As per title, should we all be forced to re take a driving test at a certain age to ensure we still have the basic skills?
Over to you...

 

I would fail. Too many "bad" habits. Bad habits by driving test standards, at least. But they do teach some pointless crap, like using the handbrake when administering three-point turns.

Just a driver competency test would be fine, I think. No need to be as thorough as the full driving test. I could pass that.

 

Since I live near the pensioner capital of the UK I would say YES! A competency test at the very least with a car compatibility test too (to ensure they can see over the blasted dashboard of their cars).

Seeing pensioners driving over the middle of the white lines, driving at 30 in a 60 and stopping randomly in the middle of the road with no warning if par for the course around here

 

Absolutley, it would address some real bad habits for drivers who took their test 5,10,15yrs ago!

Did you know as part of the drivers license you legally agree to adhere to the latest highway code?! How many people on the roads can confidently meet that criteria?!

I agree it shouldn't be a re-test more a competancy check.

 

As with all skills people need to keep themselves profficient to a minimum standard. We all have 'bad' habits with our driving but most of us have a minimum standard. A test at say 70 would not be a bad idea. I would like to see not only a written test but a test which would incorporate everday manouvres such as parallel parking, able to negotiate filtering, driving at 70mph on a motorway. All of which seems lacking in this group of people although not exclusively. Getting out of a car in a parking space without banging their door on the car next to theirs. A driving test at night, perferably in the rain. It's ok looking at and seeing a number plate at 60 yards in broad daylight that doesn't mean you have acceptable eyesight for driving in all weathers.

I would also like to see a minimum physical test not just the eyesight/how many limbs, epilepsy etc, but whereby these people have to sit in a car and be able to look over their shoulders (or at least be able to tell what is going on behind) and a reaction test would be good too.

 

Having seen some of the elderly drivers in my area, i'd say a competency test and an eye test are essential!

As has been suggested, a re-test is perhaps a little harsh but it should have the power to remove a licence if the person being tested is a danger to others (and themselves).

I'd happily take a test every 10 years just for the peace of mind that i'm not a danger to others (cue the abuse )

 

Watch Traffic cops this week ?.. yeah.. that is where I live. Marvellous.

 

Well, if I don't take and pass a Cisco exam every 3 years (2 for CCIE), then I lose ALL of those qualifications.

The problem you have with the driving test is that it is hardly adequate for today's needs.

However, the retest should be every 5 years minimum.

Unfortunately, this would present a service capacity problem.

So, the solution is to fit a camera into the vehicle that records 45 mins to one hour of footage, over a month of driving, at random (or psuedo random with a calculated algorithm that could be used as a security feature for anti-tamper).

It would specifically include any sudden g changes.

Tamperproof seals would prevent forgeries.

Obviously a charge would be incurred, and I think £100-125 is a reasonable figure.

 

YES!

 

that you buggered then.