About four years ago as I was in the second half of my seventies I decided that I would like to have my driving assessed without having to take a test. I suppose if I am honest my main thought was that if I was ever in an accident the first accusation would be that the doddery old man should not be on the road. From time to time, I was also carrying my grandchildren. I always believed that I was a safe driver, even if not the best.
There were on line a couple of organisations that did provide such assessments in the UK. I decided to apply to the Institute of Advanced Motorists. There evaluation was about one hour of driving with a qualified driver, followed by a verbal report, and subsequently a written one. They were primarily concerned with safety, but their form has 12 grades on which one is assessed e.g., starting off procedures. The grades are 1:Excellent, 2:Competent, 3: Needs Development, 4:Safety Concern. Your own car is used, and the drive is local, but under the direction of the assessor. A number plate has to be read from a distance before starting. The latest cost is £69.
I achieved five 1’s and seven 2’s, and was assessed as Competent. Some of the faults mentioned were letting the steering wheel slide through my hands, crossing my hands on the wheel, and although my hazard identification was excellent, my response and action to them sometimes was too early. The assessor stated that he felt perfectly safe in the car during the drive. I admit to all the faults identified!
A couple of weeks ago I repeated the course. In the intervening period I had worked on correcting my faults. My assessor was responsible for the car and motor bike driving of the Fire Brigade in my County. The day was a Saturday, over a Bank Holiday weekend, after the schools had broken up for Half-Term. The roads were very busy, and one junction was particularly tricky. I had a good drive, and was assessed as Excellent. There were still errors commented on! I signalled at roundabouts, but once I did not cancel the signal early enough, or indicate I was coming off. When approaching junctions, I must check the rear-view mirror before starting to break. This only happened on occasions. I shall repeat the exercise in about two years.
I know women who can drive, but do not drive because of a confidence issue on the road. Many men like me will have picked up driving habits over the years that are not good practice. Primarily though as we get older there will be a decline in our faculties, and reaction responses that in some areas we may not notice. This course is good way to show that you are not a menace on the road. TerryW.
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Congratulations and well done Terry. I'm also in the second half of my 70's (78) and I keep myself in mental trim by holding a PCV licence and driving buses for a national bus operator. I put in a 30 hour week ( in term time only) driving College services for teenagers, 20 somethings and young adults. Sometimes if my employer is short of drivers I might put in an 11 hour overtime shift on a tourist route.
When I was in my late 20's I did a similar driving assessment as you. I passed, but can't remember the comments. I currently drive the largest double decker built in Britain, 109 passenger capacity and about 43 ft. long.
After nearly 30 years driving buses I can say I would not pass the assessment you undertook. Too many bad habits. Too long driving large heavy vehicles. Most pleasing is the fact, that despite my AF diagnosis in 2010, highly controlled these days, I still pass my annual medical for the renewal of my PCV.
John.Thank you for the kind comments, but I am not in the same league as bus and HGV drivers. I have enough problems getting my Auris around tight corners, let alone reversing! TerryW
Yes, congratulations to Terry and those that can pass that test, but like yourself, way to many "bad" habits picked up over the years for me to pass. And I'm sure like yourself, I consider myself a very safe driver with reflexes well intact and road awareness ingrained from years both driving and in motorsports.
I got into a lot of trouble on a forum once for saying that a red light never killed anyone, but that many have died going through a green light, while the other driver ran the red. My point was that primary focus has always to be on the threats (traffic) and not on the light, even if it may cost you a red light ticket here and there. Not sure why that wasn't well received
Well done. I fear too many people are far to arrogant to consider such action.
I did the old BSM High Performance course about 1977 when their chief instructor drove for my race team and part of the deal was I took the course. That course was far more complex and included anti hijack and escape driving . skid pan work etc. 18 hours very hard work!
When I wife bought her road rocket Fiesta ST I organised a ROSPA instructor and after some tuition she passed her ROSPA test. I always refrained, not wanting to risk gaining higher marks ( I know which side my bread is buttered) but last year with her badge needing renewal she opted out and encouraged me to take the date she had been offered. She now hates me since I passed with gold standard but am never complacent . Every drive needs to be gold and every signal and manoeuvre duely IPSGA'd. Regular POWDERY checks on car and self etc. Of course I dare not get caught speeding as my instructor runs the local speed awareness courses. Oh think of the shame!
My late mom was sent an automatic renewal of her driver's license in her 90's, even though she hadn't driven a car for 20 years. Back in the day, especially in retirement communities, you would see these big cars seemingly driving by themselves, albeit very slowly. A closer inspection would reveal a small, hunched over senior at the wheel.
Well done! Our police force/council does this for anyone over 65 - I did the course a few years ago. It comprised a morning in the class room going over new parts of the highway code any any problems people thought they were having as regarding traffic and correct procedures at new roundabouts in the area etc. and then an afternoon with a driving instructor in a car - 3 people and one instructor and you took it in turns to drive. I was awarded a certificate - I can't remember the faults but I did OK. The concerns were that living in a rural community where services are being ever moved further and further away - such as banks and surgeries that many older women who had previously relied on their husbands to drive them and those husbands were now ill, in hospital or had left them widows were now not confident to take to the road again - even though they could drive they hadn't and now wouldn't because they had probably not driven more than a couple of miles as their husbands had done all the driving to town and surgery etc. It was good I enjoyed it and I did learn some things. Some driving instructors offer refresher lessons if you are in the position of not having driven much for years and then find you have to but lack confidence and up to date knowledge.
Hi Desanthony. You are correct! The car is an important link to 'civilisation' today, and many of us need to keep driving -safely- for as long as possible. TerryW
We do actually have drivers licences here in South Africa, but lack of one does not prohibit people from driving! - owning one is just revenue for the government! People just do their own thing on the road, especially the minibus taxis that are the main means of transport for the bulk of the population - they just stop and pick up and unload passengers anywhere., completely ignore traffic lights and stop streets. What you do need to be good at is defensive driving !!!!
Yes I know, the same in the Middle East. I was on loan service there for 4 years back in the early 90's. Incredibly dangerous and little or no type of road rescue or emergency services there.
My brother lives in South Africa so often visit and know what it is like. We actually got on one of those mini buses on our first visit to South Africa. We were waiting at a bus stop to go into central Jo'burg to meet my brother from work at lunchtime as we were going away to Sabi for a long weekend and he had taken the car into work that morning - usually we dropped him off and took the car and collected him in the evenings. Anyway, as I was saying we were at the bus stop and got talking to the nice lady standing next to us and the mini bus came along and she just said come along get on with us it's cheaper and you'll get to see more. She wasn't wrong but the driving did leave a little to be desired and we saw lots more of the Jo'burg suburbs than we ever would have. Lots of stops at various fabulous houses in the suburbs. It dropped us off near the station in a market area which was fantastic! Such an experience! Got to say though my brother's driving is bad and he got a UK licence. Its not old age or lack of confidence with him. it's reading reports whilst driving or dictating letters whilst driving on the long roads on his way to meetings - or actually reading through all the material he needs for the meeting - he always leaves things until the last minute - including overtaking and stopping at lights, junctions etc! My dear old Mum once said to him Brian I can read the name of the company that made that number plate on the lorry in front - please drop back and overtake when you have clear vision of the road ahead or drop back and stay behind! My Mum was in the back seat too by the way
Yes, I passed my driving test in the UK, but had to swap it for a SA one - what you learn in the UK has nothing at all to do with South African driving - you can forget any rules pertaining to roundabouts 😀
Not in the same league, but 2 years ago I wanted to change from a manual car to automatic so I went out with a driving instructor to find out what I could do with it, eg how do I drop a gear to overtake.At the end of the hour he told me I was a good driver so I was pleased with that. I'm 76
My husband is an ex HG driver here and abroad. I don't need a driving assesment as I've got him lol!Seriously though I've kept my driving up, doing long distance and unfamiliar roads otherwise you can get complacent only driving locally. I would be interested in an assesment though
My employer, a vet, decided to treat us all to a driving assessment as part of our CPD. He had ulterior motives as his new young vets were fond of writing off company cars on their way to "an emergency". I still employ one of the tips given and that was to look for the V at the end of your line of vision in order to be prepared for oncoming problems. The boss said that sticking to the speed limit was the most useful, and restful, thing to come out of the assessment for him. He no longer had to keep an eye out for cameras and traffic cops 🤣
Hi Leaney. In my first assessment the assessor kept asking me what the speed limit was on the road that we were driving. I got flustered once and instead of saying 70 m.p.h, I blurted out that it was unlimited!🤐TerryW
Here is a question few know the answer to which I was able to impress the examainer with. "What does that green flash on the left of the license plates on some cars mean?" and the second part of the question is "Why is it important to know." Answers this evening.
Very well done, I think this is an excellent thing to do. I am 72 and I am well aware that I am not the driver that I was when I was younger and I would have failed on some of the finer points you were picked up on. I also find myself driving less and less, I have a travel pass and can go anywhere I want with ease, not always possible in London!
When I started taking very strong opiates for spinal; problems I was concerned that if I were to have an accident, they might try to blame it on poor reactions time due to the opiates so I did the assessment with the Institute for advanced motorists. I think everyone over a certain age or on medication that could affect reactions should take one. It doesn't ban you from driving but it does give you advice on the bad habits everyone develops and makes you more aware. My husband refuses point blank to take an assessment and a neighbour who had a severe stroke and can no longer even run his car into his little driveway in a straight line shouldn't be on the road at all. The only faults I had were signalling too often when there was no traffic around ( how can that be bad?) and not paying enough attention to roadside signs warning of things like hospital or school ahead. Well it was local roads that I knew well.
Think I would rather be in a car with a driver who anticipates and takes action to early than one who doesn't take any action. Well done,from a 70+ something female driver.
Hi Trikerjack. Identifying hazards early I would concur. Usually early action has no consequences, and gives other drivers an advanced warning of intended actions. Once I wanted to turn into a garage and signalled early, and only realised afterwards that there was a road just before it with a car waiting to exit. I had to cancel my signal so that the driver understand that I was not turning down his road. On probably rare occasions, too early an action could have consequences. Two things I do concentrate on for a reduced stress drive is leaving a gap from the car in front, and keeping an eye🙄 on the person behind in the mirror! TerryW.
Also had an IAM assessment a few years back — it was absolutely tipping it down! — and got full marks for safe driving, observation, being kind to cyclists, &c. No bad habits as such, but I was given a few suggestions, mostly around scanning a bit more and smoother acceleration.
I'll definitely do it again in a few years, as I am aware that my reactions can only get slower...
I also passed the motorbike IAM test about 12 zillion years ago, haha!
we’ll done Terry. I would be very pleased with a result like that. I bet you’re the driver I see on my way to work and back everyday because the rest of them are dangerous idiots most days. Cutting corners,running red lights, speeding, looking down at their phones, whilst waiting at traffic lights.!!
Hi Jetcat. You have really stressed me mentioning work! I have been retired over 20 years🥳😎My pet hates are drivers right up my car's rear, and people who cut off corners at side road junctions. Lane changers on motorways are worth the odd comment! TerryW
But in 2019 I had a Ischaemic Stroke and after waiting the 4 weels saw a locum who said I don't know how your head is!
I had a further wait of 5 weeks for the actual physical test. I drove to 4 x intersections left, right and straight ahead intersection. Some on main driving straightaheadbut some turning in front of me. Stopped traffic ahead turning. It began to rain. No lights. I asked instructor and Testing guy to wind down the window. It was 4 times I went through it from different ways.
Then the new roundabout x twice.
Look in the mirror regularly to know your surroundings.
My daughter's learned to drive four years ago. I got refresher points off them, that I'd totally forgotten over the years. One of them used to say out loud what she had to do at each intersection or roundabout....very handy for reminding me. Both passed first go. The talk out loud lady thought she'd never pass her test. Lots of mirror work required.
Many young drivers do not allow braking distances, leave braking to the last minute drive far too fast and have immortality complexes. Only last week my ninety years old father in law who still digs his own allotment, cooks for his family and drives around London was hit sideways on by a much younger driver overshooting a red light. Quick evasive action by my experienced driver father in law avoided what could have been a fatality.
Please do not include all of us over 70’s into your category.
I still work, attend the gym regularly, swim and drive long distance.
Hi Laptop. I do not think that I stated over 70's as a group were bad drivers. Like your father I swim,but walk rather than the gym. I will only be 81 next month! Our physical and mental faculties do reduce as we get older. I intend to 'fight the good fight' as long as possible, keeping myself as sharp as I can for as long as I can. I found having my skills verified was beneficial. TerryW
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