DVLA upcoming seeing test for drivers over 70.

[Fastpedaller]

Why not make it all drivers - that will simplify the gov admin (all results linked to DVLA), although there will be queues at opticians! This will give greater income for opticians and boost the govt coffers . Although age is a factor, poor eyesight can occur at any age

 

[presta]

The DVLA then contacts the persons GP who is then asked to comment on the person ability to drive.

....and then the NHS ignore their correspondence. Meanwhile you may be able to drive quite legally without a licence under Section 88.

 

[dicko]

Never mind the eyesight test, there are loads of people driving on our roads without any valid license at all, dont you all come across these drivers every day? The old couple next door to me drive on an international license and spend six months of every year abroad.

 

[Alex321]

The main reason is to get old farts off the roads, nothing to do with safety,

Anything approaching some sort of evidence for that?

if it was safety best look at the 18 to 35 year olds
they have more accidents than us,

Not according to the statistics given earlier in the thread.

so a driving test will be to aim to fail you on the slightest misdemeanor, I wouldn't trust them
but we will have no option to jumping through hoops.

I have no idea why you believe this. What possible reason could there be for the government to just want to get old people off the roads?

 

[Drago]

Strange how the Association of Optometrists are the ones pushing for this.

Thats be like the AA lobbying the government for mandatory breakdown cover.

 

[Drago]

I have no idea why you believe this. What possible reason could there be for the government to just want to get old people off the roads?

What reason is there for half the things the government does, yet still they do it.

 

[gavroche]

I collected my " driving " glasses this morning. They cost me £15 and are better than my long distance glasses which cost me 10 times more !
I also asked for another mock eye test to see if they will pass but they refused, saying I will have to wait for my next yearly appointment which is October 2026 now.
I think the whole thing is just a money making racket.

 

[gbb]

My Dad had to tell his Dad to stop driving when he was driving through North Wales and went through one of the tunnels
He put his headlights on but couldn't tell if they were on or not
He got out but still couldn't tell when standing in front of the car
until he put his eye right up to the lens - only then could he tell the headlights were on
on a dull day!!

He was a damn good driver - but only the Gods know how he didn't hit anyone those last few months!

My Dad stopped driving at night when his night vision got bad
then stopped driving altogether a year or so after
which was a massive thing for him as he was disabled - and the car was his only way of getting out of the house

but he did it because he knew it was the right thing to do


Other people need regulations

Yep, my late dad, straight as a die normally, rang someone I can't remember now to ask to come and get him. He was driving and got lost, it turned out his sight had been slowly deteriorating and it finally reached the point where even he had to throw in the towel...should have done it much much earlier.
We went completely blind a few months later...

At 67, these upcoming 'nuisances' are getting closer but hey, better they weedle out the ones that really shouldn't be on the road

 

[simongt]

As may have been said, poor eyesight isn't the preserve of the over 70s.
A lad in his late 20s who I used to work with had trouble seeing his computer screen properly, but flatly refused to have his eyes tested as he was afraid of what he might find out.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

People have to remember that driving is a privilege not a right

people tend to forget that
including people dealing with how public transport works!

 

[simongt]

People have to remember that driving is a privilege not a right

Precisely.
Any licence, be it driving, fishing or whatever is a privilege subject to certain conditions being met.
Fail to meet those conditions and the licence can easily be withdrawn.

 

[Drago]

I hear that Mr Kipling is now demanding the DVLA make all drivers eat cake.