Should Drivers Over 70 Years Old Be Retested?

[sp1814]

This is a tragic case, which seems to have resulted in a very light sentence, but even so wouldn't introducing retests for drivers over 70 be a bit draconian?

Especially when you consider that most road deaths are caused by young male drivers, and in this case there was no evidence to suggest that the driver's age was a contributory factor in the accident.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-34779388

Your thoughts?

[andy-hughes]

I have something of a vested interest in this for two reasons.

Firstly, my daughter's car was hit by an old lady's car as she mistook her brake and accelerator and wheel spun off a supermarket car park into the road writing off one vehicle and bouncing into my daughter's car with reparable damage, but major shock and upset.

Secondly my F-I-L is ninety next year, and refuses to give up driving, mainly due to pressure from my M-I-L who has never driven and has no idea of what is involved.

I seriously worry that he is an accident waiting to happen, his eyesight and reactions are not up to modern driving, and I think he actually knows this.

A government test would make the decisions for all these older drivers who may think they are still capable, but for whom an arbitrary test would make that judgement for them.

[Davemano]

a h If your F I L is aware, is he making a false declarations when renewing his licence and is his insurance aware. Secondly there is a big age gap between what is being discussed an someone who is almost 90, so all elderly drivers can't be tarred with the same brush which is what is happening.

[jomifl]

I have just acquired a French driving Licence, it will last 'til my death from whatever cause. You can drive a car in France without a licence, the only proviso being that it is of a special class that cannot exceed 30 mph (50kph). They are the last resort of banned drivers and old ladies who would have used a mobylette 20 years ago. Strange isn't it that these road users do not figure strongly in road fatalities. Perhaps speed has something to do with it, not age.