Over 70s driving tests

[Feek]

I've often wondered about doing that, I think it would be very interesting. What would be the ramifications if one were to fail though?

[LeperousDust]

Originally Posted by cleanbluesky

I'm surprised you don't voluntarily re-test then. It would do you good, be in your benefit etc... its common sense.

I'm not particularly made of money, so paying for frivolous tests would be stupid. As i said if it was free i'd do it. Wanna pay

//Edit:Actually frig that i'd also definitely do it if it lowered my premiums, i'm happy to proove i can drive if it keeps my insurance down. Maybe you're right maybe it should be voluntary, but that way insurers would price out the people who don't bother, that sounds fine to me...

[Blackstar]

The fact is that most people over 70 probably sat a VERY different test to the ones we do now or none at all. The number of times i've seen older people peering over their steering wheel at me as they attempt to drive through my car is just silly.
Re-tests (at a reduced cost obviously) every few years for over 70s would make the roads safer.

[cheets]

I cycle a lot on the road and the worst drivers are women, old people and van/truck drivers.

Probably Van/truck drivers then old people then women, in that order.

[A Place of Light]

IMHO, every driver should be re-evaluated every five years.....regardless of their age.

[Tak]

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/gosport/...est.4960582.jp

The 48-year-old cyclist, from Gosport, landed on the windscreen of the Ford Fiesta, shattering it, and then rolled down in front of the car and became trapped underneath.
Kellett, of Long Drive, Rowner, claimed he did not know he had hit someone and continued to drive more than 65ft until passersby managed to stop him

[Jhadur]

'He certainly does not know what happened. He is in ill health and lost his wife three years ago'

Not sure what relevance that had to the accident.

Magistrates banned Kellett from driving for 12 months and ordered him to pay a £230 fine, £15 victim surcharge and £35 costs. They did not give a separate penalty for failing the eye sight test.

Pathetic sentence tbh.

[iCraig]

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

IMHO, every driver should be re-evaluated every five years.....regardless of their age.

Perhaps in an ideal world. The amount of drivers out there though would mean it would be impossible for the system to cope with the sheer amount of tests each day.

[iCraig]

Originally Posted by cleanbluesky

Luckily policy on the matter isnt decided on the whims of the prejudiced - a person can make driving errors at any age.

This is true, but we don't have the luxury of a case-by-case evaluation of every driver in Britain. So, you simply do the "best fit" and establish a re-test on those who are more likely to be below the standard at that point.

It's a sad but true fact of life that as you get older, your reactions slow down and you become less in control of a vehicle. I can't really see a frail 86yr old woman controlling a blow-out on a motorway, can you? Plus, as Blackstar says those approaching that re-rest criteria should be eligible anyway, everything else aside, they passed the standard that was set a long time ago. The roads have changed dramatically since then and it's scary how many still abide by the test standards of the 30s and 40s rather than the modern highway code. "I don't bother with all those lanes. You just go where you want to go and stay out of everyone elses way and it's fine" Is an actual quote.

[LeperousDust]

Originally Posted by iCraig

Perhaps in an ideal world. The amount of drivers out there though would mean it would be impossible for the system to cope with the sheer amount of tests each day.

Hence why i said don't make it compulsory but make it possible. Insurance companies will lower premiums to people who take the test, which in a capitalist market should force most people to do so, unless its prohibitively expensive or too much hassle etc... Which works fine, things will all balance out naturally.