How old is too old to drive?

[Thunder Bolt]

Absolutely. Anyone commenting about knowing '90 year olds who are still great drivers' HAS to be kidding themselves, at least to some degree. I'm (only) 44 but already I can clearly identify the effects of the ageing process. Not in terms of ability to drive - but for example in my cricket - I know that the speed of my reactions and the sharpness of my eyesight mean that I am that bit less capable than I was at 25. It can only go one way!

Older people tend to be more cautious, because they know their reactions are slower. Older people usually have more eye check ups than younger people too.
I think the driving test should be re-taken every 10 years regardless of age. Getting older doesn't mean indicators suddenly stop working.

 

[symyjym]

Absolutely. Anyone commenting about knowing '90 year olds who are still great drivers' HAS to be kidding themselves, at least to some degree. I'm (only) 44 but already I can clearly identify the effects of the ageing process. Not in terms of ability to drive - but for example in my cricket - I know that the speed of my reactions and the sharpness of my eyesight mean that I am that bit less capable than I was at 25. It can only go one way!

Would you recognise the time to give up cricket, or would you leave it for your team mates to tell you?

 

[symyjym]

Older people usually have more eye check ups than younger people too.

I don't understand the eye check up thing because you know if you have a problem with your vision or not. It should really be called making an appointment to get some glasses.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I don't understand the eye check up thing because you know if you have a problem with your vision or not. It should really be called making an appointment to get some glasses.

You may be surprised at the number of people in denial about their eyesight. Once you reach 45, it starts to deteriorate.

 

[BensGrandad]

I am 72 have driven since 1960. I renew my licence as a precaution but would be perfectly happy to let my wife do the driving now. It is not a pleasure anymore and a chore most of the time.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I am 72 have driven since 1960. I renew my licence as a precaution but would be perfectly happy to let my wife do the driving now. It is not a pleasure anymore and a chore most of the time.

Been driving since 1960 and never had an accident. Seen hundreds.

(c) Jasper Carrot circa 1978

(you set them up BG - I'll knock 'em in.)

 

[pornomagboy]

I think there should be a reactions and eye sight test brought out after 70 and if they fail then they have licence revoked

 

[Creaky]

Would you know when you are unfit to drive?

I think it is more likely that people who were rubbish at driving when they were younger are also rubbish when they are older, or they are the ones who passed their test when Stonehenge was built.

I wouldn't be worried about being re-tested just for the hell of it, but driving is more about vision, awareness and reaction and if one is impared in any way it is a medical issue. A driving test medical would probably suffice?

You are forgetting one other aspect to driving which is as equally important as vision, awareness and reaction - anticipation - something which comes with experience

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

You are forgetting one other aspect to driving which is as equally important as vision, awareness and reaction - anticipation - something which comes with experience

I dunno. When I was younger there was a lot of anticipation in my life. Now ? Not so much.

 

[edna krabappel]

I don't understand the eye check up thing because you know if you have a problem with your vision or not. It should really be called making an appointment to get some glasses.

Are we necessarily aware of defects with our own vision though? I'm very short sighted in one eye, but have more or less perfect vision in the other. You'd think that, with the dramatic difference in vision between my eyes, I'd have always been aware of it. But I'd been like that for a few years before I was diagnosed. I never had a clue, as it was simply my natural state, that I was used to being in.

I correct it by wearing a contact lens in one eye. I'm quite aware of the difference if I go out without it in, but under normal circumstances, i.e. wearing my contact lens or glasses, I doubt I'd notice for a long time if it started to either deteriorate or improve.

 

[Igzilla]

My late father in law was an atrocious driver, who claimed that on his thirteenth driving test (presumably around 1959/60), the test examiner cried, "Oh no, not you again! Let's just say you've passed."

His driving was always scary, but got worse after he retired. He'd drink and drive, for starters (though he always did anyway). When he started having mini strokes, he'd claim it was his medication. The very last time he drove, I was in the passengers seat as we missed a skip by millimetres (my life flashed before my eyes at that point) before ploughing into the side of an expensive sporty type car parked a little further down the road. Fortunately no one was hurt, but he was stopped from driving (he still wanted to).

Surely there should be some form of compulsory testing especially when the level of meds reaches a certain point (or certain conditions are being managed, like very high blood pressure). He was on about 9 pills a day so surely his doctor should have had the power to refer?

 

[symyjym]

You are forgetting one other aspect to driving which is as equally important as vision, awareness and reaction - anticipation - something which comes with experience

Of course anticipation and decision making. These days I see everyone, pedestrians, cyclist and drivers as an accident waiting to happen. I'm even ready for the odd cat to run out in front of me.

 

[dazzer6666]

Been driving since 1960 and never had an accident. Seen hundreds.

(c) Jasper Carrot circa 1978

(you set them up BG - I'll knock 'em in.)

Same as my grandad - he died happily and peacefully in his sleep. Unlike the passengers on his bus........

 

[symyjym]

Are we necessarily aware of defects with our own vision though? I'm very short sighted in one eye, but have more or less perfect vision in the other. You'd think that, with the dramatic difference in vision between my eyes, I'd have always been aware of it. But I'd been like that for a few years before I was diagnosed. I never had a clue, as it was simply my natural state, that I was used to being in.

I correct it by wearing a contact lens in one eye. I'm quite aware of the difference if I go out without it in, but under normal circumstances, i.e. wearing my contact lens or glasses, I doubt I'd notice for a long time if it started to either deteriorate or improve.

The biggest clue is if one struggles to read place signs and reg plates as far as driving goes. That's how I test myself and I am sure I would know if I was struggling. Then again if my eyesight starts going and I don't notice it I may change my mind.

 

[severnside gull]

I'm in my 60's. I drive differently to a decade or so ago. I drive much more defensively than I used to. Saved me a few weeks ago when a crash for cash merchant tried to get me to run into him. Called the police and followed him until they caught up and pulled him. Ten years ago I'd have been riding his boot

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Would you recognise the time to give up cricket, or would you leave it for your team mates to tell you?

My back will catch up with me long before my faculties get to that point, I reckon.

 

[GT49er]

Load of ageist clap-trap on here. There are good drivers and bad drivers, nothing to do with age. Anyway, young plonkers who think that nobody older than them should be allowed to occupy a few square metres of road that they want to be on.......NOW!.........should pause to consider that somebody who's been driving for fifty plus years with a faultless drivuing record (well, 49 years in my case, including HGV (as it was then) and full motorcycle) might just know a thing or two about driving safely.

Anyway, the insurance companies are already doing their best to eliminate older drivers by demanding increasingly extortionate amounts for insuring them - same as they've priced many perfectly capable young drivers out of owning a car. It's an even better scam for them of course, because many older drivers will be in a position to cough up.

Of course, it's only a matter of time before oldies start taking the same route as many younger drivers are taking - the cost of insurance is so high that it's worth taking the risk of just not bothering with it, so f c u k it, I'll just drive anyway. Being caught won't be as expensive as paying insurance.

 

[OzMike]

Following the sad story of the M1 crash where an 87 year old man was driving the wrong way and crashed into a van, killing himselfr and the 27 year old van passanger, and putting the van driver in hospital, personally I really find it unbelievable that someone of 87 is allowed to drive.

I know people are retested at 70 but IMO I dont think anyone over 80 should be allowed to drive.

Story here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-34503112

Let's see you post that again when you are 79.

 

[Trufflehound]

Anyone commenting about knowing '90 year olds who are still great drivers' HAS to be kidding themselves, at least to some degree.

I'd be more concerned about those who make sweeping judgments about other people they've never met...

My mother-in-law knows her limitations when it comes to driving. She never drives after dark any more, and only makes relatively short trips that are well within her physical capabilities. Being aware of her situation and making adjustments accordingly already makes her a better driver than the majority of idiots on the road half her age who think they know everything and believe they are infallible.

 

[vegster]

Plenty of dangerous young drivers out there, it may be them that are going to become the dangerous old drivers the thread is about....unless their numbers whittle down thanks to trees, ice, white vans etc etc.