingy]

I actually think many of you have misread the article, even though DVLA have utterly denied it. It appears to be referring to people who would have automatically lost their licence due to specific health conditions allowing them to remain mobile.

If that really is the case, why is it such a dramatic problem? I see it as something positive.

 

[otherclive]

I am sure there are police driving days for car drivers, as there are for motorcyclists, which are very good, I shall have to look up about them

I have been on two police driving courses. One for motorcycles and the other for cars. They were both six week sessions requiring only a small payment to cover admin and tea/ biscuits. I doubt many forces hold them now due to the budgetary constraints and big reduction in traffic officers.

 

[Hutch]

Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire still do the Motorcycle ones, Weekend riding days £60. Great value.

 

[otherclive]

Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire still do the Motorcycle ones, Weekend riding days £60. Great value.

That’s good news. My sons elderly friend decided a motorcycle day would be a useful refresher as he had not ridden for three years due to cancer. He entered an island and fell off on a patch of diesel. The policeman’s comment was along the lines of “ You cannot believe the amount of (deleted) paperwork I’m now going to have to do”

 

[Beehpee]

I found a little pkt of some suspicious looking dry greenish vegetation under a seat when I removed the rear seat of a interceptor type police car, I thought I was going to get arrested when I brought it to the attention of a copper, he said much the same as to OC, he said are you sure it wasn’t there or he would be doing ***** paperwork for a fortnight, I’ve always said police are no different to the rest of us they want a quiet life, I always thought they were a great bunch of people.

BP

 

[Hutch]

I know we are diverting but we are in a Chit chat thread, Mrs H, decided to make her own Bay leaf, sage and tarragon, dried mix, eldest son came home , from Uni and found it in the boiler house, and thought we had joined his way of recreation.

 

[Beachball]

I know we are diverting but we are in a Chit chat thread, Mrs H, decided to make her own Bay leaf, sage and tarragon, dried mix, eldest son came home , from Uni and found it in the boiler house, and thought we had joined his way of recreation.

University is a place of experimentation, hope that he is more successful with the ingredients?

 

[Buckman]

I have been on two police driving courses. One for motorcycles and the other for cars. They were both six week sessions requiring only a small payment to cover admin and tea/ biscuits. I doubt many forces hold them now due to the budgetary constraints and big reduction in traffic officers.

Same here with an instructor from Hendon. the whole trip with blue lights, siren etc.
The article mentions that the death rate for over 70's accidents has increased from 90 in 2010 to 140 in 2020 however obviously the over 70 population has als0 increased substantially therefore the ratio may still be the same?