here we go again!

[darrow]

Some of you may remember our experience at the General earlier this year when i related the palaver of getting a driving licence renewed for an over 80 yr old. We eventually got a licence for up to this year end. After writing to the General Manager, Spyrios Georgiou, to complain about her focus on the age, rather than the ability to drive safely, he rang me an assured us there would be no problem about renewing. Well, guess what! the first words out of her mouth were, "Oh, you're 82, my father is 82 and I've stopped him driving". By the time we had spent 30 minutes jumping through hoops, reminding her she has not enquired about the ability to drive, either physically or mentally, that she gave in and gave an exact year to the date! What should have been a routine task ended up being very stressful! Next year we will go private, but not before the General Manager gets a bit of agro ! We noticed an elderly cypriot man who is a near neighbour, who is physically challenged, who just happened to go in in front of us was out in 2 minutes with his duly signed form. perhaps he was only 81.5 yers old!

[WHL]

Anyone over seventy should be made to take a yearly driving test as well as a medical, my opinion.

[ApusApus]

Anyone over seventy should be made to take a yearly driving test as well as a medical, my opinion.

Why?


Shane

[trevnhil]

There will be millions of over 70's in the UK that just tick the box, are you fit to drive.
No retest and no medical.
I am 75 and have had a medical and a test.

[WHL]

Anyone over seventy should be made to take a yearly driving test as well as a medical, my opinion.

Why?


Shane

Because as we age our body/brain/reactions slow down....I was driving back from Larnaca airport this year, when suddenly an elderly driver came bombing towards me driving on the wrong side of the motor way...the old boy didn't relise he was on the wrong side, although cars were diving out of his way for miles, thank God no one died that day but a few cars crashed into barriers etc....it was on the local news, secondly I was behind an elderly couple stopped, waiting to pull out of a car park, I could see the poor bugger didnt have the mobility in his neck to look to the right to see what was coming ..so he just pulled out, turning left causing cars to screech to a halt, I actully closed my eyes waiting for the impact.....please dont start posting about how bad the youngsters driving is?we know, we are discussing the elderly driving.

[ApusApus]

But why 70, bad drivers happen at all ages? And to imply that you are a "good" driver aged 69 years & 364 days and then suddenly become a "bad" driver 24 hours later seems crazy! The 2 examples you gave didn't just happen that day, these people have been bad drivers for many years & probably should have been stopped from driving long ago. Personally, I would prefer a more regular routine retest which increases in frequency the older one gets!


Shane

[darrow]

I am not disputing the need for medicals, but it is not necessarily all olders drivers who shouldn't be behind the wheel. Road awareness can be lacking at any age. It just so happens that MOH has good road awareness and is still agile! It is also law that once you get to 70 you only get a licence for 3 years, then 2 years to 75 and yearly tests thereafter. Nothing to do with this narrow minded person harping on about age! I expect we all know, or have seen elderly drivers who cannot see properly, cannot turn their heads and make dangerous manouveres! MOH is not one of them! Last week I was waiting at the lights outside blue cross, opposite McDonalds when an elderly couple cut across the road of 4 lanes to go in the car park outside Blue cross. There was actually nowhere for the vehicle to go, because the stationary traffic was blocking the drop down kerb! The driver had to mount the pavement! Only seconds later the lights changed to green! An accident in the making, in my opinion.

[Jimgward]

My step, father-in-law..... is 82 with Parkinson's..... I won't go in the car with him. I've advised him not to drive, but he still drives within their village.... but not on motorways etc. His doctor says he's Ok to drive

Last time I was in the car with him, he was weaving onto the cats eyes then side of the road

[WHL]

But why 70, bad drivers happen at all ages? And to imply that you are a "good" driver aged 69 years & 364 days and then suddenly become a "bad" driver 24 hours later seems crazy! The 2 examples you gave didn't just happen that day, these people have been bad drivers for many years & probably should have been stopped from driving long ago. Personally, I would prefer a more regular routine retest which increases in frequency the older one gets!


Shane

You have to have some age, and I think 70 is about right, with both the examples ive mention, its not about them being bad drivers, you could be a good driver but if your body dosnt allow you to fully turn your head round to see if any one is coming then, you shouldn't be driving...with the guy driving down the wrong side of the motor way..it was said he had health issues..... even if your younger and you drive dangerously and get caught you should also go and get re tested..just my opinion.

[Devil]

I'm 85 and I still drive safely, probably better than I did 60-odd years ago. I have had a medical and an eye test with excellent acuity and no tunnel vision and, more importantly, my reaction times are good.

As for driving down the motorway on the wrong side, it happens all the time on the continent. The Swiss estimate 80 cases/year and it is not confined to the elderly. One article cites 3 cases out of ten are caused by drivers over 65. Alcohol and drugs also largely contribute to the figure, as well as fatigue.

http://www.securite-routiere-plus.com/m ... souris.jpg

This is an idea from France which seems effective. The driver-height panel says 'You are going in the wrong direction: turn around' and the road is configured with a place to turn.

[Jimgward]

I don't think older drivers are less safe, per se. I do think there comes a point where their doctor should certify them fit to drive - maybe 75? or 80? That should then perhaps be bi-annual.....

The problem with the DVLA in the UK, is that their systems take many months to process anything. My wife, after aneurisms, was told by surgeon not to drive for 3 months. I informed the DVLA. After 3 months, her surgeon said it was responsibility of family doctor (haha) to certify if fit. They wouldn't either, until I read them the terms from the DVLA site.... I then informed the DVLA. 3 m months later, the DVAL confirmed receipt of the 'unfit to drive' - then no other contact!

[ast]

My father in law picked us up from the airport a few years ago he was 72 at the time, never went in the car again with him even though he continued to drive until 78, (Scared me to death) he has packed up driving now at 80 through Doctors advice.

The mother in law is 82 now and still driving, she is as steady as ever and fully aware of what going on around her.

[Cactuslil]

Anyone over seventy should be made to take a yearly driving test as well as a medical, my opinion.

Assuming you’re not there yet,I wonder if you’ll feel the same way when you get to 70.

[WHL]

Anyone over seventy should be made to take a yearly driving test as well as a medical, my opinion.

Assuming you’re not there yet,I wonder if you’ll feel the same way when you get to 70.

I hope I do, I would hate to be a danger to myself or others...

[trevnhil]

I think yearly driving tests would be a bit over the top, but I would have no problems with that rule if it came about..

[WHL]

I think yearly driving tests would be a bit over the top, but I would have no problems with that rule if it came about..

I dont think a full test would be needed, an examiner would be able to access someone after ten minutes whether they were in full control of the car or not.

[Poppy]

Well I have just driven 1000 miles over the last few days virtually all of that on motorways - quite a shock to the system after driving in Cyprus, certainly today doing the last leg on the M6 in rain,lots of spray and fog so I certainly needed to have my wits about me. I am 68 and certainly today tested my reactions ! I managed fine but have to admit to feeling really tired after the journey today and certainly might consider rail travel foe that sort of journey in the future.

[jeba]

I was driving back from Larnaca airport this year, when suddenly an elderly driver came bombing towards me driving on the wrong side of the motor way...the old boy didn't relise he was on the wrong side,

I´ve done the same a few times becauseI was used to driving on the right. And funnily, when I was back in Germany I once caught myself driving on the left as I had got used to it. I only realised it when there was oncoming traffic. And that was when I was still in my fifties. You can´t be sure it was due to old age. Anyway, I´m glad my German license will only expire when I do.

[JimX]

Jeba hello.

At least your driving on the correct side here in CY Most near misses and the one crash were involved in was with a young and lovely lady bank manager, she drove off waste ground onto a main road into the side of my car, and many near misses with young drivers on phones. etc.

If you live in Cy with a Cyprus driving licence then you have to have a medical when you get to 70 to renew it, had mine earlier this year, the next is in three years, then two, and then every year, so the OAPs are well captured, it is a shame most Cypriot drivers do not take a decent road test, the driving standards here are dire, I have always thought this in my time here, you take your life into someone else hands most days!

As a friend who has unfortunately passed away said, expect the unexpected, and it is usually a younger driver not the older drivers..

[Tuppence]

If you live in Cy with a Cyprus driving licence then you have to have a medical when you get to 70 to renew it, had mine earlier this year, the next is in three years, then two, and then every year

This has been mentioned twice & I would be interested to know where this information came from. My 73 birthday is this month & I have been to the Citizen's Service Centre, with my form duly signed by Dr Mala, to renew my driving licence. The temporary cover paper licence I have been given states that my licence will next expire in December 2020. Maths was never a strong point at school but to me that's in 3 years time not 2! Am I missing something!