Renewing Licence at 70

[Chislenko]

Just a shout out for DVLA. Super easy web page, super easy as they access your photo and signature from your passport details.

Completed the form on the website December 2nd, Licence arrived in the post December 5th.

Whilst successive governments get a lot of stick their agency websites (DVLA, Passport renewal etc) are very efficient.

 

[fossyant]

They are efficient but alot of older drivers are truely terrible and really should have hung up the car keys. We do need stricter testing, like being able to see.

Had first hand experience with FIL, and SIL more recently who was driving about with two cataracts that were urgently operated on when she finally went for an eye test. She still cant see properly but is driving.

 

[a.twiddler]

Everyone should be having their eyes tested regularly anyway. It's free for anyone over 60 every two years, and you should be having them tested anyway regardless. Let's not use the "over 70s" driving regulations as an excuse to bash older drivers. The whole driving eyesight thing needs tightening up. It sounds like a general enforcement issue more than anything, as the rules are already there.

The DVLA does deserve credit for its efficiency in the respect as highlighted by the OP.

 

[oxoman]

Everyone should be having their eyes tested regularly anyway. It's free for anyone over 60 every two years, and you should be having them tested anyway regardless. Let's not use the "over 70s" driving regulations as an excuse to bash older drivers. The whole driving eyesight thing needs tightening up. It sounds like a general enforcement issue more than anything, as the rules are already there.

The DVLA does deserve credit for its efficiency in the respect as highlighted by the OP.

You bang on with your comments. As a longterm glasses wearer im astounded at times by colleagues that cannot see properly that think they dont need them. Luckily my company insists on eyesight tests and a number have been pushed into getting glasses. As im now 60 it does worry me if my own sight deteriorates to the point I lose my licence, especially as my OH cannot drive due to poor eyesight. I personally think all drivers should have mandatory eyesight tests to get a licence.

 

[Dave7]

Just a shout out for DVLA. Super easy web page, super easy as they access your photo and signature from your passport details.

Completed the form on the website December 2nd, Licence arrived in the post December 5th.

Whilst successive governments get a lot of stick their agency websites (DVLA, Passport renewal etc) are very efficient.

I made a mistake. As the DVLA sent me a paper form I used that. Now, it did state to insert the registered postal number 'here' but it still didn't dawn on me until I handed it in at the post office... £9.20 that cost me.
Eyesight.......as I knew this renewal was due i had my eyes tested and I did need new specs to pass the dvla distance test.
He reckons i will need one cataract doing in a year or so.

 

[fossyant]

It's not just eyesight, and it's far too easy to renew a license as you get older. FIL's issues weren't just eyesight, lack of driving ability, that was bad enough when he was in his 60's just got worse. He was even going out with an oxygen cylinder attached to him - wouldn't tell the insurance. We had a right job getting him to stop driving - he had no need to go out - we could get food etc.

He did keep the local 'chips away' busy. There does need to be a bit more than 'I'm OK to drive' type declaration.

I certainly will be hanging up my keys if my ability drops.

As a glasses wearer I am all too aware of my eyesight. I can't believe SIL was driving with her eyes in such a bad condition. She's still driving and her vision isn't good - that's madness.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I saw this with my GranDad - he used to drive around Wales until one day he was going through teh tunnels on the A55 and put his headlights on
He thought they were not working so he pulled over in the next layby
He had to put his eye right up to the light to be able to tell it was on
that's a Headlight - not just a sidelight!!

My Dad persuaded him to stop driving when he mentioned that

My Dad stopped driving at night when he realised he wasn;t seeing to well after dark
and then stopped totally a year or so after
which was a big thing - he was disabled, so stopping driving basically made him housebound
I really respected him for taking that decision - it really affected him but he did it anyway because it was the right thing to do

 

[fossyant]

I have a lot of colleagues that are saying they can't see well at night and try to avoid driving then. I did 'jokingly' say have you had your eye sight tested, then explained about my sister in law. You'd think not seeing well at night would be a wake up call ?

 

[Drago]

Whilst successive governments get a lot of stick their agency websites (DVLA, Passport renewal etc) are very efficient.

...except when theyre not.

They tried to sneakily take my MC entitlement when I applied for a new licence due to a change of address. Fortunately I trust no one had had taken several photos of the old one so was able to get it reinstated easily enough, but others haven't been so lucky and some (even coppers who had to show their licence before being allowed on the bikes)have had to re take their test to get it back.

Im pleased it went well for you, but when they do cack it up they do so big time.

For my own part, im just about to turn 58 and dont plan to be driving much beyond 70. Maybe 73 when the first post 70 renewal is due.

 

[oxoman]

I have a lot of colleagues that are saying they can't see well at night and try to avoid driving then. I did 'jokingly' say have you had your eye sight tested, then explained about my sister in law. You'd think not seeing well at night would be a wake up call ?

I suspect some of the issues with night driving is caused by LED light brightness and colour. Ive noticed when installing them at work they create lots of shadows and we need need to compensate by adding task lights. This is something we never had to do with less harsh brightness and warmer colours. I know that the relevant agencies that deal with the rules and regs on automobile lights are looking into it. I've actually used the headlamp load functionality on my car to lower the beam slightly, I seem to get less people flashing me nowadays thinking im on high beam when in not.

 

[albion]

Night blindness as you get older is a very common thing.
However fish oil seems to prevent it, and in one science study actually reverses it.

 

[a.twiddler]

...except when theyre not.

They tried to sneakily take my MC entitlement when I applied for a new licence due to a change of address. Fortunately I trust no one had had taken several photos of the old one so was able to get it reinstated easily enough, but others haven't been so lucky and some (even coppers who had to show their licence before being allowed on the bikes)have had to re take their test to get it back.

Im pleased it went well for you, but when they do cack it up they do so big time.

For my own part, im just about to turn 58 and dont plan to be driving much beyond 70. Maybe 73 when the first post 70 renewal is due.

There was an issue several years ago when people renewing their driving licences for various reasons were losing random entitlements when they came to check the new one. I've always been acutely aware of this since and have taken copies of everything when renewing. So far, so good. I can imagine some clerk carelessly assuming that old gits don't go out in the rain and the cold on motorbikes but still, unless you positively request to have something removed, nobody is entitled to interfere with it. If it gets deleted it's hard to get it reinstated without evidence and I'd heard of instances where younger riders had to go to the extent of re taking the relevant tests!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

They are efficient but alot of older drivers are truely terrible and really should have hung up the car keys. We do need stricter testing, like being able to see.

True of younger drivers to be fair.

 

[Drago]

Night blindness as you get older is a very common thing.
However fish oil seems to prevent it, and in one science study actually reverses it.

Twilight myopia is common one.

It doesnt help that as we age our sensitivity shifts towards the red end of the spectrum which causes even more grief with this modern trend of berks holding vehicles stationary on the footbrake instead of applying the handbrake.

 

[simongt]

like being able to see.

Indeed. As far as I'm aware, apart from now being 25 metres instead of 25 yards which at least is a wee bit further,, the 'reading a number plate' test hasn't changed in over fifty years.
As we're 'advised' to get our eyes tested at leat every two years, maybe a rule of a optometrist's confirmation of effective eyesight to be competent to drive after the age of say, fifty should be introduced - ?