this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
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148
Drivers over 70 to undergo eye tests every three years under plans to improve road safety | LBC (www.lbc.co.uk)
submitted 6 days ago by blackn1ght@feddit.uk to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
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[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I dunno... I've seen some absolutely shit bags that looked over 60 driving around. Failing to stop at pedestrian crossings, running lights, merging without indicating, turning into roads whilst a pedestrian is crossing half way. Basically everything that would get you a major on your test.

I don't think age grants you better driving capability. And the lack of visual capacity probably makes you worse.

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 4 points 6 days ago (3 children)

The accident statistics (I can help find them if you want) are that accident risk goes down steadily until (IIRC) mid 60s, and only increases above the risk of 20-30 year olds at a very advanced age in your 80s.

There are two things going on:

  1. Young people, especially young men are on average significantly more reckless than older people. This is a direct way in which age "grants you better driving capability" - you just become less of an idiot.
  2. Young people on average have less driving experience than older people. That's not a direct result of age but it does correlate.

These are different processes but they can both be targeted for safety measures.

[–] CentipedeFarrier@piefed.social 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Also a nice dose of survivorship bias! All those old people survived the gauntlet of driving for decades (even in much less safe vehicles) without losing life or license, so safer drivers are more represented.

[–] PheasantPlucker@feddit.uk 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Old people drive less as well

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 5 points 6 days ago

But the statistics are per (billion) miles traveled, not per person.