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If you’re a young person about to take your driving test, you may sometimes wonder if you will still be able to carry on driving when you get older. There is, at present, no upper age limit that applies to driving; which means that currently, you can continue to drive, providing you are fit to do so. As people get older, they may develop conditions that make it unsafe for them to drive. Once you reach the age of seventy then you will have to renew your driving licence and fill out a form declaring any medical condition you may have. When you renew your licence, you are also required to state whether or not you fulfil the eyesight requirements for drivers.
Your Eyesight
When you take your first driving lesson, one of the things an instructor should ask is to demonstrate whether you can read a vehicle’s licence plate from a distance of 25 yards, or the metric equivalent. Once you reach the age of 70 then the same rule applies, although it is now 20 metres for most vehicles, and 20.5 metres for older style licence plates – about the combined length of five cars.
You may wear contact lenses or glasses, as many drivers do irrespective of age, but you do need to have a good field of vision – so, if your peripheral vision has deteriorated then you may have problems. According to the Highway Code, (Rule 92) if you wear contact lenses or glasses then you must wear them for driving. If your eyesight does not meet the requirements and you continue to drive, not only are you driving illegally, but also it could affect your insurance if you have an accident while driving without them.
Fit to Drive?
Most older drivers, when asked if they are fit to drive, would say yes. If you suffer from any eye condition other than long/short sightedness then this needs to be reported to the DVLA (DVA in Northern Ireland). You may also need to report any medical condition that you have, even if you do think that you’re fit to drive; it is a good idea to check this out properly with your GP.
Medication
If your doctor has given you medication for either a temporary or permanent condition, then you should check with that doctor whether you are safe to drive while taking that particular medication. Some medicines can affect your vision or may make you drowsy, which obviously makes them incompatible with driving. If you are unsure about this, then again, you should ask your doctor.
If you have a medical condition that is recent and are unsure about whether you’re fit to drive, you should ask the DVLA to send you a confidential form. Once you have filled in the form, you may also be required to sign a confidential document that allows the relevant authority to contact your doctor for more information.
Most people carry on driving long after they are 70; just make sure that you follow these simple guidelines, and it shouldn’t be a problem.
