elderly drivers

Kompany Car said:
What the correct frequency is I’m not sure but that would seem like a sensible idea, similar to what others posted earlier. I’m also of the opinion that people who are done for driving without due care and attention with a points tariff of 6 or more should also have a short driving competency test regardless of age.
The problem is there are insufficient qualified instructors to do it.
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I think the problem is that those with driving offences are usually quite capable of acting properly during a test whereas those of us either through age or illness say in younger people who cannot drive safely will fail a test.

I think my Spanish computer test will identify any faults I have and thereby refuse me licence.
Perhaps some of us in that position will start the young driver attitude by driving without licence and insurance.
Incidentally my car insurance cost is roughly the same each year probably because at my age other drivers have learnt to avoid me.
 
SilverFox2 said:
I think the problem is that those with driving offences are usually quite capable of acting properly during a test whereas those of us either through age or illness say in younger people who cannot drive safely will fail a test.

I think my Spanish computer test will identify any faults I have and thereby refuse me licence.
Perhaps some of us in that position will start the young driver attitude by driving without licence and insurance.
Incidentally my car insurance cost is roughly the same each year probably because at my age other drivers have learnt to avoid me.
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How can a computer know if an elderly person is fit to drive or not? It can't, it's as simple as that.

I don't like online courses that have replaced common sense real life situation. I used to have to do a basic manual handling course in a classroom which was about clearing any potential trip hazards to make sure it was safe to carry something from A to B. Sounds simple and it is to most people with an ounce of common sense, but there are some very educated people who would fail a practical risk assessment but qualify through a computer test.
 
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BlueMoonRisin’ said:
How can a computer know if an elderly person is fit to drive or not? It can't, it's as simple as that.

I don't like online courses that have replaced common sense real life situation. I used to have to do a basic manual handling course in a classroom which was about clearing any potential trip hazards to make sure it was safe to carry something from A to B. Sounds simple and it is to most people with an ounce of common sense, but there are some very educated people who would fail a practical risk assessment but quality through a computer test.
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Every time I renew my driving licence in Spain (every 5 years) I have a medical including eye tests together with a general chat with their doctor.
My health card is then vetted by the doctor which links him to a computer that shows all my medical history and medication I am currently prescribed and using.

They then check my capability to steer a car on an adapted computer (with a steering wheel) that simulates road width, bends etc at various speeds.
My reaction and time evaluation test is looking at a computer screen with the rhs half only showing. A ball of white moves across the screen from right to left at different constant speeds. My task is to press a button when I think it reaches the extreme lhs. No doubt it will have changed next time I take it.

Not perfact but seemingly capable of filtering out those of us for whom age has limited our capabilities.

What do they do in UK?
 
SilverFox2 said:
Every time I renew my driving licence in Spain (every 5 years) I have a medical including eye tests together with a general chat with their doctor.
My health card is then vetted by the doctor which links him to a computer that shows all my medical history and medication I am currently prescribed and using.

They then check my capability to steer a car on an adapted computer (with a steering wheel) that simulates road width, bends etc at various speeds.
My reaction and time evaluation test is looking at a computer screen with the rhs half only showing. A ball of white moves across the screen from right to left at different constant speeds. My task is to press a button when I think it reaches the extreme lhs. No doubt it will have changed next time I take it.

Not perfact but seemingly capable of filtering out those of us for whom age has limited our capabilities.

What do they do in UK?
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A computer simulation is better than nothing I suppose, certainly better than in the UK at present..

As far as I'm aware elderly drivers are ok to drive however good or bad their health is.
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
I’ve said for a long time that everyone should have to resit their driving test every 5-10 years.

The standard of driving is a disgrace on our roads.

Some thick **** drove into the back of me a few months back. When she got out of her car she was driving without fucking shoes on!
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Not re-sit the test. A refresher course would be the answer I think, perhaps every five years or so once a person hits retirement age? On going training and assessment.
Most of us would fail the driving test if made to take it again tomorrow, not because we are bad drivers, but because we've forgotten what the examiner wants to see.
 
The organisation I am part of deals with this. I would be very careful about stopping older drivers full stop as some that we see that have been referred to us by various health professionals are still safe to drive, and retain the learned skills and still have the mental capacity to still drive.

We assess drivers with medical drivers (and drivers without medical conditions referred to us by the police).

At the current moment as has been said previously after 70 the driver has to reapply for their licence, but it is self regulating. The issue is that a lot has to be put on the GPs and Consultants when trying to determine if someone is safe to drive, for which they really don't have the time to do. Our department (and national organisation) aren't big enough to see them all.

Re: the Spanish model. We were involved in the European organisation looking into this (which the Spanish are part of) and with providers of these simulators and in the research we did it was found there was no real correlation between the simulators and a practical assessment of somebodies driving.

It is a difficult situation and we are constantly trying to find accurate tests that reflect a real life driving situation.

The other issue is the DVLA medical group are so far behind with medical enquiries that by the time they get the information it is out of date and if a older driver is told not to drive until the DVLA make their decision then they de-skill and can become dangerous.

Another issue we have is the lack of "after care" when someone is told to stop driving as a lot of the organisations that help keep people mobile after driving cessation means family members are reluctant to stop older relatives from driving as they do not want to look after them. Again our organisation are expanding into this area and again it is just too big for us but we can't help everyone.

It is a constant struggle to find the best way forward short of self driving cars!
 
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