Driving Licence re-takes every 10 years

[Ted]

If you think I'm going to retake my motorcycle test at 65, 70, 75, 70 etc all the way up to 100 then you're very much mistaken.

 

[brucemillar]

I am not sure that testing/re-testing would achieve a great deal. I have nothing to support that point apart from my own views.

Most people learn how to pass a test (whatever that test maybe). Having learned how to pass it they promptly forget all about that phase and start to focus on doing what we all probably do, namely bad habits.

I drive in excess of 1000 miles a week every week and have done for some years. During that time I have seem all sorts of shockers. Two of these shockers have seen my car(s) written off with me injured. Both on Motorways with lorry drivers who could not stop (tailgating) and ploughed into stationery traffic. Tailgating on our roads is just awful. I hate it now and will try and and avoid having people do it to me (not easy). It occurs in all age groups and both sexes.

Second to that is late lane changing on any road. This where people decide at the last possible second that they need to be on that slip road or in that lane. Leaving themselves no time for any checking, indicating or common sense. They just slice across any traffic to get to their destination often leaving the accident behind them.

Last is the motorcyclists who have invented their very own invisible lane. This is usually reserved for biker of an age who should know better but don't. They believe that both them and their bike will fit into any gap. Like a bad cartoon they then wobble down lines of stationery or stop start traffic using the the cars either side as stabalisers. Glaring at you if you happen in any way to impede their progress, sometimes shout muffled things that only they can understand as crush through removing your paint, mirrors, door stripes etc.

Would a re-test fix any of that? I suspect not. They would all drive like saints and point disgustedly to those who are now doing what they usually do.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

As we get older, both relex, vision and awareness degenerates although we would all deny that.

Reflexes, or to be more complete, cognitive reaction time does deteriorate with age. But it's all relative. Cognitive reaction times for some people in their 20s can be worse than for others in their 60s. Unfortunately this is something that's not tested before being allowed at the wheel of a killer machine.

I don't deny that my vision has degenerated as I've got older. Varifocal spectacles have helped me out there! But I'm also aware that my eyes are more susceptible to glare and that they take longer to recover from bright lights than when I was younger. So I limit night time driving as much as possible.

Except in cases of illnesses, usually age-related, I doubt that awareness deteriorates with age. Indeed, experience probably enhances awareness. So yes, I'm denying that one.

Of 6,506 people killed or seriously injured on UK roads in 2010: 10.3% where aged between 17 to 19. However, 11% of this number were aged over 70.

A fairly pointless stat because it's missing fundamental pieces of information: how many drivers are in each age group and what was the average mileage that they covered? It could be that the over 70s covered a total of twice that of the 17-19s, mainly because there are a lot more of them , so their accident rate per mile would drop to roughly half that of the youngsters! We just don't know from the info provided.

 

[jaymanek]

I don't like the idea of retesting. I'm a crap driver, I'd never repass

id never pass again either... all that ten to two business went out of the sunroof as soon as I left the test centre a few days after my 17th birthday.

 

[w124nut]

I'm a 10 to two merchant and find that this is comfortable for me. In last night's motoring programme on BBC2 it was stated that if you cross your hands at the steering wheel while at the same time your airbag went off, you would probably involuntarily punch your face at 200 mph. Now that's a sobering thought.

I am too close to 70 years old than I would like, have just renewed my driving licence and a few weeks ago, had an eyesight test. No change in prescription but what I have noticed is greater glare from headlights during night time driving than when I was younger. I went for further eye sight tests but nothing identified.

I know that I do drive slower than I used to and am more aware of keeping my distance from the vehicle in front. When in the car alone, now and again, I turn off the radio and I give myself a commentary of conditions in and outside of the car. By doing this, I drive slower and am more aware of pedestrians, other road users in front and behind me.

I passed my Advanced Driving test in 1962 and have since had a retake. It is not a pass or fail scenario but remarks on how well you have done and advice on any errors of judgement that were made during the retake.

 

[Creepy coupe]

The older people get, the safer drivers they tend to be, up to a point. Most accidents involve younger drivers. So I don't see every 10 years from being a relevant point.

When I went from 20 to 30 I'd say I settled down and became a better driver and now at 50 I'd say safer still.

 

[flango]

The older people get, the safer drivers they tend to be, up to a point. Most accidents involve younger drivers. So I don't see every 10 years from being a relevant point.

When I went from 20 to 30 I'd say I settled down and became a better driver and now at 50 I'd say safer still.

Don't agree at all, I was a better driver at 25 than I am now twice that age, reactions were much sharper, eye sight better, and in better physical shape.

I would rather be sat at the side of a young driver than a doddery old one, whilst young drivers have their share of accidents the young male driver accident rate is falling, unfortunately the young female accident rate is rising. Elderly driver accident rates are not only rising but increasing in seriousness as well, all alarming statistics.

IMHO there's no place on UK roads for driver over 70 and thats the age when I will hang up my keys as I know I will not be good enough to cope with modern traffic by then, trouble is some of our elders will just not admit it's time to give up and would rather go on and cause a fatality then lose their independence, I think there are a couple of words for that selfish and stupid

 

[Creepy coupe]

Don't agree at all, I was a better driver at 25 than I am now twice that age, reactions were much sharper, eye sight better, and in better physical shape.

I would rather be sat at the side of a young driver than a doddery old one, whilst young drivers have their share of accidents the young male driver accident rate is falling, unfortunately the young female accident rate is rising. Elderly driver accident rates are not only rising but increasing in seriousness as well, all alarming statistics.

IMHO there's no place on UK roads for driver over 70 and thats the age when I will hang up my keys as I know I will not be good enough to cope with modern traffic by then, trouble is some of our elders will just not admit it's time to give up and would rather go on and cause a fatality then lose their independence, I think there are a couple of words for that selfish and stupid

So you are saying, just because we get old, we are in some way worse drivers and experience counts for nothing? So with that rationale, applying a driving technique whereby you think further ahead doesn't count for anything. If young drivers reactions are as good as you claim, why don't they react to get themselves out of trouble?

You might be knackered at 50. I'm not.

 

[Bellow]

Many - most! - of the bad habits that creep into a persons driving could be erradicated with proper policing. Tailgating for one. Exiting roundabouts without signalling another.
If the police wont do it than resitting of tests has merit - particularly if it focuses on the known habits that occur, eg, abandonment of 'mirror signal manouver' sequence.

The elderly drivers who are rubbish probably were always rubbish and through-life testing may help with that.
Baldly viewing stats such as death rates where frailty is a bigger factor than competence to force elderly but capable drivers off the road would be very wrong though.

 

[Colin_b]

I'm against it, purely because firstly we don't have the infrastructure to do it, and secondly, it will make little difference.

The UK roads are already remarkably safe by any standards - we kill 3.6 people per 100,000 people per year.

We are 5th safest, behind Marshall Islands (1.7), Sweden(2.9), San Marino(3.2) and Malta(3.4)

List of countries by traffic-related death rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All retesting will do is prove someone drove to the minimum standard once in 10 years.

There are more effective and cheaper measures that could be taken.

The only Country I can find that is considering introducing retests is Zimbabwe (at 27.5 to our 3.6)

 

[Bellow]

if you cross your hands at the steering wheel while at the same time your airbag went off, you would probably involuntarily punch your face at 200 mph. Now that's a sobering thought.

As is the thought of having any drink container in front of your face. Pipe smokers are doomed...

but what I have noticed is greater glare from headlights during night time driving

Try yellow tinted specs - they help with the glare but don't inhibit normal visibility.
If you see a situation coming that really is going to dazzle you - close one eye and once the dazzling is over open it and close the other. At least one eye will still be functioning.

 

[whitenemesis]

Does the yellow tinted specs still work now we have much whiter / bluer lights?

 

[Creepy coupe]

Does the yellow tinted specs still work now we have much whiter / bluer lights?

I think the ideas is for you to wear them, rather than put them on the front of the car.

 

[grober]

Glare experienced at night by elderly drivers is often down to the start of mild cataract formation in the lens of the eye.

 

[Bellow]

Does the yellow tinted specs still work now we have much whiter / bluer lights?

I've never noticed any difference with different lights, so I suppose the answer is yes, they still work.

 

[Creepy coupe]

Glare experienced at night by elderly drivers is often down to the start of mild cataract formation in the lens of the eye.

Who said that

 

[grober]

Who said that

My optometrist.

 

[Creepy coupe]

My optometrist.

Sorry, was meant to be a joke. You know, blind man in the house.

I'll get me coat.

 

[flango]

So you are saying, just because we get old, we are in some way worse drivers and experience counts for nothing? So with that rationale, applying a driving technique whereby you think further ahead doesn't count for anything. If young drivers reactions are as good as you claim, why don't they react to get themselves out of trouble?

You might be knackered at 50. I'm not.

IMHO experience counts for nothing, just because you've been doing it that way for 30 years doesn't mean you have been doing it right. You show me an oldy that looks further than the car in front they just don't, of course there are exceptions to every rule. As some people on here know I compete and instruct in motorsport I also am an advanced driver trainer. I have been out with 70 year olds that compete brilliant on track but are hopeless on the road they have lost everything they ever learnt about roadcraft. Again there are exceptions where some 70 year olds are still good on roads. The problem with younger drivers is their reactions are so sharp they tend to over react and get into trouble, if you've not been trained to get out of trouble then thats where the problems start and why skid training and basic advanced driving skills should be taught as mandatory after passing your test, give them some survival skills and give them a chance

As for being knackered at 50 far from it I still compete in motorsport at the highest level and punish my body more than I would like but at 25 I was a works rally team test driver and I for one can honestly admit I will never be that good again

 

[Dieselman]

Go Flania, Go...