Islanders aged over 70 who are in poor health could be banned from driving at night and have trackers fitted to their vehicles under new proposals being considered by the Driving & Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Other restrictions being considered under the proposals could include banning elderly drivers with health problems from driving more than 30 miles away from their homes.
The proposal for so-called ‘graduated driving licenses’ comes as the number of drivers older than 70 on the roads has doubled in the last 25 years. A pilot scheme in Hampshire found that 30% of drivers involved have not told the DVLA of their medical conditions despite being legally required to.
Driving licenses automatically expire and must be renewed when motorists reach the age of 70, but despite this 5,525,452 over 70’s are still on the roads in the UK.
Speaking to The Sun, Chief Executive of Driving Mobility said that most elderly drivers stay within their areas. He added:
“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.”
The proposals haven’t been supported all-round, however, with the AA president, Edward King, warning against bringing in restrictions for the elderly. He said:
“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.”
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Have I missed something why Islanders how about those on the mainland are we segregated for another trial it does state Islanders born and bred or as you often do count Islanders as including overners too
Test peoples ability to drive not on their age, I am 88 and still drive, I would be willing to be tested as I was five years ago
My grandad is 88, he lives with my parents that are also his carers, he can’t walk without a frame, can’t undo a tap handle from arthritis, basically can’t care for himself, and he still thinks he’s safe to be on the roads! I’d be devastated if he hurt someone, a family or a child/ baby just because HE thinks he’s safe to be on the road
What a bloody cheek, get the snorting,swilling boy racers off the road should be more of principled priority and the £300,000 fancy car peddlers.
What’s the excuse for daylight hours
Bit early for April fools.
This has all of the hallmarks of a badly thought out knee-jerk policy that ‘someone’ obviously thinks is a good idea!
Yes, there are a fair number of elderly drivers, and 70 is not some magical point at which people become unable to drive, the age range is far greater.
It is down to an individuals abilities as to whether they are safe and legally competent behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. This applies to young as well as old, some youngsters do not have the cumulative experience of driving and can be over confident in their abilities, likewise some elderly are definitely ‘past-it’ when it comes to driving abilities.
I thought we had laws against age discrimination . Outrageous .
This won’t be put into effect under a Tory government. A massive vote loser.
Not April the first yet is it ?
I this stupid rule would be classed as discrimination. So it won’t happen.
At present with the current Government anything is possible
I’d be more than happy to take a test every two years, just so long as it applies to all drivers of any age. Displaying a ” passed permit” in the windscreen would go a long way to making the roads safer and removing the kiddies you see driving like muppets who no way could have legally passed a driving test.
Watch out kiddies, you may get more than you are bargaining for in the future…
The biggest problem motorists are young women, their road position cutting bends and corners, is dreadful, also young men who are similar but faster, dreadful
I don’t agree with this, but if you’re going to ban them at all, I would have thought that rush hour would be the time to do it
That’s ok, any 70yr old just get your day in court. Discrimination full stop!! Then decide what you will spend the money on, maybe a new car!?