Should there be an upper age limit for driving?

[BensGrandad]

But the facts are that older drivers are far less likely to have accidents which involve injury or a fatality. I posted the link to the Dept of Transport & RAC figures earlier in the thread.

For Sept 2013 we are now in 2016. The numbers of drivers has probably increased by at least 10% and a lot of them will be 3 years older and possibly less able for whatever reason

 

[Thunder Bolt]

For Sept 2013 we are now in 2016.

Do a search and prove it's drastically altered. I can't be bothered.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Is it still the case that anyone who had their 1st licence before 1934 has never had to take a driving test ?

So in theory there could be 100 year olds driving legally who have never passed the test ?

Although I imagine getting insurance is tricky.

 

[BensGrandad]

Do a search and prove it's drastically altered. I can't be bothered.

I think that it is common knowledge that the numbers have increased and we are living longer and to greater ages. so the two must go together.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I think that it is common knowledge that the numbers have increased and we are living longer and to greater ages. so the two must go together.

Which numbers have increased? Fatalities of young drivers, accidents, older drivers?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Is it still the case that anyone who had their 1st licence before 1934 has never had to take a driving test ?

So in theory there could be 100 year olds driving legally who have never passed the test ?

Although I imagine getting insurance is tricky.

That link I posted said there were 100 drivers over 100. Of course I have to point out that was in 2013.

 

[BensGrandad]

Which numbers have increased? Fatalities of young drivers, accidents, older drivers?

Number of drivers most of which are 3 years older and would now fall into the older bracket.

 

[hitony]

Ive seen more people under sixty driving whilst using there mobiles for starters.....

And thats a FACT!!!

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Number of drivers most of which are 3 years older and would now fall into the older bracket.

What difference does being 3 years older make?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

That link I posted said there were 100 drivers over 100. Of course I have to point out that was in 2013.

I reckon there must be a few still on the roads who legally haven't ever needed to take a driving test.

 

[GT49er]

For Sept 2013 we are now in 2016. The numbers of drivers has probably increased by at least 10% and a lot of them will be 3 years older and possibly less able for whatever reason

So 80 year old (for example) drivers now are more dangerous than 80 year old drivers were three years ago?

 

[GT49er]

Number of drivers most of which are 3 years older and would now fall into the older bracket.

And they're more dangerous than the drivers that were in that older bracket before?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I think that it is common knowledge that the numbers have increased and we are living longer and to greater ages. so the two must go together.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-main-results-2015

These are the latest figures published in June 2016. Accidents, fatalities and casualties are all down.

 

[Fungus]

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-main-results-2015

These are the latest figures published in June 2016. Accidents, fatalities and casualties are all down.

...and the total number of miles driven is 1.1% above the pre-recession peak in 2007. So, not massive.

And most of the increase is in commercial vehicles, not old boys.

 

[sir albion]

Loads of pops driving articulated lorries and you need to have a medical from 45 years old....I would've thought this is the case for old car drivers.

 

[BensGrandad]

So 80 year old (for example) drivers now are more dangerous than 80 year old drivers were three years ago?

And they're more dangerous than the drivers that were in that older bracket befo scenariore?

You are missing the point 80 year olds in 2013 are now 83 so reactions may have slowed somewhat and 78 year old would now be 81 and the same scenario obviously some will have died but generally we have more oldies now as the years go by.

 

[Garage_Doors]

My suggestion would be 80th birthday who really needs to drive after that age unless living in the middle of nowhere.

They need to drive more so at that age as they can't walk as easily as they did in earlier life.

 

[BensGrandad]

They need to drive more so at that age as they can't walk as easily as they did in earlier life.

Bus passes issued by council and raedily available in most places. We use them more than we do the car.

 

[Boroseagull]

That was in September 2013
How much has traffic increased since then?

When in my pub a couple of customer sold up and left to join their son in Spain but returned within 9 months as he was 80 and thus too old for a resident to drive in Spain, so he told me. He did say that if he went to Spain as a visitor and returned to Uk every 3 months even for 24 hours he could drive there as a visitor. Not sure if that is true but that is why they said they returned to UK.

That statement is not true. When you reach 70 in Spain your licence expires and you must take a full medical before a new one is issued. No such thing as self certification here, the medical concerns eyesight, hearing , co-ordination, blood pressure, reaction times. Providing you can past the medical you can keep driving.

 

[GT49er]

You are missing the point 80 year olds in 2013 are now 83 so reactions may have slowed somewhat and 78 year old would now be 81 and the same scenario obviously some will have died but generally we have more oldies now as the years go by.

Yes, but the oldies now are no more dangerous than the oldies were then.

The comparison you should be making, and don't seem to be getting, is comparing 80 year old drivers in 2016 with 80 year old drivers in 2013 - that's two different groups of people, not the same group three years older. For some reason you're trying to compare 83 year olds with 80 year olds, which is irrelevant.