Drivers over 70 who fail eye tests face ban in road safety overhaul

20 comments

1. So this wasn’t the norm?

   Explains alot. Noone should be driving if they can’t see properly regardless of age.

2. I remember the last time there was a post on a similar topic a GP said they’ve never received abuse as bad as when they they had to tell elderly people they were no longer safe to drive.

3. The reason many are reluctant to give up their licences is the freedom that having a car affords them. This measure is sensible, but should be accompanied by a commitment to better, more integrated, public transport, to make being carless more practical

4. There should be an eye test for everybody every five years.

5. Absolute codswallop, anyone of any age driving with uncorrected vision is already committing an offence 🙄

6. Good, the other rules I am cool with as well

   I would like to see harsher penalties for those that drive unlicensed off road bikes around as well, but this is still good

7. Good, finally get these deathtrap silver terrorists off the road where they can’t manslaughter thousands.

8. Incredible that the self certifying system was ever considered appropriate.

   Yes officer, I self certify that I didn’t drink those 7 pints!

9. As someone who’s had their license revoked TWICE due to botched vision tests, I have my doubts on their efficiency.

10. If you don’t agree with this watch ‘100 year old driving school’

11. This has been a controversial issue for decades despite endless stories of the elderly causing death by bad driving.

    The sensible choice would have been to make older people retake their tests.

    However the political choice was just to appease the grey vote and turn a blind eye to a blind eye.

    And here we are today.

12. Remember that posh bird in a 4X4 who killed a bunch students after she ploughed through a fence?

    Yes the law needs to be looked at

13. To be honest, there should be a requirement on any health professional to report any condition that affects someone’s ability to drive regardless of their age.

    With age, eye sight isn’t the only issue, the reason the drink drive limit is set at the point it is, is not because you’re noticeably drunk at that limit, most people aren’t, it’s because it starts to slow down your reactions at that limit, well age can have the same effect on your reactions so there needs to be a way to monitor that as well.

    I say all of this as someone who lost their license in their 20’s due to a visual field defect, and subsequently had to change my career plans. As hard as it was, I actually agree with the decision, I wouldn’t want to be in charge of a car with a child sized gap in my visual field.

14. Seems like a step in the right direction. I guess Labour aren’t all bad then

15. Why just drivers over the age of 70?

    Surely ANYONE who fails an eye test should face a road ban?

16. Everyone should have to resit the practical every ten years an the theory every year (on line open book).
    Right now we pass people at 17 na forget about them for decades until there blind or kill someone.
    Really why doesn’t my 2 years eye exam get passed to the DVLA?

17. You should have to re-test for you licence at 67, both theory and practical.

    See how quickly we’re back to much more reasonable lesson costs, test standards and availability once the boomers have to suffer under the regime.

    Currently there’s zero incentive for older adults to not just accept ever more expensive and restrictive access to driving, in the name of safety.

    Won’t happen, next it will be cigarettes by birth year, and the continuation of all kinds of other pulling up of the rope ladder as society ages.

18. Can we also look at certain countries having licences that are transferable and allow them to drive over here. Some of the driving standards I’ve witness is shocking. 40mph on a motorway the other day. It’s fucking dangerous.

19. How will they be able to drive to work when the retirement age is 80?

20. The minute you get diagnosed with something that affects your driving ability, a box should be ticked by the Dr and an auto forwarded letter should go to the dvla regardless of age.
    My neighbour said to me a few months ago “we had to sell all Jim’s old bikes cos he can’t ride them with the dementia. We’re probably gonna have to stop him driving at some point I suppose”
    Could not believe what I was hearing.
    People say they don’t want Google driving cars….honestly I can’t wait til I don’t need to worry about folk like that behind the wheel of a car.

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