OAP s and driving licences

[Dryce]

On a serious note, I am sure that, in between two of my many daily naps, I came across the fact that drivers over 70 have fewer accidents than average , but that the cost of repairs per accident were considerably higher. Hence the stratospheric insurance premiums for us elder citizens.

The rate of accidents resulting in KSI (killed / seriously injured) goes up significantly for drivers over 70 and even more above 80.

Over half of the KSI are 'other people' - so pedestrians, cyclists, occupants of other cars. About a third are the older driver - with the remainder being other occupants of the older driver's car.

The probable reason there isn't more said about this is that this is based on rate per mile - and older drivers do less miles which mitigates the absolute totals. Drivers in other age groups accumulate significantly more mileage. So this much higher risk for 70+ and 80+ is to some extent masked.

I think you'll find that the stratospheric insurance premiums are actually down to the much higher third party KSI risk per mile. These risks will likely outweigh the any increased rate of minor bumps/scrapes that might be claimed for in these age groups.

 

[BTB 500]

I think this is a very important point - in the UK we have no proper identity card - and the driving licence has become an accepted alternative when dealing with organisations such as banks - or taking domestic flights.

I've had problems with proof of identity for my elderly mum. She hasn't driven for ages so no current licence, or travelled abroad so no current passport. She's been in a care home for some years, so no council tax bill. I have PoA for her so all her bank statements, DWP & HMRC etc. letters come to my address. Nothing goes to where she actually lives.

A proper identity card would be very useful!

 

[John N]

I've had problems with proof of identity for my elderly mum. She hasn't driven for ages so no current licence, or travelled abroad so no current passport. She's been in a care home for some years, so no council tax bill. I have PoA for her so all her bank statements, DWP & HMRC etc. letters come to my address. Nothing goes to where she actually lives.

A proper identity card would be very useful!

I'm in similar circumstances, my mother lives with us and has done so since 15 May, no Passport, her Driving Licence was "The Little Red Book" all Utility Bills were in my fathers name, but trying to convince British Gas as to who she is has proved "Difficult" Her house is up for Sale and it has Solar Panels, but again getting BG to pay the Fit that has not been claimed in around 2 Years has fell on deaf ears!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

On a serious note, I am sure that, in between two of my many daily naps, I came across the fact that drivers over 70 have fewer accidents than average , but that the cost of repairs per accident were considerably higher. Hence the stratospheric insurance premiums for us elder citizens.

"Stratospheric?" "Premium hikes: In the three months to the end of August, renewal prices for the over-70s rose by £63.04, compared with the market average of £46.40"
Over-70s drivers worst hit by insurance price hikes.

Another explanation might be that older drivers are more lazy about challenging renewal premiums and about shopping around on-line for competitive quotes.

 

[Dryce]

Another explanation might be that older drivers are more lazy about challenging renewal premiums and about shopping around on-line for competitive quotes.

Changing insurer once you get well past 70 tends to be a bit more problematic (or at least it was a few years ago when I helped out an older relative get quotes - my recollection is that there were fewer insurers willing to quote online).

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

What worries me is the number of people I hear of who say that they only drive ‘to the shops’ now, because they aren’t confident to do longer distances. I suppose that’s the reason for reports that most road accidents happen within a mile of the driver’s home.

At all ages, most RTA's happen within a mile of the driver's home.

Including my local 18 year old who drove his Corsa into a tree in on a suburban road near me after an argument with his Dad over dinner.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Changing insurer once you get well past 70 tends to be a bit more problematic (or at least it was a few years ago when I helped out an older relative get quotes - my recollection is that there were fewer insurers willing to quote online).

Fair point, but interwoven with mine.

If you don't negotiate or move, you get charged more. Insurance, AA, bank charges, newspaper & magazine subscriptions, TV packages, broadband, mobile phone contracts, utilities....

Wrinklies are renowned for paying absurd amounts for TV, broadband, phone contracts and so on.

 

[guhvies]

I've had problems with proof of identity for my elderly mum. She hasn't driven for ages so no current licence, or travelled abroad so no current passport. She's been in a care home for some years, so no council tax bill. I have PoA for her so all her bank statements, DWP & HMRC etc. letters come to my address. Nothing goes to where she actually lives.

A proper identity card would be very useful!

Can't she get one of them thingys the council is supposed to give out to voters without an id that can be used as an id to vote?

 

[BTB 500]

Can't she get one of them thingys the council is supposed to give out to voters without an id that can be used as an id to vote?

Not heard of those but I'll look into it!

 

[Fastcar155]

How?

Hi ,

How easy is it to open a UK bank account without jumping through hoops.

I am 73 and passed my DT6 weeks after my 17th birthday.

The current test bears no resemblance to test that I took.

The DVLA want all oldies off the road and I suggest that we will have to take extended tests , enhanced medical examination and reduced HP cars to you obtain a restricted driving licence.

I believe that all drivers should have regular assessments as to there driving ability.


I passed my driving test test in a manual 4 on the floor but I am also allowed to drive an automatic transmission car.

I live in Malvern and to park an automatic car on the hilly roads is not easy.Its a doddle with a manual transmission car.

Some time ago I suggested that the British driving standard was on apar or below the Portuguese standard.

( I was wrong and appoligse for that stupid statement. )

The standard of car driving in Portugal is appalling.

If I felt that my ability do drive put other road users at risk I would hand back my licence.

 

[Dippo]

Can't she get one of them thingys the council is supposed to give out to voters without an id that can be used as an id to vote?

If you look up Voter ID on the government website, it says this:

" apply for a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’. You can use it to vote in person in some elections and referendums in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). You cannot use it as proof of identification for any other reason."

 

[geraldrobins]

On a serious note, I am sure that, in between two of my many daily naps, I came across the fact that drivers over 70 have fewer accidents than average , but that the cost of repairs per accident were considerably higher. Hence the stratospheric insurance premiums for us elder citizens.

I'm 76 but have not personally received significantly higher insurance premiums over the years apart form this year when my renewal will be 30% higher but I understand this is a trend over all age groups.

 

[fourwheels]

Down here on the south coast it’s not the elderly who have accidents. Seems to be youngsters who have a magnetic attraction to lamp posts or the wall on the far side of a bend.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I'm 76 but have not personally received significantly higher insurance premiums over the years apart form this year when my renewal will be 30% higher but I understand this is a trend over all age groups.

Exactly. There’s barely any evidence of premiums going up excessively for the over 70’s, nor that Wrinklies are creating more claims.

Insurance companies are clawing in money to cover their increased costs from inflation, staff and component shortages, fraud and WfH inefficiencies.

Caveat emptor

 

[zipdip]

Well living in a high average age area there are lots that say I only drive to the shops ,as in all things in life if you are not very good when you pass your driving test all those years ago then age will only make you worse,older drivers do have less accidents than the young,but have the accidents in weird places which catch pedestrians and other road users out and of course drive less miles,without doubt eyesight is a big factor in bad driving,this country has to tighten the links between GP's and Opticians and the DVLA we cannot continue to hand out forms at the age of 70 and let drivers say they are ok to drive.
The D4 medical for HGV1 is ok but you still tell the Dr filling in the form that no you do not have a whole load of illnesses and that you are mentally fit to drive,but the DVLA do in some cases check with your GP.
I do feel sorry for some of the older drivers around here one road is wide enough for parked cars on one side and still have two cars to pass each other,I have lost count of seeing a aged driver 5 ft from the parked cars so you are up against the curb and looking at the driver you see their hands gripping the steering wheel at the 9 and 3 position and you can see the white of their knuckles as they grip the wheel that hard,it cannot be very nice to be that worried about driving down a lightly used road in a housing estate,you can only wonder what stress they put themselves under when they venture further afield maybe they don't and stay local you can only hope they do.

 

[oldguy57]

Exactly. There’s barely any evidence of premiums going up excessively for the over 70’s, nor that Wrinklies are creating more claims.

Insurance companies are clawing in money to cover their increased costs from inflation, staff and component shortages, fraud and WfH inefficiencies.

Caveat emptor

Exactly. My wrinkly premiums have plummeted over the years, both in real terms and £ notes. I must be trustworthy . Living in an area where there are many elderly drivers it's common to see them driving at 10 to 20 mph below the speed limit, even on clear dry roads. Something that you have to get used to since few safe overtaking opportunities are available. If I ever get to that stage I hope Ms Me will take my keys away.

 

[guhvies]

If you look up Voter ID on the government website, it says this:

" apply for a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’. You can use it to vote in person in some elections and referendums in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). You cannot use it as proof of identification for any other reason."

So in other words, the serious things that one needs an id for you can't use that, but to vote for the parliament critters, that's fine. What a waste...

 

[TC350]

I'm 76 but have not personally received significantly higher insurance premiums over the years apart form this year when my renewal will be 30% higher but I understand this is a trend over all age groups.

It’s certainly the case for travel insurance. I’ve just taken out insurance for my month in Australia next March. It cost nearly as much as the flight. (An exaggeration I know, but it was still over £200 - compared to half that for annual travel insurance for the whole family when I was in my 60s.)

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Exactly. My wrinkly premiums have plummeted over the years, both in real terms and £ notes. I must be trustworthy . Living in an area where there are many elderly drivers it's common to see them driving at 10 to 20 mph below the speed limit, even on clear dry roads. Something that you have to get used to since few safe overtaking opportunities are available. If I ever get to that stage I hope Ms Me will take my keys away.

"They say the speed limit is a speed limit, not the recommended speed."

He says, ruefully, living on the edge of a "well-known common" where police cars and civilian drivers in their mid-twenties regularly end up ploughing into the underground as a result of overtaking folks doing a steady 20, to then "discover" that a car is coming in the other direction just as fast, or has turned onto the road from a corner, expecting the left hand side of the road to be clear.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

It’s certainly the case for travel insurance. I’ve just taken out insurance for my month in Australia next March. It cost nearly as much as the flight. (An exaggeration I know, but it was still over £200 - compared to half that for annual travel insurance for the whole family when I was in my 60s.)

Mon Dieu, sounds like a bargain. Mrs MiW and I pay £630 annually for unlimited global travel insurance, and that's a bargain worth every penny, even though we never claim.

Your rate doesn't indicate Anti-Wrinklieism unless you've got evidence that it would be cheaper for someone much younger. More likely that the cost of "stuff" has gone up over the last decade.