70+driving test for cars

horse7

is there a new rule for over 70ts that are driving on a full lisence,that states they must resit their test.ive looked on the rsa and citizen advise sites ,but cant find any new info.

**Timbuk2**

No none yet (although I think there should be a theory test at each renewal, regardless of age), but over 70s need to get a certification of fitness to drive from their GP/doctor before applying for a licence, which is valid for up to 3 years (If I remember correctly, it's probably shorter than 3 years).

Mc Love

whats the likelihood of them being pulled over? My Granuncle is close to 90 and is still driving - poorly though!!

He is gonna get someone killed!

VolvoMan

I think a rule like that would be quite harsh. Most seventy year-olds these days are still quite fit both physically and mentally and would put many young people to shame.

Also bear in mind that most of them will have never sat a test before, due to the way the system was back then.

joolsveer

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

No none yet (although I think there should be), but over 70s need to get a certification of fitness to drive from their GP/doctor before applying for a licence, which is valid for up to 3 years (If I remember correctly, it's probably shorter than 3 years).

Why pick on us old folk?

dr.fuzzenstein

It depends, my uncle is well into his70's and I'd get into a car with him any day, while I'd rather jump of a cliff than get into a car with my dad (same age).
Once you're in your 70's you could be fit as a fiddle, or completely unfit for the road.
I'm actually in favour of some kind of periodic retest for EVERYONE, not just the old, because there's a lot of morons and lunatics out there.

slimjimmc

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

No none yet (although I think there should be), but over 70s need to get a certification of fitness to drive from their GP/doctor before applying for a licence, which is valid for up to 3 years (If I remember correctly, it's probably shorter than 3 years).

Yeah, once you reach 70 you can only get a 3yr or 1 yr licence or none at all depending on your medical status.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/full_driving_licence.html

**Timbuk2**

VolvoMan wrote: »

I think a rule like that would be quite harsh. Most seventy year-olds these days are still quite fit both physically and mentally and would put many young people to shame.

Also bear in mind that most of them will have never sat a test before, due to the way the system was back then.

joolsveer wrote: »

Why pick on us old folk?

I meant a theory test! Makes sense. Rules change. If the 70yo is mentally and physically fit to drive, they'll pass the medical and theory test without difficulty.

Then again, maybe this is coming out of frustration from each time I've had to join a motorway behind an older person (e.g. an 85 year old in a Micra) going at around 55km/h. Not that they all do this (or I certainly hope they don't )

But not just over 70yos - everyone should be made do a theory test for their licence renewal. 10 years is a long time, you could easily forget things in that time, or rules could change, etc.

corktina

theres also the point that a 70 year old today and one in 20 years time will be quite different animals , the latter having gained a lot more road skills than the former.

Cuddlesworth

Girlfriends Granddad didn't know where he was half the time or who the people around him were but retained his license. It was only after he sideswiped a car at 40kph because he forgot he was driving, was it taken away. The doctors can only go by what information they are given on the day for the cert. There should be some sort of theory test to rule out the above.

Joe 90

VolvoMan wrote: »

I think a rule like that would be quite harsh. Most seventy year-olds these days are still quite fit both physically and mentally and would put many young people to shame.

Also bear in mind that most of them will have never sat a test before, due to the way the system was back then.

Yes, I'm 61 and I reckon that when I did the test in 1967 it had only been introduced a year or two beforehand, so safe bet that no one over 65 would have done it, unless they started to drive later in life.

AugustusMinimus

Joe 90 wrote: »

Yes, I'm 61 and I reckon that when I did the test in 1967 it had only been introduced a year or two beforehand, so safe bet that no one over 65 would have done it, unless they started to drive later in life.

That's correct.

The vast majority of over 65's have never sat a driving test.

This includes Gay Byrne, who lobbied for stricter rules on learners' not to be driving on their own.

CiniO

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

It depends, my uncle is well into his70's and I'd get into a car with him any day, while I'd rather jump of a cliff than get into a car with my dad (same age).

Do you mean something like that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x65Ga5hCPgk

Or that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCfmqO197A

Raskolnikov

Looking at the standard of driving these days, there should be a re-sit for every person, regardless of age, every 5 years to ensure competency.

dr.fuzzenstein

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Looking at the standard of driving these days, there should be a re-sit for every person, regardless of age, every 5 years to ensure competency.

Agree so much had to quote it.

BostonB

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Looking at the standard of driving these days, there should be a re-sit for every person, regardless of age, every 5 years to ensure competency.

+1 Lunatics of all ages out there.

keithclancy

BostonB wrote: »

+1 Lunatics of all ages out there.

Disagree, the majority of people on the road are fine its a small percentage that are bad.

If this was not the case there would be hundreds of deaths every day.

BostonB

keithclancy wrote: »

Disagree, the majority of people on the road are fine its a small percentage that are bad.

If this was not the case there would be hundreds of deaths every day.

Er? I didn't say anything about the numbers.