News
Motorists could have to retake driving test at 65 under new proposals
A petition is calling for people to have to retake their driving test at 65
New proposals would mean drivers have to retake their test when they turn 65 if they want their driving licence to remain valid.
If the new plans go ahead, older drivers will have to take another test to show they can drive safely if they want to continue using the roads past the age of 65.
The plans are part of a petition outlined on the Parliament website, according to The Express.
Campaigner Deniss Fomins, who started the petition, said: “I would like the Government to require drivers to retake their driving at 65, if they want their driving licence to remain valid.
“I travel a lot, and often see older drivers who I believe should not be driving. Some misuse turn signals, others appear to have sight issues.”
“Reactions also worsen with age,” he added.
The petition will have to reach 10,000 signatures to receive a reply and if it reaches 100,000 signatures, the government will have to consider it for debate in Parliament.
Currently, you don’t have to take another driving test as you get older, though when you’re nearly 70 your driving licence does run out.
But all you have to do in this instance is ask the DVLA to renew it. The DVLA will then send you a letter with a D46P form to fill in about three months before your 70th birthday. You can fill this in and send it back or use the online service.
The minimum legal age to be able to drive in the UK is 17, but you don’t have to stop driving at any certain age.
Steve Gooding from the RAC Foundation doesn’t think we should make drivers retake their driving test once they reach any certain age, but he does think motorists should have their eyes checked.
Mr Gooding said: “One thing that would allow all drivers not just those at an arbitrary old age to help judge their fitness to drive would be compulsory eye tests when licences are renewed.”
President of the AA Edmund King has previously highlighted the huge backlog in driving tests, which would make re-examining older drivers difficult.
Mr King said in a previous statement: “At the moment, it is very difficult for new drivers. In many areas, there’s something like a six-month delay, there’s a 500,000 [test] backlog.
“If you then add in checks for older drivers, it really would set the calendar back by years.”
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