Over-70s face driving ban for failing eye tests

Another thing, I think there should be some process in place whereby Opticians and Ophthalmologists should be required to advise DVLA if someone's vision is below the level required for driving.
I remember reading somewhere that this was a recommended change. Not sure if it'll make it into the Gov's proposal, but I do agree that it's another necessary change.
 
I'm all for adding these tests.....but there has to be some consideration given to fact that trying to exist in the UK without a car is an absolute pain in the arse anywhere outside of major cities. Some kind of subsidized taxi service to get old people to the shops and stuff once a week at least.
 
I'm all for adding these tests.....but there has to be some consideration given to fact that trying to exist in the UK without a car is an absolute pain in the arse anywhere outside of major cities. Some kind of subsidized taxi service to get old people to the shops and stuff once a week at least.

Aye, at one time every village had a shop, a post office a pub, even a butchers.

The motor car decimated most of that.
 
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I'm all for adding these tests.....but there has to be some consideration given to fact that trying to exist in the UK without a car is an absolute pain in the arse anywhere outside of major cities. Some kind of subsidized taxi service to get old people to the shops and stuff once a week at least.

Perhaps this taxi service could have multiple seats to be cost effective for the company operating them. Maybe even share the services with people of all ages & charge everyone who isn't old. Give the old people a special little card to entitle them to free rides, disabled people could have a special little card too?




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Aye, at one time every village had a shop, a post office a pub, even a butchers.

Yep, slowly all killed off thanks to poor government policies. But also the government is upset that shops are closing and forign, online companies are hoovering up the business (and not paying tax). But that's the direction they have taken it.

Even town high streets are dying off now due to ridiculous rent prices and taxes.
 
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They've been slashing the services around here, including the ones quite a lot of older people rely on.

It is a bit of an odd one around here as a good percentage of the houses are people who've retired to the area, a sparse rural area 5-10 miles from a lot of services, which is fine when they are able but once age takes its toll it is far from ideal.
 
Perhaps this taxi service could have multiple seats to be cost effective for the company operating them. Maybe even share the services with people of all ages & charge everyone who isn't old. Give the old people a special little card to entitle them to free rides, disabled people could have a special little card too?




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Have you tried using bus services outside major cities? They are absolute ****

Two out of the three times I've tried to use a bus recently, it has simply not turned up, and I've had to request an Uber.
 
Careful talking about sensible ideas like having useful amenities near to your home so you don't need a car to be able to live, you'll attract the 15 minute cities conspiracy theorists
 
I can drive 6 miles to town, be there for a few hours, and on the way back still see the same people standing at the village bus stop waiting for that mystical bus to turn up.
 
Handily, Uber have also recently reinvented the bus and called it RouteShare :p
Could actually be quite a good solution to this problem....although it would require pensioners to use smartphone apps.

Yes yes I'm being a raging ageist.....but probably correct :P
 
Have you tried using bus services outside major cities? They are absolute ****

Two out of the three times I've tried to use a bus recently, it has simply not turned up, and I've had to request an Uber.

Oh you could say I have a fair idea about buses on rural routes, some would even say probably better than your little microcosm of experience...
 
Have you tried using bus services outside major cities? They are absolute ****

Two out of the three times I've tried to use a bus recently, it has simply not turned up, and I've had to request an Uber.

Even in cities that happens. They often just don't show up, or show up very late in MK and Cambridge from experience.

And yea I've a actually been shopping and seen the same people waiting when driving back lol
 
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I'm surprised this has taken so long to be honest - but it should not just be down to an eye test! it should be about reflexes, mobility etc.

There's a lot of older folk out there who can barely see above the steering wheel now, you often see them in Tesco's car park, you will be waiting for the other half to get the shopping, all of a sudden hear an engine rev up like a boy racer... think to yourself oi oi another d!ck thinks his Kia Picanto is a Porsche only to see the car creep about 4 foot forward and a little old dear hiding behind the wheel.

There was an incident with an 80+ year old reversing into someone and killing them outside a supermarket a few years ago - the victim wasn't on the front page like they are when it's a younger driver at the wheel.

Others clearly scraping against cars in car parks but not realising they are doing it.
 
overpayed doctors will/should be naming them

The research team, led by Dr Carol Hawley, Principal Research Fellow at Warwick Medical School, found doctors in training received little tuition on medical aspects of fitness to drive.

They also found that although most healthcare professionals were aware of the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) guidelines stipulating fitness to drive, many were unable to reliably distinguish between medically unfit drivers, borderline drivers and fit drivers. When presented with paper case studies of patients only 7.5% scored all of them correctly.

When presented with an acted scenario of a patient who was unfit to drive, 75% of healthcare professionals failed to offer advice on driving. The results also showed 40% of healthcare professionals agreed they did not have sufficient knowledge of the DVLA Fitness to Drive guidelines


(those doctors again - can't see the full thing on dft)

coincidentally listening to a podcast on people who have injured others - narrative "it could have happened to anyone, but did happen to me" stuck.
 
overpaid doctors will/should be naming them

I found the guideline document within seconds with a google search. There's about 120 relevant pages and despite no medical training if you gave me a patient diagnosis I'm fairly confident that I could, using the documentation, determine if someone should/shouldn't drive.

Most of the document is tabulated with clear RED/AMBER/GREEN colours

Sadly in reading the document I found that my 6yr old, absolutely car mad, will have lots of issues due to his Intraventricular shunt that he's had since he was 2. There will be times that his licence will be suspended for 6 months due to the periodic replacement of it.

 
Does anybody make an electric three wheeled cycle compliant with the law? Not a mobility scooter.

In our town there are quite a few oldies on normally aspirated bikes and trikes doing a daily shop. A three wheeler electric trike would add to the mix.

Apparently people do.

https://jorviktricycles.com/ among others.

Same law as 2 wheeled bikes, 15.5mph max for electric assist, 250W max etc
 
Absolutely right and sensible decision for this to come in. About time government(s) actually did stuff that was sensible and reasonable for society, rather than pandering to voters and doing the opposite.
 
Absolutely right and sensible decision for this to come in. About time government(s) actually did stuff that was sensible and reasonable for society, rather than pandering to voters and doing the opposite.

Age does not mean a thing here, if you cannot see properly you should not be driving, over 70 or below. It is pure government spin.
Are they not going to ban a forty year old with poor vision leading to a fatal collision because he is below an age threshold. Of course they will.

70 is indicative of maybe poorer vision requiring eye tests however it is not conclusive of anything and my insurers are maintaining my premium if not actually lowering it in previous years.

They ARE actually pandering to voters rather than addressing high accident rates and fatalities in the 25 and below cohort.
 
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rather than addressing high accident rates and fatalities in the 25 and below cohort.

Well that's utter nonsense.

I have to assume you're on the older end of the scale and have an attitude of entitlement when it comes to driving.

How dare the government start to tackle a rising issue with an increasing older population before it gets worse :rolleyes:
 
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