Retesting every ten years is not practical. Instead of taking just one test (hopefully) you would have to take another 6 tests (at least) by the time you are 80. You would need seven times as many examiners. Where would you get them from?
I worked with our local community 'dial-a-ride' bus service to come up with a route that would go around all of the remote parishes (not big enough to call them villages!) near our small town, once a week, to bring people into town for 2 hours' shopping. We got funding for a pilot scheme, thinking it would be really popular with the more elderly folk living in these areas grateful to be able to get out of the house. It was very little used. We had one or two younger people each time who tended to use it because their other halves were using the car that day. The demographic we envisaged were either still isolating, still using their cars or just weren't interested.
I see fewer little old ladies peering over the top of their steering wheels driving slowly into or out of town these days though.
I feel a lot more uncomfortable when the person behind me is getting too close, moving in and out obviously itching to overtake (partly it's the anticipation that they'll try when the gap isn't big enough and force me to brake when they pull back in too soon) than I do with someone tootling along steadily but a bit too close, regardless of age. Most older people that I know (including me at 55) know their reactions aren't quite as fast as they used to be and drive accordingly. Many young people seem to drive as if they think they're immortal.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
They do think they are immortal, that's the problem. Younger people are generally not so fearful as older folk who've got more experience and been in/seen bad accidents.
Unfortunately I'm now one of the little old ladies peering over the wheel. I'd much rather not be and my car seat is as high as it will go, plus a cushion but what else can I do? I don't drive slow though and enjoy putting my foot down when conditions and speed limits allow. As Pansyface says you do not lose your desire for independence the older you get or your love of driving.
Despite being 70, Iâd be happy to retake a test at set intervals to ensure Iâm still safe on the roads. I very much hope that Iâll recognise when Iâve reached the stage when itâs time to give up, but I do hear occasional concerns from relatives of drivers who arenât as safe as they should be, regardless of age, but arenât at all receptive to the idea that theyâre not as good as they think they are. ( sorry, very long sentence)
I was very fortunate while working for the NHS, to be given the opportunity of a driving skills lesson with an ambulance driving instructor. Quite an eye opener at the time, but I learned some techniques  I incorporated into my routine driving.
I'm fortunate enough to go into the supermarket and say: " I'm not paying that! " what about the poor bggggrs who go into the supermarket and say:Â " I can't afford that"? For various reasons, several generations have been brought up in ready made / processed food. Nobody taught them or their parents how to make good from scratch. It's not a recent thing. My mother was old school. Girls cooked, boys didn't. One of my brothers, too proud to ask for help, lived on fried rice (from the takeaway)sandwiches for a week.đ Whatever your views on Jamie Oliver - at least he tried to right the wrong.
IMHO compulsory re testing for everyone, every 10 years. Not " an assessment " or self declaration, sit the same driving test as new drives. The driving test now is unrecognisable from the test most of us too. Let's face it. WE'RE all such good drivers that we'd have nothing to fear
People wanting to take their test for the first time are currently having to wait nearly a year. Just imagine what retesting everybody would do to those waiting times.
I also think allowing someone to cross the road,any old place apart from a crossing is ridiculous. We've had an awful lot of cars, just jamb their brakes on to let people cross the road. Luckily, neither of us drive right up people's bums. Don't even get me started on young kids some around 10,riding electric scooters on the pavements. A friend who lives in Suffolk,posted on FB about them, she got such abuse.she should "shut the f*** up",get a life,etc etc. Her old man has various cancers, stroke,heart attack,had to walk with a Zimmer frame around their village. Well,he's now refused to go for walks. He's now got a mobility scooter,but it's only a little lightweight fold up job,so he's still vulnerable.
I don't understand why somebody would refuse to go for a walk because it's permissible to cross the road anywhere. They could continue to use crossings, assuming they are available.
I do agree that crossing should be used when available, and that many people don't. I was unfortunate enough to be out and about during the school run recently. I was slowing down (fortunately) for a light controlled crossing ahead - the lights were still green, when an idiot father ran out straight in front of me dragging his daughter aged about 5 or 6. The crossing was about 20 yards further down the road.
I'm curious why anyone should resent re taking their driving test. What to they have to worry about IF they're safe to be behind the wheel. How many UNSAFE drivers are we happy to have on the roads? Just because we don't have enough testers now, is no reason why we shouldn't start training more. I'd LOVE to see public transport improved. There are plenty of younger people who rely on it to get to school, college work etc who can't afford driving lessons, never mind running a car. Maybe we should just give everyone in rural areas with poor public transport a driving license on their 17th birthday so they can be independent ?
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If they're not good enough to pass, 17 or 70, they shouldn't be on the roads.Â
It was very little used. We had one or two younger people each time who tended to use it because their other halves were using the car that day. The demographic we envisaged were either still isolating, still using their cars or just weren't interested.
I see fewer little old ladies peering over the top of their steering wheels driving slowly into or out of town these days though.
Unfortunately I'm now one of the little old ladies peering over the wheel. I'd much rather not be and my car seat is as high as it will go, plus a cushion but what else can I do? I don't drive slow though and enjoy putting my foot down when conditions and speed limits allow. As Pansyface says you do not lose your desire for independence the older you get or your love of driving.
I was very fortunate while working for the NHS, to be given the opportunity of a driving skills lesson with an ambulance driving instructor. Quite an eye opener at the time, but I learned some techniques  I incorporated into my routine driving.
For various reasons, several generations have been brought up in ready made / processed food. Nobody taught them or their parents how to make good from scratch.
It's not a recent thing. My mother was old school. Girls cooked, boys didn't. One of my brothers, too proud to ask for help, lived on fried rice (from the takeaway)sandwiches for a week.đ
Whatever your views on Jamie Oliver - at least he tried to right the wrong.
People wanting to take their test for the first time are currently having to wait nearly a year. Just imagine what retesting everybody would do to those waiting times.
What to they have to worry about IF they're safe to be behind the wheel.Â
How many UNSAFE drivers are we happy to have on the roads?
Just because we don't have enough testers now, is no reason why we shouldn't start training more.
I'd LOVE to see public transport improved.Â
There are plenty of younger people who rely on it to get to school, college work etc who can't afford driving lessons, never mind running a car.
Maybe we should just give everyone in rural areas with poor public transport a driving license on their 17th birthday so they can be independent ?