MOT's for drivers

[fontana]

Just got back from a lovely spin out.
Bit cooler today, so a bit more enjoyable.
I was riding along a familiar stretch of road, when I got stuck behind a seemingly endless convoy of traffic.
My first thought was cyclists.
Generally them and caravans are the cause of country lane tailbacks around these parts these days, but I was wrong.
As I gently, (and of course safely), worked my way up, I saw that the hold up was a Toyota Yaris, doing about 20mph.
Bear in mind it's a national speed limit road.
When my opportunity came to overtake, I glanced across at the driver who was an elderly lady, with her face almost stuck to the windscreen, eyes squinting.
It was very clear to me that she was struggling to see what was in front of her, hence her low speed.
It got me to thinking, shouldn't people as well as vehicles, have some sort of annual road worthiness test.
The condition of the driver is surely of equal importance to that of the vehicle but yet there is no periodic evaluation of the drivers fitness to be in charge of a vehicle, which seems ludicrous to me.
Surely an eyesight test at least.
Or am I over reacting.

[The Teutonic Tangerine]

We once witnessed an old dear coming round a round about followed by a Plod car with its lights flashing (headlamps and Blue lamps) we then followed this little convoy for two miles before the old dear realised she was the one being required to stop. Observational skills were clearly not high on her list of achievements.

In answer to your question:
Probably; we should have eye test / medical/ reactions test every few years - however - who is to do the tests, who is to administer the results - who will pay? Sounds like a nanny state job creation scheme to me

[Herb]

Drivers over 70 have to renew their licence every 3 years, and declare any medical conditions, but as this process does not involve any kind of eyetest, medical, or even a doctors note, it seems woefully inadequate to me. At the very least, you should have to go to your doctor and have him sign your application.

We have all seen older drivers who are clearly not capable of driving, get behind the wheel. Our old next door neighbour was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in his 60s, and his wife used to pack him off for a drive to get him out from under her feet. We (and other neighbours) stepped in and politely requested she took the keys off him, which to be fair she did. He was below the age where he actually had to re-apply.

I appreciate it must be hard giving up your licence, and the individual is probably the worst judge of their own fitness to drive, so the law and procedures should be strengthened.

[milleplod]

We used to carry out eyesight tests at the roadside quite regularly, particularly if we'd seen ( ) someone who appeared to be 'lacking' in that department. It was usually older drivers - if they failed, we could ask (not require) them to surrender their licence on the spot, and it was surprising how many didn't even argue about it....and a while later we quite often got a call from the family to say 'thank goodnes he/she's been taken off the road'.

These days, I believe there's legislation in place that allows the police to revoke a licence immediately should someone fail an eyesight test. But we're back to the usual problem - there's nobody out there doing the job any more!

Pete

[fontana]

These days, I believe there's legislation in place that allows the police to revoke a licence immediately should someone fail an eyesight test.

Well that's something, but I still think there should be a legal requirement for drivers to undertake an eyesight test

who is to do the tests, who is to administer the results - who will pay? Sounds like a nanny state job creation scheme to me

The driver pays, and the tests are carried out by independent specialist eye centres who would issue a certificate.
A fail means off the road until the problem is rectified.
We don't complain about taking our cars / bikes to independent garages and paying them to certify them as road worthy.
How would this be any different.

[Grip Fast]

We don't complain about taking our cars / bikes to independent garages and paying them to certify them as road worthy.
How would this be any different.

I complain quite a bit

If my bike/car fails an MoT, I stump up the readies and get it fixed, albeit with aforementioned complaining. If some private business, paid by results and working to quotas (me, cynical?), told me "that's the end of the road for you and driving, pal, get the bus home", that would be a very different outcome to "your front wheel needs a new bearing".

I agree with your call for something to be done to remove unsafe drivers from the road. I'm just being nit-picky about it being no different to an MoT.

[Herb]

I think the answer has to be to involve the GP's. The network already exists and often have regular contact with older drivers or people with medical conditions.

When I needed an insurance medical it was done by my GP and charged privately to the insurer. Same when I needed inoculations and medical for work.

I reckon the authorities could relatively easily set up a system, online or otherwise, whereby approval from the drivers GP had to be given, and chargeable via a licence renewal fee to the driver.

[fontana]

I agree with your call for something to be done to remove unsafe drivers from the road. I'm just being nit-picky about it being no different to an MoT.

It's about road worthiness, so is exactly the same as an MOT.
Failing an eyesight test doesn't mean no more driving if it can be corrected.
However if someone's eyesight is that bad that they are a danger to other road users, then yes absolutely they should be taking the bus home.
Surely no one advocates knowingly letting someone with dangerously bad eyesight loose on the roads if powers exist to do something about it.

[Jeff Highland]

We do eyesight tests at the motor registry every time we renew our licence, regardless of age

[kfrogzx7]

I agree that we desperately need a system in place to check elderly drivers for competence and that the GP would be the best place to start.
I think that GP's are already obliged to inform the DVLA if they believe a patient is unfit to hold a licence, but that they seldom do so in practise. In any case that presupposes that they happen to see the unsafe person for an appointment.
I believe GP's are reluctant to take on this role, feeling that it undermines their relationship with their patients and compromises confidentiality.
I think a routine thorough medical examination annually for every driver over 75 would be a good idea.
This would also remove the responsibility from friends and family to broach that very awkward subject with an elderly person who would feel their independence threatened.
I'm currently wrestling with the dilemma of when exactly I have to take my mother's keys away from her, she relies on her car for her entire, very active, social life and would be devastated ( we live in a fairly remote rural location with no public transport whatsoever ).
However , I'm acutely aware that her driving leaves a lot to be desired and before long something will have to happen, but when ?

[fontana]

I agree that we desperately need a system in place to check elderly drivers for competence

Poor eyesight isn't restricted wholly to older people.
Personally, I think that an eyesight test should be conducted three years after the driving test, and annually from then.
I don't think GP's need to be involved, and they are obliged to report medical conditions that may affect driving anyway.
These tests could be carried out by approved opticians, just like we have our cars and bikes MOT'd by approved independent MOT centres.
I maintain, the physical competence of the driver is of equal importance to that of the vehicle.
What's the point of having a strict MOT to make sure a car is roadworthy, when the person who's going to drive it away can't see further than the end of the bonnet.

[SP250]

Been having my eyes tested annually since I was about 40.
Cost me a fortune in glasses every one or two years as my eyes change all the time.
Free eye tests over 60 (maybe the only upside).