How old is too old to Drive ??

[Andrew Dwyer]

Once you reach the age of 70, your licence expires, but this doesn't automatically mean you have to stop driving. You just need to renew your driving licence if you want to continue. You'll need to renew it every 3 years after that. Renewal is free of charge.
 
There is no test involved.

Yes, sorry I worded that badly.

Here’s a quote.


“When completing the form to renew your licence you will be asked to declare any medical conditions you have on the form and confirm that you meet the eyesight standards for driving. You must answer these questions honestly. It is a serious offence not to declare a condition or disability that might affect your driving; you can be fined up to £1,000, and if you are involved in a crash, you may be prosecuted.

It is a very good idea to have a medical check before renewing your licence when you reach 70 years of age, and again each time your licence is renewed.”

Kinda laughable really !!

[GreasyFingers]

7 minutes ago, david555 said:

But I think you would be feared  driving with many farang 3 weeks party millionaires on their visit ….????

I am fearful on Thai roads when I am driving. Drove to Khon Kaen last weekend through Nam Nao national park. You had to be there to see the utter stupidity of the Thai drivers.

[Headgame]

My uncle Ernest drove until he was 101. Had to renew his license annually.

No issues with his driving all those years.
He voluntarily gave up his license on his birthday and was dead 6 months later.
Keep on driving.

[Henryford]

I don't drive after dark in Pattaya now, too dangerous and too many Police scams. I guess by 75 i will give it up.

[david555]

3 minutes ago, Henryford said:

I don't drive after dark in Pattaya now, too dangerous and too many Police scams. I guess by 75 i will give it up.

don't put any number on it , just your own feeling  when you feel not secure anymore 

[Tom89]

2 hours ago, kenk24 said:

It is usually based on vision and reflexes... and that should be a mandatory test after one reaches 75 or so... 

Those should be mandatory tests from day 1. Just because you're 16 doesn't guarantee you have good reflexes.

[GalaxyMan]

48 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

My mother was still driving at 91 and she had to do the driving test every year. Not really a good driver but did not have any accidents even though she drove 5 days a week, She was smart enough to only drive on local roads she knew well. I had no fear being a passenger with her.

I remember reading once that most accidents (USSA) happen within 6 blocks of home. People are so familiar with the roads near to their home that they become careless.

[Stevemercer]

The question I ask myself in Thailand is:

 

'How young is too young to drive?'

[GalaxyMan]

27 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

I am fearful on Thai roads when I am driving. Drove to Khon Kaen last weekend through Nam Nao national park. You had to be there to see the utter stupidity of the Thai drivers.

I just assume that they're always going to do the wrong thing. Sadly, I'm usually right. ????

[Thingamabob]

I've been driven by people of 80 approx who drive well, and people of 40 approx who drive very badly indeed.

[GreasyFingers]

24 minutes ago, GalaxyMan said:

I remember reading once that most accidents (USSA) happen within 6 blocks of home. People are so familiar with the roads near to their home that they become careless.

Do you work for an insurance company?

[Gandtee]

I'm pushing 86 and still driving. Occasionally to and from Bangkok. I consider I'm still a capable driver and my son who is a truck driver in Switzerland complimented me on my driving. When I'm too old to drive I'll let you know. You won't have to read about it in the papers. 

It reminds me of 'I want to die peacefully like my grandfather. Not like those screaming in the car passenger seats.'????

[DJ54]

My Mom 76 started two years ago. She was afraid to drive from the market to home in the rain she sat and waited two hours. She live 

2 miles from market. 

 

A year ago she asked my sister to sell her truck she was afraid to drive... 

 

guess its each individual on when they should stop driving... 

[HHTel]

3 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

In the Uk your license expires at 70 yrs old and and a new test is taken and repeated every 3 years.

 

Quote

There is no requirement to take a test but applicants must declare that they are fit and healthy to drive and their eyesight meets the minimum requirements for driving via self assessment. A medical examination is only required if those over 70 want to drive a medium-sized goods vehicle or minibus.Jan 23, 2019

I recommend watching '100 year old driving school', a TV series in the UK.  I believe all episodes are available on youtube.

[Skallywag]

I think the better question is why drive when you are older? I am retired so no need to drive. I drove for 46 years in the USA, had a "love affair with the automobile" as my father used to say.  No need to drive now.  No job to get to, no kids to pick up at school, no road trips with the family.

My evening entertainment usually involves me drinking alcohol, so would never want to.

I cannot count the times I have seen older expats getting on their scooters after 3-4+ beers at a bar.  

 

Bus to Sattahip if a hospital visit needed.  Bus to Rayong area to visit friends.  Walking and Bicycling  

Can walk home, take a songthaew,  or pay a motorbike taxi if needed.

 

Also there are no cars I would really want to drive here in LOS.  Have driven many of the best cars ever made in the USA, as well as Triumphs, a Sunbeam Tiger V-8, and Jaguars from the UK. 

The thrill is gone when it comes to driving.  

Am not rich so have to choose/budget the money I have to spend monthly....

So, spend my money on wine, women, and song.  Much more satisfying and exciting than driving for me     

 

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, GalaxyMan said:

I remember reading once that most accidents (USSA) happen within 6 blocks of home. People are so familiar with the roads near to their home that they become careless.

That is because those roads are the ones most travelled by far.. the roads 100 miles away, you rarely get to... it is just probability theory

[Skallywag]

1 hour ago, GalaxyMan said:

I remember reading once that most accidents (USSA) happen within 6 blocks of home.

Is "USSA" the United Socialist State of America?  

[fxe1200]

1 hour ago, Skallywag said:

Is "USSA" the United Socialist State of America?  

...coming up when Bernie is POTUS.

[Lacessit]

6 hours ago, fxe1200 said:

This is nothing to laugh about. Try it yourself: https://www.humanbenchmark.com/tests/reactiontime

Kimi Raikkonen was timed with 141ms, I only could achieve 245ms. Find your score and maybe you should rip your drivers license apart.

My reaction time is 400 ms. Been driving 60 years, scooter and car. Never had an accident on the scooter, only car accidents are people rear-ending me at traffic lights or T-boning me when I have right of way. Have never collided front-on with anyone.

Ever heard of defensive driving? There is more to driving than reaction times. Threat assessment, leaving enough space for braking.

I daresay I'm a lot safer driver than people with faster reaction times, because fast reactions can also breed over-confidence in one's abilities.

I'll cut up my scooter licence when I can no longer balance the scooter with my GF on pillion.

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

My reaction time is 400 ms. Been driving 60 years, scooter and car. Never had an accident on the scooter, only car accidents are people rear-ending me at traffic lights or T-boning me when I have right of way. Have never collided front-on with anyone.

Ever heard of defensive driving? There is more to driving than reaction times. Threat assessment, leaving enough space for braking.

I daresay I'm a lot safer driver than people with faster reaction times, because fast reactions can also breed over-confidence in one's abilities.

I'll cut up my scooter licence when I can no longer balance the scooter with my GF on pillion.

[Ever heard of defensive driving?]

 

Yep... its breaking earlier and not so suddenly that you get rear ended, or even going through on 'Amber' if the car behind is too close and its not safe to stop...  its anticipation of someone pulling out into you at a junction...  

 

Apologies, couldn't resist !!!... a typical response such as this is to be expected when we someone posts an 'I'm a lot better (safer) than everyone else' type of comment.

 

 

Edited October 25, 2019 by richard_smith237

[Tigger01]

Worryingly im 61 so fall into this category, currently i think im perfectly safe to drive!! I workout in the gym twice a week, go for a cycle ride around 50k every week, run at least once a week etc etc, i ride motorcross and have a BMW S1000RR and a Honda fireblade which regularly exceed 150mph on a track of course!!! I must really need to take a test of some sort?? Point taken however, some 60 year olds are like 80 but some are like 40, depends on the individual, driving competance doesn't necessarily just be affected by age, some 20 year olds are <deleted> drivers, some 80 year olds are good drivers.

This is a subject fairly close to my heart... 
 
Last summer my father (81 at the time) and I had a disagreement regarding his driving. He was driving too fast, I was not pleased about it (my son was also in the car, I wasn't driving as I'd had two beers with dinner).
 
Since, whenever we go out, I don't drink and I drive us all. I have also made it an absolute rule that my son will never go in a car with his grandfather driving. I advised my sisters to do the same. 
 
I love my father, I respect him, but I see the deterioration in his physical movement and abilities, while he is perfectly mobile, his reactions are slow his perception is 'off' (every time I go home there are more hedge scratches on the car from the narrow country lanes). 
 
The issue is this: Independence is greatly valued, but should it come at the cost of risk to other road users. 
 
--------
 
The back story to this is my sister following a weaving car. She thought they were drunk, she pulled in called the Police. She got back on the road and a few mins later pulled up behind a traffic jam (country roads), there had been an accident. 
It turns out the vehicle she had reported have been involved in a head on collision. It wasn't a drunk it was a guy in 88 years old. His wife died in the collision. Those in the other car survived (a Volvo XC-90), a little girl is now scared from the rear curtain airbag cutting her forehead. 
 
Even more tragic is that the 88 year old had lived a life of service to his community, highly respected as the Mayor of Worcester he will no be remembered as the guy who killed his wife in a car crash. 
 
--------
 
How old is too old to drive?? I don't believe there should be an age limit, but I do believe there should be more regular testing of someones medical ability to drive. i.e. after 60 years old every 3 years, after 75 years old ever year. 
 
In Thailand the issue is more complex as there are so many road users not fit to drive anyway !!!
 
 
So, how old is too old...its a tricky one...  the only option is to drive around in a Volvo XC-90 then when some old chappy does misjudge the road you are far more likely to survive with minimal injury. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sent from my COL-L29 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[richard_smith237]

20 minutes ago, Tigger01 said:

Worryingly im 61 so fall into this category, currently i think im perfectly safe to drive!! I workout in the gym twice a week, go for a cycle ride around 50k every week, run at least once a week etc etc, i ride motorcross and have a BMW S1000RR and a Honda fireblade which regularly exceed 150mph on a track of course!!! I must really need to take a test of some sort?? Point taken however, some 60 year olds are like 80 but some are like 40, depends on the individual, driving competance doesn't necessarily just be affected by age, some 20 year olds are <deleted> drivers, some 80 year olds are good drivers.

 

 

21 minutes ago, Tigger01 said:

driving competance doesn't necessarily just be affected by age

 

Absolutely agree...  hence my comment referred to 'medical ability to drive'... and thus as a start point a medical every 3 years and then every 1 year after 75 years. 

 

Personally, I believe everyone, no matter the age, should have to undergo a full medical every year to be able to drive (a friend just died of a heart attack at 41 years old, fit and healthy, she was a spin instructor (cycling) - dropped dead. A yearly medical may have recognised an underlying heart condition - for the safety of others its fortunate she was not driving).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lumply]

I am nearly 71 yo and have only recently paused flying aeroplanes due to an occlusion in my right eye but am now now receiving treatment and am on the mend. In the meantime I still competently drive my Porsche without glasses but In not so spirited a fashion now!

I hope to be able to self determine when the time comes.......

[Lacessit]

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

[Ever heard of defensive driving?]

 

Yep... its breaking earlier and not so suddenly that you get rear ended, or even going through on 'Amber' if the car behind is too close and its not safe to stop...  its anticipation of someone pulling out into you at a junction...  

 

Apologies, couldn't resist !!!... a typical response such as this is to be expected when we someone posts an 'I'm a lot better (safer) than everyone else' type of comment.

 

 

All I can do with your post is stand on my driving record. My last rear-ender was about 15 years ago, when I was stopped at a red traffic light in Oz and a drunk ploughed into me. Couldn't move because there was a car in front of me.

The point I am making is there is more to competent, safe driving than an arbitrary reaction time limit.

If I can use a golfing analogy, it's like saying the guy who can hit the ball furthest is the best golfer. There are other factors such as focus, course management, the ability to adapt to conditions, and the short game, which make a good golfer.

I'm just wondering where the 300 ms reaction time came from. Is that official, or is it a figure plucked out of the air?

[fredob43]

20 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

In the Uk your license expires at 70 yrs old and and a new test is taken and repeated every 3 years.

I haven't read all the post so please except if this has been stated before.

 

Sorry but your incorrect.

At the age of 70 years in the UK you have to renew your licence every 3 years. Done by post free of charge. After 10 years you will have to include a new photo of yourself. There isn't any rule about taking a test or getting doctors note. Just thought I would make that clear.

 

My late mother drove till she was 94 years old only gave up as she had neck problems. She never had a doctors note or had to take any test. Same rules apply now.

[GalaxyMan]

20 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Do you work for an insurance company?

That's a laugh. ????

I remember my parents pushing me to 'find a profession' when I was younger. They arranged an interview with a friend who was a big-wig in some insurance company. I went to the interview and took a test to determine if I had what it takes to become an insurance agent. I was told -- I'll never forget this -- that nobody had ever scored lower on the test in all his experience.

I consider the whole insurance thing to be sort of like a casino, and I don't gamble.

[Andrew Dwyer]

I haven't read all the post so please except if this has been stated before.
 
Sorry but your incorrect.
At the age of 70 years in the UK you have to renew your licence every 3 years. Done by post free of charge. After 10 years you will have to include a new photo of yourself. There isn't any rule about taking a test or getting doctors note. Just thought I would make that clear.
 
My late mother drove till she was 94 years old only gave up as she had neck problems. She never had a doctors note or had to take any test. Same rules apply now.

Yes, I already admitted my error, read post #31 .

[Just Weird]

On 10/25/2019 at 3:36 PM, Andrew Dwyer said:

In the Uk your license expires at 70 yrs old and and a new test is taken and repeated every 3 years.

That is not correct, licences have to be renewed but a driving test is not required to be taken at each renewal.

[Just Weird]

On 10/25/2019 at 2:01 PM, fxe1200 said:

Check your reaction time. If it is below 300ms you can drive, if it is above 300ms do not drive or ride a motorcycle.

Where is that rule stated?

[Just Weird]

On 10/25/2019 at 4:01 PM, fxe1200 said:

This is nothing to laugh about. Try it yourself: https://www.humanbenchmark.com/tests/reactiontime

Kimi Raikkonen was timed with 141ms, I only could achieve 245ms. Find your score and maybe you should rip your drivers license apart.

Maybe Kimi had a faster computer than you and I, as the link points out, it makes a difference.