What age can people drive in UK before being too old?

Question

I was wondering how old someone has to be before they need to stop driving as they are considered too old, people are now living longer which means the amount of old dears on the road is increasing, my town it seems is full of them, I think they are dangerous drivers, not only could they die at the wheel but they either drive around 2mph or just charge straight through at roundabouts without even looking, and they always have really nice cars! I mean these people passed their tests when it was horse and carts, surely it should be a legal requirement that they re-sit at some point or at least do a written test to show that they understand new road laws etc! What do you think?

Answer 1

70 - it's on your lisense as - date of expire. I'm not sure if you have to retake the test but you have to have some sort of medical especially regarding the eyes.........Too old? That's a state of mind. I'm 62 going on twenty and although I don't drive, I ride a 1000cc sports bike and consider myself safe. A lot of people don't really know how to use a roundabout so it's not just oldies that charge through. People ARE living longer but have you thought why? Better living conditions, better food, better medicals. So not everyone is the same. There are certain tests which can be taken at random - like the IAM Advanced test or just an assessed drive out - usually by a police Class One driver/examiner. If you like, you can apply to R.O.S.P.A. who do the same sort of thing but to stay in R.O.S.P.A. you have to take the test every three years. It isn't law by any stretch of the imagination and not many drivers would volunteer for this.

Answer 2

When you reach 70, you have to convinse your GP every 3 years that you are still fit to drive.  And if he/she agrees then a form of authorisation will be sent to the DVLA.

Answer 3

Les, you are talking a load of twaddle. I suspect you are looking around for older drivers in order that you may harrass them in some way. I live in North Wales and the majority of problems on the road are being caused by younger drivers, many of them women, who drive too fast and have little control over their cars. I drive within urban limits and invariably have a " younger person" driving close to the back of my car, intimidating me. In car parks I find that most older people drive with restraint whilst younger drivers drive without care and attention. I am retired, an advanced motorist and drive an Audi TT with great assurance. I agree that at 70 years of age a person should be medically tested to ensure that he/she is capable of driving safely but I believe that if that person is capable of driving then there should be no age limit.

The dangerous drivers are drunk or under the influence of drugs and I would suggest that it is the young drivers who drive round at excessive speed that are the true offenders.

Answer 4

There is no upper age limit for driving in the UK, nor is there any requirement to be retested. At the age of 70 and every 3 years thereafter they have to reapply for a licence and on that application they have to sign a statement that they are medicaly fit to drive and that they can still comply with the eyesight requirement.

Answer 5

i think 80

Answer 6

I'm not sure about the answers saying 70.  Both my in-laws are in their 70s and they certainly haven't re-taken their driving tests!  I agree with you, they should do though!

Edit:  I just checked the DVLA website.  There is NO requirement for over 70s to retake their test.  HOWEVER, the DVLA only issue licences for periods of three years at a time over this age.  The applicant will only have to retake their test if there are proven medical reasons for them to do so.

Answer 7

There is no upper age limit on a UK driving, from 70 years onwards a medical certificate is required on licence renewal, provided you are considered fit you can drive to the day you die.

My mother is 85 years old and is still safe and confident driver, there are a lot of driver of all ages who should not be driving and age shouldn't be the deciding factor, may be the answer is that every driver has to pass a test to renew their licence, possibly we could follow the Spanish example where you have to pass a basic medical test every five years, an eye and hearing test followed by a test on your hand-eye co-ordination, you have to pass all three before you are issued with a licence, in the UK that would be every ten years up to seventy then shorter periods after that, it's a way of getting all the rubbish drivers of all ages of the roads.

Answer 8

There is no age limit, providing you are healthy enough to drive.

Strange how people take about the older people resitting their test, recently I went on a day experience driving sports cars and I won the best driver of the day----- I'm 69 and was the oldest there.

Answer 9

They have not issued driver licence to anybody over 135.  Really, check it if you dont believe me!

I was watching an American special on senior drivers.  My favourite was 100 years old, and he had just passed a re-test with flying colours!  He was sharp as a tack, and still worked a part-time Watkins sales route.

Answer 10

I think that it is 70.......................

Answer 11

Hi 70 re take test did you see where the guy in his fiesta wrote off two porches last week

Answer 12

Your driving licence is valid until your 70th birthday, after that you have to apply to the DVLA to get it extended.

While it might be true that the older you get, the slower your reflexes, it doesn't necessarily mean that all old people are bad drivers.

Statistically, most traffic accidents are actually caused by younger drivers, but the media tends to give more publicity to accidents with old people as the stories are more sensational and generates more money for them.

Any driver with a valid licence, is insured/taxed and driving a road worthy car has every right to be on the road, whether their being there is to our liking or not.

Answer 13

You can drive up to 70 before having to retake your test.

Answer 14

You have  to renew your licence at 70 for cars and motorcycles. For LGVs and PCVs you have to renew at 45

Answer 15

at 70 they have to re-take the test

Answer 16

Theres no limit on the age you can drive a car.  You do however have to retake your test at 70 but can continue to drive until you're physically unable or banned due to being unsafe.