Driving In Our Twilight Years ?

[marsh man]

I think we might have covered this subject before or a similar one , anyhow , in our paper this morning one of the reporters were saying that now she have reached the grand ole age of 70 she no longer enjoy driving and try and avoid going on any long distance journeys .

I am now the same , even though most of my shooting land is near by I still need a car to get from A to B and the various appointments I now seem get quite a lot , during the day I am alright but night times I don't like it at all , even some cars that dip the lights look that bright they seem as if they are on beam .

We have to apply for a new licence every three years and they take our word for it when we answer the questions but will the time come where we will need some sort of testing both on how we drive and the medication we take , I am 77 next month and got a clean licence but how good is my driving , eyesight and reactions ? , I can say it's alright but would a test say it is alright ?  

[sitsinhedges]

I'm a long way from being affected but any restrictions need to be vigorously resisted. 

[DUNKS]

It creeps up on you and I would be all for a short test, I am sure it would not take long for a trained tester to decide if you are safe or not and an eyesight test should be compulsory. My neighbour drove for years with very poor eyesight, scared to go for an eye test as he knew the optician would insist he gave up his licence until he got his cataracts done. Which he now has.

I am 88 by the way, my eyes are very near perfect and my sons feel safe when in the car.

[Westley]

I am fully behind a competence test, including an eyesight test, each time my licence comes up for renewal. I went on one of these assessments, organised by the local Council. I'm glad to say I passed with flying colours. The assessment lasted for around 2 hours, I used my own car, and it included motorway,  rural and town driving. In fact I quite enjoyed it. My only 2 faults were failing to indicate when turning left at traffic lights, (I was the only vehicle at the junction  ? There was nobody to indicate to  !) and failing to indicate at a roundabout, again I was the only vehicle there, I presume the assessor had to find something. I even got a Certificate   😊  Judging by some of the examples of driving I witness daily, it is NOT just the elderly that need assessing.  Oh, and I'm a couple of years older than you.

2 minutes ago, sitsinhedges said:

I'm a long way from being affected but any restrictions need to be vigorously resisted. 

WHY  ?

[old man]

29 minutes ago, marsh man said:

I think we might have covered this subject before or a similar one , anyhow , in our paper this morning one of the reporters were saying that now she have reached the grand ole age of 70 she no longer enjoy driving and try and avoid going on any long distance journeys .

I am now the same , even though most of my shooting land is near by I still need a car to get from A to B and the various appointments I now seem get quite a lot , during the day I am alright but night times I don't like it at all , even some cars that dip the lights look that bright they seem as if they are on beam .

We have to apply for a new licence every three years and they take our word for it when we answer the questions but will the time come where we will need some sort of testing both on how we drive and the medication we take , I am 77 next month and got a clean licence but how good is my driving , eyesight and reactions ? , I can say it's alright but would a test say it is alright ?  

Worry not, rumour is that's being worked on already behind the scenes. Get all of us old **** off the road as an easy way to ease congestion?

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, I have to admit am not fond of driving now, But even with a bus pass i still need to get places , my licence is to December 2025 so will have to think if yea or nea , I keep looking at those oldy scooters when the time comes 🤔😄

[old man]

5 minutes ago, Westley said:

I am fully behind a competence test, including an eyesight test, each time my licence comes up for renewal. I went on one of these assessments, organised by the local Council. I'm glad to say I passed with flying colours. The assessment lasted for around 2 hours, I used my own car, and it included motorway,  rural and town driving. In fact I quite enjoyed it. My only 2 faults were failing to indicate when turning left at traffic lights, (I was the only vehicle at the junction  ? There was nobody to indicate to  !) and failing to indicate at a roundabout, again I was the only vehicle there, I presume the assessor had to find something. I even got a Certificate   😊  Judging by some of the examples of driving I witness daily, it is NOT just the elderly that need assessing.  Oh, and I'm a couple of years older than you.

WHY  ?

Why not? An eyesight test would be an easy one.

Let's face it, most of the restrictions bought in have nil effect?

[marsh man]

I would find life totally different without a car but that might be because at the moment I have got a road worthy car and there is no law or restrictions to say I can't drive it , but I am sure the time will come when we will be tested one way or the other , they say we are all living longer but is medication keeping us alive longer and is it safe to drive on a body full of pills and medicine that we don't need to disclose if we don't want to   

[Westley]

I know of two guys both in their eighties, and their driving is appalling.  Middle lane hogger, no indicators  (mind you, it is a BMW he drives) harsh acceleration and braking. I never realised I could get whiplash without being in a collision   🙄  Their forward vision is NIL. Both of their cars have grazes to the bumpers. That is just 2, imagine how many are out there and driving.  I enjoy the weekly supermarket trip, I have endless entertainment watching people driving in the car park. The worrying factor is........they are going back out onto the roads.

[JohnfromUK]

I am (only) 67, but I have my eyes tested annually including the (very easy) driving test level because my father had glaucoma, so annual eye tests are recommended as it tends to be hereditary.  At present my eyes are fine (when wearing my glasses) and no glaucoma or cataracts.  I (very easily) pass and exceed the legal requirement.

Part of the problem (in my view) is that modern cars have automatic (i.e. self dipping) headlights of various types.  Not all work well.

My previous car (a BMW) had automatic HID headlights that both self dipped and 'steered'.  They worked well.

My present car (Toyota) also has automatic dipping LED headlights.  They are very slow to dip, and IF I use them, I get flashed as they are clearly upsetting other drivers.  I only now use them manually which is annoying to have a system that doesn't work properly.  I have had them checked and they are said (by Toyota main agent) to be working to specification with no faults.  Reading Toyota forums, it seems that none of theirs are very good, and being slow to dip seems a common thread.

You can also now buy (illegal to use on the road) aftermarket LED replacement bulbs which throw a very poor pattern if fitted in headlights designed for another type of bulb/light source.

Edited October 29 by JohnfromUK

[Minky]

I just need a new head.  Now something that surprised me is the vision distance requirement.  (Ability to read a std number plate at 20 mtrs). I thought that if you can't read a number plate at probably 2 to three times that then you have a problem. Recently I noticed an area of text on the computer screen  which didn't appear to be in complete sharp focus.!  I  use low power reading glasses for screenwork but that's all.  I had an eye test in April which involved photography of the retinas which was all OK and my eyes hadn't changed since the previous year..  SO being as one of the lenses had popped out of the frame I made an appointment for an eye test. The result of which is that I have developed a  cataract in the right eye and overall the optic numbers had markedly changed since April.   The optician said that it isn't something that is going to get better and wrote out a prescription for a lens replacement operation. We have private health care, so I  contacted them and had a further appointment and a comprehensive test. The consultant agreed with the previous diagnosis and also said that there was a similar problem with the left eye.  The result is that next Wednesday I'm on slab for both my lenses to be removed and replaced with plastic lenses.  The consultant asked if I had any hobbies and I said rifle shooting.  He asked which hand and did the master eye test (Left handed and left master eye).  Subsequently he is going to fit variable focus lenses with a slight difference with longer distance in the left eye and slightly closer focus in the right.  He said that I wouldn't notice the difference but that the target would be sharper in the left at long range and that screen work would be slightly better in the right.  Because I have opted for the uprated lenses,  it is costing a LOT of money. I have a load of questions but I have to have faith. Everyone that I have spoken to say that  vision is fantastic after the operation.  There is a possibility that the lenses might have to have a lazer polish afterwards.  I had noticed a fall off in vision accuracy on the range and I was contemplating buying a new spotting scope until I looked through someone's new scope and it didn't look any better than the one that I have. I've told the lads at the range that they'd better watch out for when I get new eyes.  Bionic man.

[shaun4860]

I think the hardest thing for elderly people is to give up their driving licence.

A lot see it as their independence.

I had to stop driving for 7 months due to a below the knee amputation and it killed me.

Only being able to go out if I got a lift.

I remember watching one of the traffic police programs where they stopped an elderly man due to the manner of his driving.

Turned out he had his license taken off him for health reasons, he carried on driving as it was only to do his shopping.

They took his car as well because no license meant no insurance but drove him home.

He wasn’t happy and as the officers were leaving he asked how he could get his car back 🤦🏻‍♂️

[Vince Green]

11 hours ago, JohnfromUK said:

 

Part of the problem (in my view) is that modern cars have automatic (i.e. self dipping) headlights of various types. 

My present car (Toyota) also has automatic dipping LED headlights.  They are very slow to dip, and IF I use them, I get flashed as they are clearly upsetting other drivers.  I only now use them manually which is annoying to have a system that doesn't work properly.  I have had them checked and they are said (by Toyota main agent) to be working to specification with no faults.  Reading Toyota forums, it seems that none of theirs are very good, and being slow to dip seems a common thread.

My stepdaughter's car, a new Mazda, is exactly the same. Oncoming cars flash her before her headlight automatically dip. Sometimes more than once.

She is oblivious to it, she says that's how her hesdlights work. They also don't dip when she drives into an area with street lighting. So she basically drives on full headlights nearly all the time because "that's what the dealership told me to do"

Edited October 30 by Vince Green

[ph5172]

One of the guys in the office had the discussion with his mother a few years ago. 
it appeared mainly financial and she now has a taxi booked in every week for her shopping and bingo visits (that was the only time she used her car) and a ‘reserve’ for the ad hoc medical and such visits 

seemed to work for her and the yearly paid up cost was less than her insurance. 
 

I have spoken with people who get one of the bigger mobility scooters and use it just as a car to do the weekly shopping run and visits to friends and the social club and this seems to work for them. 
I see similar on the caravan site where some of the older folk appear to get dropped off by family then use their big mobility scooter 

[Westley]

41 minutes ago, Vince Green said:

My stepdaughter's car, a new Mazda, is exactly the same. Oncoming cars flash her before her headlight automatically dip. Sometimes more than once.

She is oblivious to it, she says that's how her hesdlights work. They also don't dip when she drives into an area with street lighting. So she basically drives on full headlights nearly all the time because "that's what the dealership told me to do"

A friend drove his car around for 2 years, complaining about the 'rubbish' headlights. I pointed out to him that the vehicle was fitted with a manual headlights adjuster, which was under the dashboard to his right. It was on the lowest setting.

[Vince Green]

Where I live in Cornwall a lot of people would be stranded without their cars

OK I know that you shouldn't put yourself in that position but there are other factors at play that are evolving over time

Cuts to the bus services, loss of local shops, building new houses in ridiculous locations on greenfield sites where you have to drive miles to access shops, doctors, schools. Often these new builds are small two bed houses aimed at retired people who are downsizing because they are still too dear for young people to afford. 

Without a car you would have a problem 

[JohnfromUK]

It is difficult; my late father continued to drive up to his death (fortunately not motoring related!), but he was aware of his limitations (mainly slowed reactions and general lack of flexibility of movement to manoeuvre) and stayed within them.  By that I mean that;

• He wouldn't drive at night
• He only drove very locally
• He avoided busy times and places
• He was practised and easily capable of using mirrors for reversing etc.

His doctor was happy for him to keep his license because he was sensible, he was both mentally and physically 'able', and his eyesight was well within the rules.

[marsh man]

Modern day car lights seem to be a major problem , not only for us oldies but for younger folk as well , when I came back home the other night it was only a little after five , it had started to rain so had to use the wipers , people were leaving off work and in a hurry to get home and it was also pitch dark , I was only two miles from home and did get home alright as I knew the road well , but if I had been going any distance then to me it would had been a total nightmare with car lights glaring in front and often from the behind as well , I will now try and avoid night time driving at all cost unless an emergency crop up ,    MM

[Miserableolgit]

I’d like to keep driving as long as possible as we are out in the country and off the public highway in an old farmhouse. The nearest public transport from the village is only a sparse service from the nearest village. The prospect of losing the ability to go somewhere when I want without interminable waits for buses full of potentially germ laden folks (I’m immune compromised) does not fill me with joy.

My vehicle has auto lights including dipping LED headlights. I dislike the auto dipping because as others have said they are slow to react. Same applies to the auto dip rear view mirror. Anyone who used the old floor mount dip switches like me soon got used to dipping as soon as an oncoming vehicle came into view.

[mellors]

Just sent off my renewal for my over 70 s license.

Eye test free. 

Optional d4 medical to retain c1 license all good. 

I can't see a problem getting checked out if your not fit don't drive harsh i know but it will come to all of us eventually. 

Better be safe than sorry. 

I was reading the other day that they are looking at these new types of headlights so many people are complaining about them. 

[wymberley]

13 hours ago, Westley said:

no indicators

Heaven knows what other things I'm guilty of but the above is not one of them. Having spent 6 years driving on the continent mainly in Germany where, never mind turning, but also changing direction without signalling, was an instant on the spot fine should you have failed to indicate your intention, I can honestly say that I now do so as a matter of course. Consequently, the one thing I find really annoying is those folk who can't be bothered to indicate when turning left at either a junction or exiting a roundabout while you've sat there twiddling your thumbs having been forced to give way unnecessarily and for no reason. 

[Vince Green]

16 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said:

It is difficult; my late father continued to drive up to his death (fortunately not motoring related!), but he was aware of his limitations (mainly slowed reactions and general lack of flexibility of movement to manoeuvre) and stayed within them.  By that I mean that;

• He wouldn't drive at night
• He only drove very locally
• He avoided busy times and places
• He was practised and easily capable of using mirrors for reversing etc.

His doctor was happy for him to keep his license because he was sensible, he was both mentally and physically 'able', and his eyesight was well within the rules.

Yes a lot of elderly people naturally restrict their driving and only go as far as local shops, doctors, church etc and possibly one trip out a week. Always on familiar roads.

If they are forced to take unrealistic assessments that includes high speed motorway driving, complex roundabouts that are new to them and like it will just become a means of forcing them off the road. Which may be part of a hidden agenda. Also, who is going to carry out the assessments? There is already a backlog for driving tests because of a shortage of examiners. 

Low emission zones have taken a lot of older cars off the road already. Some are only a few years old. Older people tend to drive older cars, many with incredibly low milage. Can they afford to buy a new car?

Also, why has age related car insurance suddenly sky rocketed for the over 70s? Is this just a coincidence?

[Wilts#Dave]

29 minutes ago, Vince Green said:

Yes a lot of elderly people naturally restrict their driving and only go as far as local shops, doctors, church etc and possibly one trip out a week. Always on familiar roads.

If they are forced to take unrealistic assessments that includes high speed motorway driving, complex roundabouts that are new to them and like it will just become a means of forcing them off the road. Which may be part of a hidden agenda. Also, who is going to carry out the assessments? There is already a backlog for driving tests because of a shortage of examiners. 

Low emission zones have taken a lot of older cars off the road already. Some are only a few years old. Older people tend to drive older cars, many with incredibly low milage. Can they afford to buy a new car?

Also, why has age related car insurance suddenly sky rocketed for the over 70s? Is this just a coincidence?

Agreed, my parents are both in their 70’s, my Dad nearer 80 but drive locally 99% of the time and are well aware of their limitations so to speak. Making them do a test full of roundabouts / motorways etc would be unnecessary and not a good way of ascertaining them being ‘safe’ on the roads. 
Whilst I have witnessed older peoples poor standard of driving on occasion, I also witness equally poor driving from younger folk daily (those who can’t reverse / drive erratically etc etc), yet they managed to scrape through their driving test somehow! 

[JohnfromUK]

13 minutes ago, Wilts#Dave said:

I also witness equally poor driving from younger folk daily (those who can’t reverse / drive erratically etc etc), yet they managed to scrape through their driving test somehow! 

My (almost daily) dog walk takes me up a long narrow single track road, with wide but wet and lumpy grass verges and with only a couple of passing places.  If you meet someone - one of them has to reverse, maybe a reasonable distance.  I see this happening fairly often.  Most f the older folk always seem to be fine reversing (if a little slowly) and using mirrors.  The younger ones, especially the 20 somethings are under NEVER use mirrors, and quite a high proportion struggle to reverse without getting on (and occasionally stuck on) the verge and overall show a very poor level of competence at manoeuvring.  I've no doubt they would have better faster reactions, but in terms of 'handling the vehicle', many are poor.

Edited October 30 by JohnfromUK

[London Best]

I want to keep driving as long as possible because I just do not want to use public transport, ever, anywhere.  As Miseryguts says, it is full of germ ridden people that I do not want to be with.