Drivers over the age of 70 who have not renewed their driving licence have been issued a stark warning that they are not "legally allowed to drive". Age UK has highlighted that the DVLA is expected to send out a D46P application form 90 days prior to your 70th birthday.
The charity has advised that forgetting to renew the licence means you're not legally permitted to be behind the wheel. They've warned: "Don't forget to apply for any extra categories of vehicle covered on your old licence if you still want to be able to drive them."
Added costs might be involved, but failing to renew these categories will limit drivers to only being able to operate a car henceforth. The advice comes amidst discussions about whether seniors over 70 should undergo new MOTs and health assessments, reports Birmingham Live.
A frustrated driver protested: "Look, I already have annual eyetests every November. Is it suggested I would need yet another one 4 months later when my licence needs renewal and just how is it the responsibility of the opticians to report their findings to the DVLC, and who pays for that."
The irked motorist proposed a better approach: "Much better idea, carry out regular stop and search checks and pick off the no licence? No insurance cover? and the many drug taking drivers. Who incidentally are unlikely to be fed 70 plus."
Amid the debate, Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, has emphasised that the current visual legal standard for drivers is "ineffective and unsafe".
James further warned: "Doing nothing means the risk of more avoidable deaths and life-changing injuries remains, caused by people whose quality of vision means they should no longer be driving."
Dr Adeley emphasised: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car.
"The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of Marie Cunningham, Grace Foulds, Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements."
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