We all slow down as we get older. Reactions, eyesight and general mental acuity can become less sharp, we can become less physically able, health conditions can crop up, and so on. All of which affects an older driver’s ability to drive safely.
While it’s perfectly possible to remain a safe driver well into your golden years, there are a number of challenges you might encounter and warning signs that your driving ability is starting to deteriorate. There are legal ramifications to consider, as well.
In this article we’re going to cover what those challenges, warning signs and legal issues are. We present them in no particular order, and it’s by no means an exhaustive list. But we hit the major points that most people are likely to come up against at some point.
Keep your hand in
The best way of maintaining your ability to drive is to keep driving. Even if you don’t actually need to drive that often, take every opportunity you can and find other excuses to do so. Take in a wide variety of roads and don’t shy away from challenging situations such as motorways and adverse weather so they don’t become intimidating. Also make sure you take opportunities to do manoeuvres such as reversing and parking.
Renew your driving licence
You must renew your driving licence once you reach 70, then every subsequent three years. Make sure you apply for the renewal within 90 days of your 70th birthday, or the licence photocard’s expiry date. To be eligible for a new licence, you must meet the minimum eyesight requirements and have no medical exclusions against you – we’ll cover those in more detail later.
You can apply online at the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) website, or at a Post Office using the D46P application form. There are circumstances under which a renewal can be held up, leaving you without a licence photocard for some time after the old card expires. If you have applied for a new one, you can continue driving if you meet the conditions of your old card, have the support of your doctor and aren’t excluded or disqualified from driving for any reason.
Make sure your eyesight is good enough
You must be able to read a car number plate from a distance of 20 metres (with glasses/contact lenses if needed) for your eyesight to meet the legal minimum standard for driving. Your GP or optician can carry out an eye test to determine if you meet that standard. Make sure you have another test when you’re advised to by your optician or GP.
There are a number of eye conditions that must be reported to the DVLA if you develop them. They include glaucoma, double vision and night blindness – you can see the full list and report having these conditions here.
Having any of these conditions doesn’t necessarily mean your licence will be revoked, however you may need confirmation from your doctor that your eyesight meets the legal standard. Your licence will be revoked if you drop below that standard.
Report any medical conditions and seek clearance
There is a long list of medical conditions that must be reported to the DVLA because they may affect your ability to drive in some way. You can find a list of conditions and whether or not you must report them here.
Having a reportable condition doesn’t exclude you from driving. However, for many conditions the DVLA requires a doctor’s letter stating that you are fit to drive. If you have such a condition, the DVLA may revoke your licence until you have medical clearance, leaving you unable to drive. If you are proactive in obtaining clearance, you should be able to avoid that situation.
There are certain conditions that exclude you from driving entirely including dementia, Alzheimer’s, strokes and various heart conditions. While it can be hard to accept that your condition means you can no longer drive, it is in your interests to do so. Not only will you keep yourself and other road users safe, failing to report a medical condition when you must can result in a £1,000 fine.
Dealing with modern car technology
The features in many modern cars are controlled by touchscreen, rather than buttons and dials. Car manufacturers assume that users are familiar with and comfortable using a smartphone and can therefore get their head around the touchscreen system. But, if you’re not familiar with smartphones, they can be difficult, even intimidating to use.
If you’re thinking about buying a car that has a touchscreen control system, don’t be afraid to take as much time as you need at the dealer working out how to use it. The sales staff can help if needed. Use the system on the test drive, as well – they can be even trickier on the move. If you’re not comfortable with it, consider another car.
Keep your reactions sharp
Driving is all about making split-second decisions and reacting to rapidly developing situations. Our ability to do that deteriorates as we get older and thus affects our ability to drive safely. However, there are all sorts of things you can do to keep your reactions and general mental acuity as sharp as possible. Things like reading and playing board games, and reaction testing apps that are available for your phone. And, of course, simply driving regularly will help keep you in tune.
Watch your speed
There’s a tendency to drive slower as we get older. That’s because we need longer to process the information we’re taking in, take longer to make decisions and the physical forces of driving at high speed can become more taxing. However, there is a balance to be struck.
Driving at, say, 35 to 40mph along a road on which it’s safe and legal to do 60mph can cause a hazard for following drivers. They may misjudge your speed and have to brake heavily as they approach, they may also be tempted to attempt a dangerous overtake.
Now, it’s not your responsibility if following drivers act dangerously, however there are two things to bear in mind. First, learner drivers are taught to use as much of the speed limit as they safely can at all times and consistently driving below the speed limit during a test could cause them to fail. Second, the police can and do prosecute drivers they believe to be going too slowly on a particular road – it comes under driving without due care and attention.
Invest in some driver training
It can be difficult to accept that our driving ability deteriorates as we get older, but the signs may well be there. For instance, driving significantly below the speed limit, missing hazards, taking longer to make decisions or getting confused at junctions, even unwittingly doing damage to your car.
Getting some training from an organisation such the Institute of Advanced Motorists can help you recognise the weaknesses in your driving abilities and teach you how to improve on them. You can also learn some coping mechanisms for situations you find difficult to deal with. If nothing else, the instructor will give you a fair, compassionate assessment of your driving ability.
Recognise when it’s time to stop driving
Many people stay sharp enough that they never have to stop driving – hopefully you’ll be among them. But a lot do, for a wide variety of reasons such as a medical condition, becoming less physically and mentally able, or perhaps the roads become too intimidating. If you feel you should stop, you can voluntarily surrender your driving licence to the DVLA, at which point your right to drive is revoked. You can find out how to surrender your licence here.
Sadly, many people don’t recognise they need to stop driving and are resistant to the idea. If that happens, the person’s family, doctor or the police may intervene to have their licence revoked – a much more difficult, distressing process to go through.
It’s important to trust the judgement of those around you. As we get older, we start to loose our powers of personal insight and, though we may think our driving is still perfectly fine, others may see it differently. If you’re being told by family, friends or medical professionals that it’s time to stop driving, remember that their primary concern is for your safety.
All in all, it’s much better to surrender your driving licence than have it forcible removed. Doing so also makes it easier to get it back if you change your mind or your condition improves.
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