Over 70 off the road

IMO 70 is a bit too much on the lowside but could definitely agree for  those aged 85+

The Government are, apparently, thinking of increasing the age of when you need to change your licence from 70 to 75 which in my view would be a good thing.  I think if we were such a liability our insurance costs would be sky high but the reverse seems to be the case and I think that is the acid test. There is lots of actual evidence out there that other age groups are poorer drivers than many oldies!!!

David

I think you're right about that, sadly, more accidents happen with younger drivers. 

The insurance companies know what they are doing and what to charge for a particular age group based on the data they have from privious years not only on accident rates but the amount of damage and cost involved. As DK says premiums are lower for older drivers, of course that could mean lower payout costs due to lower milage or fewer older drivers past a certain age?

My Dad is coming up 80 and has found that his insurance is now rising due to his age. 

Perhaps I am biased as I will be 70 in a couple of weeks time but is 70 really considered old these days? People will be working to almost that age soon so if they can hold a job down they should be OK as drivers. I appreciate that is a very generalised point because a bad younger driver will no doubt turn into a bad older driver!!! I do wonder if those younger drivers that complain about us oldies are the ones in my view that drive aggressively and don't understand why us oldies still apply the rules we learnt whilst learning to drive all those years ago?

David

I think 75 years would be a more realistic age to consider. I'm appalled by the driving standard of some young people but, similarly, there are many older people who, I think should hand in their licences.

I hope I'll know and be wise enough to give up when I think I'm unsafe but, I hope, not for a while yet.  

I am 75 next week,Still do a lot of driving but have told my daughter if she sees my driving deteriorating to tell me and I'll pack it in

We were reflecting just the other day about how many parents of friends had gone into serious decline and death shortly after they stopped driving. I can't claim cause and effect, but I do believe that is what  happens.

Personally, the worse drivers are actually the younger set, and I don't mean the late teens/early 20s, and those that drive high powered vehicles, they are very agressive drivers and just plough through narrow roads.  They don't even give way when obstructions are on their side of the road.