Motorists aged 70 and over in poor health may be restricted to driving in daylight hours only. They may also be ordered to stay near to home, with their cars fitted with trackers to ensure compliance.
Under proposals discussed between the DVLA and Driving Mobility – a network of test centres – over 70s who could otherwise lose their licence because of ill health could be eligible for ‘graduated driving licences’. These would restrict them to a radius of 20 or 30 miles from home and ban them from night-time driving.
Driving licences expire when a driver turns 70, and those wanting to stay on the roads must inform the DVLA of medical conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, diabetes (if treated with insulin) and any condition that affects both eyes or the total loss of sight in one eye. Reviews take place every three years.
According to a Sunday Times report, there has been an increase in elderly drivers on the roads in the last 25 years, with the proportion of drivers over 70 doubling, from a third to two thirds. However, the number of deaths on the road in this age group leapt from 95 in 2010 to 145 last year, while fatalities for every other age group fell sharply or stayed stable.
Proposal could lead to loneliness
Edmund King, president of the AA, criticised the possible plan, warning it could lead to loneliness, and called on the medical profession to report drivers to the DVLA: “They are there to save lives and what better way to save lives than to prevent someone who you know is capable of killing through their own medical condition,” he said.
However, Edward Trewhella, chief executive of Driving Mobility, defended the proposals, saying many elderly motorists stick to their own local area already. “They go to the shop, the doctor’s surgery, go and see a granddaughter down the road, probably on minor roads with which they are familiar.
“This process would regularise that, and make it legal for them to do so as long as they didn’t take a trip outside of an area or outside of a time restriction. That would mean that they were driving safely within their familiar environment.”
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That is pure b******* and will resort in a class action lawsuit by drivers aged 70 plus.I know attorneys who would love this case!
Too funny, they kids under 21 should have a tracking device. Add to that people with drug and alcohol arrests and then where would it all stop? Be careful what you wish for!
I totally agree.
How am Isupposed to visit family members in other states. I guess I’ll have to move.
This could likely kill more seniors thru loneness not unlike the Nursing Home disaster due to Covid. It if anything is discriminatory as well. I vote and those who go after the elderly should remain aware of that fact. The AARP State Chapter should be go after this on as well. I am a current Life Member of the AARP and will air this widely.
Free a country? Trackers? No! Will you want to know how many times I Lee next? None of your business. Age is not a clear indicator of nothing but she, not abilitys. Drs may be a better determiner than anyone but still not sure he should. Other crazy drivers on road,
Fine , also the people less than 70 years old , that use frequently marijuana, pain killers , anxiety drugs …..should be taking also in consideration ., for the new proposal . …..
I have watched drivers run red lights, stop signs, weave in and out of traffic. I have seen them on their phones talking or texting. I have been tailgated because I was doing the speed limit or a little over but not fast enough for them. I have seen drivers in the far left lane suddenly cross lanes and turn right. And none of them were over 50 years old. I have read about car accidents that result in deaths and most are under 70 years old.
An intelligent reply! I’m 68, driven well over a million miles & still race cars on the race track. I wonder if Tiff Needell agrees with another idiotic government rule?
I think this article was originally printed in a n English newspaper and not the US. So everyone be certain of your news sources.
Age discrimination – disgusting, ask insurers about accidents caused by the elderly compared to young drivers on phones, on drugs etc and just plain couldn’t give a toss about others, they are also likely not to be insured and having unsafe vehicles, how about we ban them or give them conditions.
This is a ridiculous suggestion by Driving Mobility. My father drove safely until he was 93. The only accident he was involved in was on his Mobility Scooter at 94, which nearly killed him. What is even more stupid from Edward Trewhella is the notion of restricting the distance as not many people live near relatives anymore, of imposing a curfew, when the roads are emptier and safer in the evenings.