Should Motorists Retake Their Driving Test

[emmie]

after aged 70. I don't have a link but the case is prompted by a man
who's wife was killed by an elderly driver who put his foot on the accelerator
but was in reverse, she was knocked down and lost her life. The driver got three years in prison..

[emmie]

to take a driving test, or reassessment

[Denton]

Both,emmie.

[shoota]

No, depending on the individual - I think this is not a one size fits all situation, but 70 could be a good starting point.

[woofgang]

i think its a difficult one.... I know a bit about elderly drivers because I used to do community rehab. My experience is that the vast majority of drivers do self police....they limit where they go and how they get there, don't drive long distances, may cease to drive at night and so on....so how would you test them? It would be a logistical nightmare to perform all the testing, and if you used a standardised test, it would bear heavily on those people who live in rural locations where public transport is not an option. I do agree with a sight test and a medical. Older drivers can get an assessment if they wish, and I believe that anybody can be ordered to reatake their test by the courts or have their licence suspended or revoked. https://www.olderdrivers.org.uk/driver-assessment/find-a-driver-assessment/

[AuntPollyGrey]

I don't know about a test as such but I think everyone over the age of 70 should have to take a mandatory refresher course and when that day comes I would be happy to comply.

[Old_Geezer]

Are any stats proving it's a dangerous age ?
Any age group can have an accident.

[Cloverjo]

I’d love Husband to retake his test. He drives like an idiot and always has. He’s 75.
Trouble is, if he lost his licence I’d have to do all the driving.

[zebo]

Maybe we need a law that anyone causing an accident above a certain level of severity should have to take a test.

[jourdain2]

My husband (87 next month) has been a car nut all his life, at one point was a professional driver and is still a d**m good driver. Probably better than I (70)because I am cautious and safety comes first. Most elderly drivers are very cautious. Occasionally this sort of thing happens. It would be interesting to see the stats. as to the number of errors like this in younger people. I'm pretty sure that older drivers kill fewer people. So the answer is a resounding 'NO'.

I know that I don't see as well at night (cataract forming) so I sleep over at my daughter's when I have to babysit. On balance, I think that older drivers are probably safer than younger ones.

[Khandro]

The insurance companies don't seem to think so;
https://www.finder.com/car-insurance-rates-by-age

[Khandro]

^ that is to the OP not Jourdain

[Buenchico]

While I think that there's a very good case for everyone to have to re-take a driving test at (say) 5-yearly intervals, having a test specifically at the age of 70 doesn't seem to have much logic to it to me. Further, it would then have to be decided how often elderly people would then need further re-tests. (A person who is passed fit to drive at 70 might not still be so at 80 or 90). Yearly? Every two years? Every 5 years?

[barry1010]

No. There is simply not enough hours in the year to do it, even if the testers work 24/7 365 days a year. Check out the statistics

[ladybirder]

//Analysis of data on vehicle accidents showed that drivers aged 70 are involved in 3-4 times fewer accidents than 17-21 year old men.\\

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37292951

[woofgang]

Khandro that link is an american one

[Buenchico]

^^^ Here's a UK link:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/751199/average-car-insurance-cost-by-age/

It has to be remembered that insurance companies take typical driving activities into account when considering the relevance of a driver's age. A 55yo driver is likely to be driving in peak-time traffic (while commuting) for 5 days per week and to be undaunted by the propect of a long motorway drive when he/she goes on holiday. A 75yo driver is more likely to be nipping down to the shops in off-peak traffic and less likely to undertake really long journeys.

[woofgang]

like I said Chris....self policing.

[barry1010]

There are 4.5 million drivers over 70 in the UK. That would be over 12,300 driving tests every day including all bank holidays and Sundays for a year. Can't be done.