Should there be an upper age limit for driving?

BensGrandad · Oct 11, 2016

I wonder as I saw 2 examples today as to why the answer should be yes. Walking past Co op garage in Frankkynn Rd Haywards Heath when an elderly gehtleman wanted to turn right and head towards the hospital and asked me if the road was clear as he couldnt see far enough up the road.

2nd one was in the car park behind Poundland an elderly lady trying to park a small Suzuki in a double parking space then when she had she could hardly walk to the pay machine. I wonder if the age limit should be finish before 80th birthday

I am 73 and prefer to use the bus pass and only drive when needs must.

Badger · Oct 11, 2016

I don't think so. People's senses deteriorate at different rates so you can't put an exact age on it. My dad is nearly 75 and he's still a perfectly capable driver.

I do think there is a case for having a more stringent test when over 70s renew their licence. At least have some kind of awareness test, to determine if someone will be alert enough to deal with incidents. Obviously there will be issues funding and staffing such tests.

deletebeepbeepbeep · Oct 11, 2016

Driving test every two years after the age of 70.

Tom Hark Preston Park · Oct 11, 2016

More to the point, should there be an upper age limit for posting on NSC?

beorhthelm · Oct 11, 2016

yes, and there is indirectly through increasing insurance and needing to renew licence every 5 years.

Fungus · Oct 11, 2016

No, you can't apply one-size-fits-all. More frequent eye tests and driving tests, maybe, but you can't just ban people after a certain age. Ban them for bad driving, regardless of age.

symyjym · Oct 11, 2016

Tom Hark said:
More to the point, should there be an upper age limit for posting on NSC?

Yep, 73

Notters · Oct 11, 2016

Oxy McFloppie-Tish said:
No, you can't apply one-size-fits-all.

Let's not have a lower limit then. Yes younger drivers tend to be more dangerous but I've no doubt that there are 13 year olds that are perfectly capable.

SIMMO SAYS · Oct 11, 2016

BensGrandad said:
I wonder as I saw 2 examples today as to why the answer should be yes. Walking past Co op garage in Frankkynn Rd Haywards Heath when an elderly gehtleman wanted to turn right and head towards the hospital and asked me if the road was clear as he couldnt see far enough up the road.

2nd one was in the car park behind Poundland an elderly lady trying to park a small Suzuki in a double parking space then when she had she could hardly walk to the pay machine. I wonder if the age limit should be finish before 80th birthday

I am 73 and prefer to use the bus pass and only drive when needs must.

Was the first bloke the one who nearly hit you on that roundabout :ohmy:

Was he coming back for another go :moo:

BensGrandad · Oct 11, 2016

My suggestion would be 80th birthday who really needs to drive after that age unless living in the middle of nowhere.

Thunder Bolt · Oct 11, 2016

If hardly being able to walk was a criteria for driving, then disabled people wouldn't be able to drive.

Obviously good eyesight is necessary, and eyes should be tested on a regular basis in any case, regardless of age.

Prince Monolulu · Oct 11, 2016

BensGrandad said:
I wonder as I saw 2 examples today as to why the answer should be yes. Walking past Co op garage in Frankkynn Rd Haywards Heath when an elderly gehtleman wanted to turn right and head towards the hospital and asked me if the road was clear as he couldnt see far enough up the road.

2nd one was in the car park behind Poundland an elderly lady trying to park a small Suzuki in a double parking space then when she had she could hardly walk to the pay machine. I wonder if the age limit should be finish before 80th birthday

I am 73 and prefer to use the bus pass and only drive when needs must.

Glad to hear that the Poundland is thriving up there BG.

studio150 · Oct 11, 2016

BensGrandad said:
when an elderly gehtleman wanted to turn right and head towards the hospital and asked me if the road was clear as he couldnt see far enough up the road.

.

This has nothing to do with age, but is poor eyesight which can affect anyone regardless of age. It is of course illegal to drive where the eyesight is below the required standard which would appear to be the case here. I trust that you informed the driver of this fact and reported him to the Police for his own safety.

BensGrandad said:
2nd one was in the car park behind Poundland an elderly lady trying to park a small Suzuki in a double parking space then when she had she could hardly walk to the pay machine..

Again nothing to do with age, but is more around the physical ability of the driver. The ability to walk or not is not a requirement to driving, but clearly is one aspect where applying for a blue badge and motorability cars.

But to answer your question, no as people are living longer and health differs from person to person. What there should be is more publicity on the signs to look for which may indicate it is time to stop driving, more access to family having an imput where they believe the elder driver should stop, all linked to better public transport to enable the elderly to still get out and about.

BensGrandad · Oct 11, 2016

Thunder Bolt said:
If hardly being able to walk was a criteria for driving, then disabled people wouldn't be able to drive.

Obviously good eyesight is necessary, and eyes should be tested on a regular basis in any case, regardless of age.

Some years ago my wifes father couldnt fill in the form to renew his licence as he couldnt see it clesr enough but continued to drive from near The Henty in Ferring to the seafront. He said if he didng he would never go out and saw nothing wrong with it.

There are no rules to have a medical 8r eyesight check you just fill tge form in anc are trusted to declare any short comings.

Wrong-Direction · Oct 11, 2016

I think all over 70's should be banned, oh and throw all women in whilst you're at it

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Blues Rock DJ · Oct 11, 2016

BensGrandad said:
I wonder as I saw 2 examples today as to why the answer should be yes. Walking past Co op garage in Frankkynn Rd Haywards Heath when an elderly gehtleman wanted to turn right and head towards the hospital and asked me if the road was clear as he couldnt see far enough up the road.

2nd one was in the car park behind Poundland an elderly lady trying to park a small Suzuki in a double parking space then when she had she could hardly walk to the pay machine. I wonder if the age limit should be finish before 80th birthday

I am 73 and prefer to use the bus pass and only drive when needs must.

You 're lucky to have a bus !!

Gullflyinghigh · Oct 11, 2016

I don't think there should be an upper limit but I would be hugely in favour of frequent re-tests beyond a certain age. As to what that age should be or how frequent is for wiser people to figure out but it seems far fairer than taking licenses needlessly, whilst hopefully making the roads safer by removing some of the geriatric cruise missiles out there.

BensGrandad · Oct 11, 2016

BensGrandad said:
Some years ago my wifes father couldnt fill in the form to renew his licence as he couldnt see it clesr enough but continued to drive from near The Henty in Ferring to the seafront. He said if he didng he would never go out and saw nothing wrong with it.

There are no rules to have a medical 8r eyesight check you just fill tge form in anc are trusted to declare any short comings.

Tried to edit the spelling etc but left it too late, eating my dinner, so i must apologize for the errors.

dazzer6666 · Oct 11, 2016

BensGrandad said:
Tried to edit the spelling etc but left it too late, eating my dinner, so i must apologize for the errors.

Are you American ?

Anyway, I think opticians should be able to at least recommend suspension of driving licences ?

BensGrandad · Oct 11, 2016

Driving licences expire on 70th birthday you the. Renew for 3 years could they not bring in a driving test without the written one before renewal just based on general safety, ability and vision without the finer points of the first driving test. This would then reward experience.

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