over 80 driving licence

[darrow]

I will assume there are quite a few members who are driving around Cyprus that are over 80. we went to renew MOH licence today at Paphos general. The eye test went O.K. We went upstairs to see a woman called Thelma and she said " you are 82 soon, i stopped my dad driving at 82" Then she said I will give a a licence until the end of the year. It was quite arbitarily done, she knows nothing about his background, his medical status, which is good, or anything else! perhaps her father is senile, but not everyone is the same just because of age! Does anyone know if we would be able to get a medical certificate privately for a driving licence at the end of the year? He is fit, quick witted and always busy! We are fuming!

[jeba]

He might also have a problem finding an insurance company willing to cover him according to what I was told. Btw I´m glad my German license doesn´t have an age limit.

[darrow]

he has car insurance, unblemished record too! eye sight test was passed as well.

[trevnhil]

Idid use the hospital doctors when I became 70, but since then I have used a private doctor who has signed me off as OK to drive..
I agree with the comment about insurance for over 80's. That is one good reason to stick with the same insurance company..

Trev..

[WHL]

Ive been behind elderly drivers, who when at a junction, have trouble physically turning their head round to see if any thing is coming, and with just a glance pulled out, causing others to screech to a stop, it should be mandatory for over 70s to have a yearly test......and before anyone says what about young nutter drivers, start another thread...and we can discuss that.

[trevnhil]

I am over 70, and would be quite happy to have a medical certificate signed every year..

Trev..

[Poppy]

I am in the process of exchanging my cypriot license for a UK one now that I have returned permanently to the UK. There is no requirement for me to exchange but it will be easier for me if I do as my current license will not suffice as proof of identity here and for some reason which I cannot for the life of me understand my insurance is higher even though they tell me that they have accepted my No Claims from Cyprus ( I think it maybe because despite my having had a license for nearly 40 years I had only held the cypriot one for less than a year). Anyway on ringing DVLA I asked if my new license would expire when I reached 70 in just over two years and was told it would but there was no requirement to supply any medical evidence to obtain a new one which surprised me.

[Devil]

I am 84 and have just had my licence renewed for 3 years. My GP signed the form. I consider myself as a normal and safe driver with 20/20 vision and good reaction times. However, I'm very aware of the problems of aged drivers and I'll give up driving as soon as I become aware that I'm no longer driving safely. My daughter has confirmed I'm OK and is quite comfortable in the passenger seat (not necessarily vice versa )

[Rita Sherry]

Well Devil I beat you by one year - I have just had my 85th birthday and have recently renewed my driving licence. Since having my cataracts removed etc I now feel confident to once more drive at night (no glaring headlights) but for any unfamiliar distance would take a taxi or stay in. I feel both confident and responsible with my driving and hopefully can continue to do so without problems to other road users which I feel is the most important considertation, How long this will continue only the Almighty can judge but I have a feeling I will be acutely aware when this time comes and will adjust my lifestyle accordingly - it will be a sad day if and when I have to give up driving but life is precious to all of us to act responsibly and age is not necessarily the criteria. Take care out there

Rita

[darrow]

Thank you for all your input. I have done some research myself and while the Cyprus GOV site is still under construction and has been for a while, the EU site states there are no upper age limits for renewal of a licence but you MIGHT be required to have a medical. No problems with that in fact I fully agree we should have annual checks. Since we are still in the EU this suggests that this admin lady is working beyond her remit! So we will be visiting the hospital again after Easter and we now know we can get a medical clearance from a private Doctor. As Rita says we should be capable of deciding for ourselves. We have already agreed to police each other on that score!

[darrow]

Hi Darrow here again. I forgot to mention, here you have to replace your driving licence at 70. The so called medical is an eye test. This lasts 3 years. At 73 you will get a licence for 2 years and at 75 you are expected to have a check every year thereafter. So not sure how Devil got a 3 year licence but good luck to him!. We have been with our insurer for quite a while and they did say that you will not get insurance with a new insurer but can still be covered with the present insurer. I have heard this has now gone down to 70 from 80. Poppy, our insurance went up a lot at 70 and even more at 80. Neither of us have made a claim. It's loaded because of age.

[PaphosAL]

Just a thought here from AL (aged 69¾ at the moment). Just had two yearly Eye Test done at Tesco 3 months ago. No change, wooooo!!

That's after both cateracts were successfully done on the NHS here in UK over 2 years ago, in the space of 3 to 4 months of each other. Now, would it not make sense for the Optician to ask you if you still drive, and would you like us to forward these eye test results through to the DVLA (or the equivalent, in Cyprus)? If you agree to this, then they only need your Driving License number, email your latest eye test results through to them, voilá! For another Driving License extension for 12 months!

Must mention, here in UK, FREE eye tests are every 12 months (not 2 years) once you reach 70 years old, or will do within 12 months since your last eye test.

Cheers- AL

[PaphosAL]

Neither of us have made a claim. It's loaded because of age.

No, it's loaded because it's a good excuse for the insurers to make more profit

Of course Insurance Actuaries base their premiums on Age, Gender, Postcode and THEN look at the Property, Vehicle, or whatever it is that you want to insure...

BIG premium hikes on the way for UK Motor Insurance (yet again!)
1. HMG has hiked IPT up from 6% to an eye-watering 12% this June 2017
2. HMG has changed the way that Injury Claims are calculated (most of them scams)

If you are 16 to 29- you're considered a boy or girl racer. LOAD PREMIUM.
If you are 30 to 64- with full NCB. Shop around for a FAIR PREMIUM.
If you are 65+ with 12 yrs NCB and only do 1,000 miles pa, with alarmed car always kept locked in a locked garage every night? DOUBLE PREMIUM (or more!)

Shocking... Cheers- AL

[trevnhil]

I too got a 3 year license when I was 73.

Trev..

[angieb]

When my Mum was in her late 80s, I became aware that she was getting confused, which included not always knowing where she was, but she was still driving and I was worried that she was a risk to herself and others. I tried talking to her about it but she insisted she was fine.
I mentioned my concerns to her doctor who contacted the DVLA and they sent her for a driving assessment. During the assessment the examiner had to intervene as she turned right in front of an oncoming car, along with several other errors - she was allowed to have someone accompanying her in the back of the car as long as they didn't interfere. Understandably she failed the assessment and her licence was withdrawn. She was really unhappy and annoyed as she insisted she didn't make any mistakes, however, I think it was for the best - even though I am now on driving duty if she needs to go anywhere.
In some ways, I felt as if it was my 'fault', that she no longer had a licence but I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if she had caused an accident and I hadn't done anything to stop her driving.

[geoffreys]

I too got a 3 year license when I was 73.

Trev..

As did I this year at age 73 in January. Expires January 2020.
Although not a licence requirement I decided to have an eye test and medical which I produced to my Insurance Co. and they
gave me a substantial reduction in premium.
Geoff.

[WHL]

When my Mum was in her late 80s, I became aware that she was getting confused, which included not always knowing where she was, but she was still driving and I was worried that she was a risk to herself and others. I tried talking to her about it but she insisted she was fine.
I mentioned my concerns to her doctor who contacted the DVLA and they sent her for a driving assessment. During the assessment the examiner had to intervene as she turned right in front of an oncoming car, along with several other errors - she was allowed to have someone accompanying her in the back of the car as long as they didn't interfere. Understandably she failed the assessment and her licence was withdrawn. She was really unhappy and annoyed as she insisted she didn't make any mistakes, however, I think it was for the best - even though I am now on driving duty if she needs to go anywhere.
In some ways, I felt as if it was my 'fault', that she no longer had a licence but I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if she had caused an accident and I hadn't done anything to stop her driving.

Well done you, you did the right thing, hopefully I and others would have the sense to do the same.

[trevnhil]

The DOT website says that drivers renewing their license at 70 or over require a form TOM 153 already signed by a doctor, stating that you are fit to drive. This is in the main an eyesight test. Drivers require a medical on reaching 70 years of age and each subsequent renewal.

Trev..