Personally, I think everyone should be retaking it every ten years regardless of your age.
It is bonkers to think you can pass as a teenager and still be driving forty, fifty, sixty, seventy years later without any further checks.
Although of course it should be designed so as to keep costs down. And there should be tough penalties for anyone who drives without an updated licence, insurance or a valid MOT. And not just a driving ban.
I think a cheaper interim measure would be…
every time your photocard license expires you need to sit a short online multiple choice test about changes to the Highway Code, new road layouts, new car technology etc.
Good, these people are a menance to the roads. Over 65s should have to take a test yearly otherwise be banned from driving.
reading tons about them, elderly drivers on r/drivingUK and r/CarTalkUK and it almost happened to me too. Elderly lady parked absolutely terribly couldn’t and/or didn’t check when pulling out. thankfully she also realised after last second so braked and I also swerved instantly and our Mazda is very good at that.
I also find it ridiculous that because of all the data privacy stuff, we can’t even know how much shit the elder drivers do
They can’t even give timely tests to new drivers, and some scammers are buying up test slots and selling them at inflated prices
Load of shite, 65 is the new middle aged these days…
I think everyone should have to retake every 10 years or so frankly. Given the amount of wally brains on the roads.
Rishi winning hearts and minds of the older electorate, I see.
First time drivers should be made to do a mandatory motorcycle or moped ride to truly understand the dangers of the road.
I’m more concerned at the amount of drivers I’m seeing with green P’s that have horrendous driving. Do they let anyone pass now?
I also dont think people should be allowed on motorways without a further test, it needs to be drummed into peoples head you should be in lane 1 at all times unless over taking, not sitting in lane 2, or in lane 3 with 1 meter stopping distance to the car in front at 70mph. Also lane 3 is not a ‘fast lane’, it’s an over taking lane. Maybe with higher standards we could have faster speeds like in Germany.
At least have some kind of vision test connected to your license…
My grandad was driving with tunnelvision for years apparently… Hit multiple walls and cars too
65 is too young. Most will pass at that age and continue driving until they’re 90 thinking they are just fine. Make it every 5 years after the age of 70 or something.
Some of the younger drivers need a tap on the shoulder too.
Thing is the penalty points already penalise dangerous or reckless driving. Not sure this is useful?
Dear god how old is the guy in that picture? I’m around five years off 65 and I can assure you I don’t look that old! Neither do any of my peers. The guy in the picture must be pushing 80.
Me watching from the sidelines as other inevitably terrible drivers talk about how others can’t drive.
Maybe a full test with all the new rules would be dumb, but a safety/proficiency test?
Are the drifting? Can they even see? Are their reflexes still sharp?
Docking them for all the weird rules would be harsh.
Grandad had cateracts for years (and didn’t know). We only noticed he used to slam on the breaks when slowing down. He couldn’t see much.
We had a word and got his car took off him.
Some families arnt like that, so someone will carry on driving even though they shouldn’t be on the roads.
I know, why don’t we just create headlines that will trigger people based on every online petition? It might help to sell newspapers!
Older drivers are less likely to be involved in accidents than drivers under 20, and are no more accident prone than drivers of any age. So why not just say that people can’t drive until they are 21, for example, if our sole aim is to have fewer accidents.
I actually have a genuine solution to this in the context of driving tests being hard to book, etc, and really quite onerous once you’ve been driving. And that is to take a leaf out of the aviation community – in flying, you have to pass your test with a formal examiner, but beyond that you can keep your proficiency up by being signed off by approved instructors.
In other words, give at least some segment of ADI’s extra training and proficiency to “sign people off” after an hours refresher lesson. A little bit like a CBT I suppose.
If the driving is rubbish, then they can be referred for retraining or a retest.
This stopps clogging up test centres even worse than they are now, saves perfectly adequate drivers needing onerous training and a test just to learn that examiners don’t love engine braking now or whatever, but still ensures a level of competency on the road.
And, in the context of all the above, I’d actually be more than happy to have this as a routine part of driving for everybody. Even every 2 years wouldn’t be that onerous, if it’s just a case of booking an hour with a local instructor – though realistically I think every 5 or 10 would be fine
It’s a great idea, but frankly unworkable.
The DVSA can’t keep up with the demand of testing learner drivers, let alone adding literally millions more to the waiting lists.
We need something like this.
I’m getting a bit concerned about my dad’s driving, he’s ok, but declining. He planned to stop when he got to 65, but has instead kept going. He lives really remotely and would need to move house if he stopped. We talk it through sometimes but it takes an age for this age group to make decisions.
I think having tests at set ages would encourage people to plan better for these things. If you knew a test was coming up and you might fail, you’d hopefully get more people planning lifestyle changes and giving up voluntarily.
So we’re fit to work until we drop, 68, but not to drive!
Anyone who is deemed unfit to drive, at 65, should be allowed to retire and be eligible for their pension!
The politicians can’t have it both ways!
The style of driving required to pass a test is so removed from everyday driving it’s a joke. Feeding the wheel, holding up lines of traffic driving at 27 mph whilst checking your rear view mirror every other second…
Just another means to make and take money from the motorist and the elderly.
The Government have determined we’re all fit to retire at 67. It should at least be in line with this
Increasing awareness would be a better idea. This could be done with TV advertising and awareness updates. ROSPA could help.
We already have to renew our licences at 70 and have to renew every three years over seventy, they only need to be a bit stricter when we renew and its sorted, currently we have to self certify that we are fit to drive and can see straight, that needs changing.
Yearly hazard perception test after 70. Make it free to take.
With new drivers already waiting for months to have their first test then this is just going to add to the backlog.
Should be taken every 10 years, if you fail then you have to do it yearly until you pass. If you get more than 2 major faults on one test or you fail two consecutive tests for the same reason your license is revoked.
I think that is a fair balance between the accessibly of driving versus the cost your driving could have to others. I reckon most people probably get a couple of major faults a year because full concentration all the time is hard so you shouldn’t immediately lose your license. But if it’s a persistent problem or you just can’t drive then you shouldn’t be allowed to.
Naa, Tories are never going to do this to their core voters.
Fucking good! Make an eye test part of this too!
Make it mandatory for all drivers to pass an online theory every 10 years, and a practical test every 20 years!
Increase penalties for those who cause deaths by driving dangerously too whilst we’re at it, as they’ll have no excuses!
Good. Should be mandatory every few years for younger drivers as the highway code changes and not everybody notices.
100% needs to happen, half these old fuckers can’t drive to the speeds needed, can’t see correctly, have no awareness. Of course this would mean the gov would have to provide good public transport infrastructure which they clearly can’t do here.
As unpopular as it would be I think everyone should have some sort of test / driving check up every 5 or so years.
In theory everyone on the roads today should be able to pass a driving test at any moment.
36 comments
Personally, I think everyone should be retaking it every ten years regardless of your age.
It is bonkers to think you can pass as a teenager and still be driving forty, fifty, sixty, seventy years later without any further checks.
Although of course it should be designed so as to keep costs down. And there should be tough penalties for anyone who drives without an updated licence, insurance or a valid MOT. And not just a driving ban.
I think a cheaper interim measure would be…
every time your photocard license expires you need to sit a short online multiple choice test about changes to the Highway Code, new road layouts, new car technology etc.
Good, these people are a menance to the roads. Over 65s should have to take a test yearly otherwise be banned from driving.
reading tons about them, elderly drivers on r/drivingUK and r/CarTalkUK and it almost happened to me too. Elderly lady parked absolutely terribly couldn’t and/or didn’t check when pulling out. thankfully she also realised after last second so braked and I also swerved instantly and our Mazda is very good at that.
I also find it ridiculous that because of all the data privacy stuff, we can’t even know how much shit the elder drivers do
They can’t even give timely tests to new drivers, and some scammers are buying up test slots and selling them at inflated prices
Load of shite, 65 is the new middle aged these days…
I think everyone should have to retake every 10 years or so frankly. Given the amount of wally brains on the roads.
Rishi winning hearts and minds of the older electorate, I see.
First time drivers should be made to do a mandatory motorcycle or moped ride to truly understand the dangers of the road.
I’m more concerned at the amount of drivers I’m seeing with green P’s that have horrendous driving. Do they let anyone pass now?
I also dont think people should be allowed on motorways without a further test, it needs to be drummed into peoples head you should be in lane 1 at all times unless over taking, not sitting in lane 2, or in lane 3 with 1 meter stopping distance to the car in front at 70mph. Also lane 3 is not a ‘fast lane’, it’s an over taking lane. Maybe with higher standards we could have faster speeds like in Germany.
At least have some kind of vision test connected to your license…
My grandad was driving with tunnelvision for years apparently… Hit multiple walls and cars too
65 is too young. Most will pass at that age and continue driving until they’re 90 thinking they are just fine. Make it every 5 years after the age of 70 or something.
Some of the younger drivers need a tap on the shoulder too.
Thing is the penalty points already penalise dangerous or reckless driving. Not sure this is useful?
Dear god how old is the guy in that picture? I’m around five years off 65 and I can assure you I don’t look that old! Neither do any of my peers. The guy in the picture must be pushing 80.
Me watching from the sidelines as other inevitably terrible drivers talk about how others can’t drive.
Maybe a full test with all the new rules would be dumb, but a safety/proficiency test?
Are the drifting? Can they even see? Are their reflexes still sharp?
Docking them for all the weird rules would be harsh.
Grandad had cateracts for years (and didn’t know). We only noticed he used to slam on the breaks when slowing down. He couldn’t see much.
We had a word and got his car took off him.
Some families arnt like that, so someone will carry on driving even though they shouldn’t be on the roads.
I know, why don’t we just create headlines that will trigger people based on every online petition? It might help to sell newspapers!
Older drivers are less likely to be involved in accidents than drivers under 20, and are no more accident prone than drivers of any age. So why not just say that people can’t drive until they are 21, for example, if our sole aim is to have fewer accidents.
I actually have a genuine solution to this in the context of driving tests being hard to book, etc, and really quite onerous once you’ve been driving. And that is to take a leaf out of the aviation community – in flying, you have to pass your test with a formal examiner, but beyond that you can keep your proficiency up by being signed off by approved instructors.
In other words, give at least some segment of ADI’s extra training and proficiency to “sign people off” after an hours refresher lesson. A little bit like a CBT I suppose.
If the driving is rubbish, then they can be referred for retraining or a retest.
This stopps clogging up test centres even worse than they are now, saves perfectly adequate drivers needing onerous training and a test just to learn that examiners don’t love engine braking now or whatever, but still ensures a level of competency on the road.
And, in the context of all the above, I’d actually be more than happy to have this as a routine part of driving for everybody. Even every 2 years wouldn’t be that onerous, if it’s just a case of booking an hour with a local instructor – though realistically I think every 5 or 10 would be fine
It’s a great idea, but frankly unworkable.
The DVSA can’t keep up with the demand of testing learner drivers, let alone adding literally millions more to the waiting lists.
We need something like this.
I’m getting a bit concerned about my dad’s driving, he’s ok, but declining. He planned to stop when he got to 65, but has instead kept going. He lives really remotely and would need to move house if he stopped. We talk it through sometimes but it takes an age for this age group to make decisions.
I think having tests at set ages would encourage people to plan better for these things. If you knew a test was coming up and you might fail, you’d hopefully get more people planning lifestyle changes and giving up voluntarily.
So we’re fit to work until we drop, 68, but not to drive!
Anyone who is deemed unfit to drive, at 65, should be allowed to retire and be eligible for their pension!
The politicians can’t have it both ways!
The style of driving required to pass a test is so removed from everyday driving it’s a joke. Feeding the wheel, holding up lines of traffic driving at 27 mph whilst checking your rear view mirror every other second…
Just another means to make and take money from the motorist and the elderly.
The Government have determined we’re all fit to retire at 67. It should at least be in line with this
Increasing awareness would be a better idea. This could be done with TV advertising and awareness updates. ROSPA could help.
We already have to renew our licences at 70 and have to renew every three years over seventy, they only need to be a bit stricter when we renew and its sorted, currently we have to self certify that we are fit to drive and can see straight, that needs changing.
Yearly hazard perception test after 70. Make it free to take.
With new drivers already waiting for months to have their first test then this is just going to add to the backlog.
Should be taken every 10 years, if you fail then you have to do it yearly until you pass. If you get more than 2 major faults on one test or you fail two consecutive tests for the same reason your license is revoked.
I think that is a fair balance between the accessibly of driving versus the cost your driving could have to others. I reckon most people probably get a couple of major faults a year because full concentration all the time is hard so you shouldn’t immediately lose your license. But if it’s a persistent problem or you just can’t drive then you shouldn’t be allowed to.
Naa, Tories are never going to do this to their core voters.
Fucking good! Make an eye test part of this too!
Make it mandatory for all drivers to pass an online theory every 10 years, and a practical test every 20 years!
Increase penalties for those who cause deaths by driving dangerously too whilst we’re at it, as they’ll have no excuses!
Good. Should be mandatory every few years for younger drivers as the highway code changes and not everybody notices.
100% needs to happen, half these old fuckers can’t drive to the speeds needed, can’t see correctly, have no awareness. Of course this would mean the gov would have to provide good public transport infrastructure which they clearly can’t do here.
As unpopular as it would be I think everyone should have some sort of test / driving check up every 5 or so years.
In theory everyone on the roads today should be able to pass a driving test at any moment.