73 years old and 4 times the legal limit.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

https://youtu.be/69N2wWp99wA?si=XDMdslAuMK0SM7q_

With age is supposed to come wisdom.

[Lizzie Zoom]

I agree with the comments that he should have been jailed for such reckless behaviour, and disqualified from driving for life.  He could have killed someone, but obviously his brain is too far gone for him to understand the extreme dangers of doing what he did..................and perhaps he has a habit of drink driving?!  This stupid action suggests it is not the first time.

We moan about the youngsters doing this kind of thing, but someone of 73.........!!  My age!!

Never let him drive a vehicle again!!

With all the costs that he has caused for himself and the insurance companies, I doubt if he can now get insurance or even afford it IF a company is prepared to take on the risk of him!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I agree with the comments that he should have been jailed for such reckless behaviour, and disqualified from driving for life.  He could have killed someone, but obviously his brain is too far gone for him to understand the extreme dangers of doing what he did..................and perhaps he has a habit of drink driving?!  This stupid action suggests it is not the first time.

We moan about the youngsters doing this kind of thing, but someone of 73.........!!  My age!!

Never let him drive a vehicle again!!

With all the costs that he has caused for himself and the insurance companies, I doubt if he can now get insurance or even afford it IF a company is prepared to take on the risk of him!

I hear 'rumours' that Emperor Burnham is considering a retest every 3 years, along with yearly eye test for all drivers over 70.

We'll have to wait and see.

[BazaJT]

It's not a retest it's an eyesight test every 3 years and perhaps a "cognitive"test too.

[Andy B]

I agree with the comments that he should have been jailed for such reckless behaviour, and disqualified from driving for life.  He could have killed someone, but obviously his brain is too far gone for him to understand the extreme dangers of doing what he did..................and perhaps he has a habit of drink driving?!  This stupid action suggests it is not the first time.

We moan about the youngsters doing this kind of thing, but someone of 73.........!!  My age!!

Never let him drive a vehicle again!!

With all the costs that he has caused for himself and the insurance companies, I doubt if he can now get insurance or even afford it IF a company is prepared to take on the risk of him!

I hear 'rumours' that Emperor Burnham is considering a retest every 3 years, along with yearly eye test for all drivers over 70.

We'll have to wait and see.

I can't see that happening any time soon or at all .... they have enough problems getting enough tests for those trying to get their licence in the 1st place.

[Varche]

It's not a retest it's an eyesight test every 3 years and perhaps a "cognitive"test too.

Great idea so long as it isn't a money spinner for the people running the tests. Spain already does this. Simple ( to me) reaction test, hearing, eyesight and meds regime/ conditions. Plus " general" assessment.

We battled with various older family members to get them to stop driving when they were well past it in our opinion. It is very , very hard to get a licence withdrawn in UK.

[Varche]

I agree with the comments that he should have been jailed for such reckless behaviour, and disqualified from driving for life.  He could have killed someone, but obviously his brain is too far gone for him to understand the extreme dangers of doing what he did..................and perhaps he has a habit of drink driving?!  This stupid action suggests it is not the first time.

We moan about the youngsters doing this kind of thing, but someone of 73.........!!  My age!!

Never let him drive a vehicle again!!

With all the costs that he has caused for himself and the insurance companies, I doubt if he can now get insurance or even afford it IF a company is prepared to take on the risk of him!

I hear 'rumours' that Emperor Burnham is considering a retest every 3 years, along with yearly eye test for all drivers over 70.

We'll have to wait and see.

I can't see that happening any time soon or at all .... they have enough problems getting enough tests for those trying to get their licence in the 1st place.

You don't need a traditional test centre. It could be done at say GPs by trained staff.

The cognitive test I did ( it does change) involves sitting at a desk with two joysticks controlling two cars on two scrolling roads. It beeps if either leave the road. I was quite pleased not to get any beeps. Later I found out , it is how quickly you get the car back onto the road that they are looking for! The government doesn't pay very much per test.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I doubt the government will go down the retest route.

Yearly eye test may not be a bad idea. I remember an elderly uncle with severe cataracts that gave him the visual acuity of Mr Magoo. He wouldn't be told.

Can't remember exactly but I think he dropped off the perch before he was able to wipe out a group of school kids waiting at the bus stop with his Zodiac.

Every cloud.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

It's not a retest it's an eyesight test every 3 years and perhaps a "cognitive"test too.

Great idea so long as it isn't a money spinner for the people running the tests. Spain already does this. Simple ( to me) reaction test, hearing, eyesight and meds regime/ conditions. Plus " general" assessment.

We battled with various older family members to get them to stop driving when they were well past it in our opinion. It is very , very hard to get a licence withdrawn in UK.

You'd think the judge would have insisted on a retest for this particular pensioner.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

To quite a lot of people of that generation, drink driving is considered to be a bit naughty and  something you try not to get caught doing.
Similar to todays generation using hand held phones while driving.
A bloke I worked with 25 years ago used to pop to the pub most lunch hours, but wouldnt drink more than a gallon because he had to operate a 360 all afternoon.
If he saw a Police car on his way back to work he had a route through the woods he could swing his Land Rover onto so they couldnt follow him and stop him.
He thought he was a responsible drinker, because when he went out at the weekends he would get his wife to drop him off and collect him, so he could drink several gallons of beer.
He had a 40 foot container in his back garden which was just like a pub inside, and he and his mates would spend hours drinking in there when the pubs were closed.
He died at 66, and the landlord of his local was said to be bordering on suicidal because of the amount of money he would lose. 

[Lizzie Zoom]

It's not a retest it's an eyesight test every 3 years and perhaps a "cognitive"test too.

That's right, and as a diabetic my eyesight is tested both by my opticians, and a NHS Hospital Diabetic Centre, every year.  So this proposal makes no difference to me, and when I have to re-apply for my licence every 3 years, I just have to give the DVLA the eyesight test records.

[Lizzie Zoom]

It's not a retest it's an eyesight test every 3 years and perhaps a "cognitive"test too.

That's right, and as a diabetic my eyesight is tested both by my opticians, and a NHS Hospital Diabetic Centre, every year.  So this proposal makes no difference to me, and when I have to re-apply for my licence every 3 years, I just have to give the DVLA the eyesight test records.

..........and I would add that the NHS Diabetic Centre check involves full thorough eye health scanning, so everything is researched.

I think most elderly drivers should have have their eyes tested regularly anyway as our eyes do deteriorate, without all too many drivers not realising, or wanting to recognise it is .

[STEMO]

My eyes are shit. Can hardly see my hand in front of my face. There's no way I'm going for an eye test   

[Dave_G]

Agree with you 100% Lizzie. I also go for diabetic eye screening every year. Full two-bob tests. But the lass at SpecSavers insisted I go for yet another test - because she couldn't get the pressure test gadget to give a 'satisfactory' result.

Guess what - the professional guy says 'no problem here' see you in a couple of years!!

I've even been to the local QMC and taken part in two extra trials - still no problem.

Apologies if I come across as a bit narked about this but I wonder if SS just want to sell more specs, as a buy one get 17 free???

Grrrr ...

[ronnyd]

My eyes are shit. Can hardly see my hand in front of my face. There's no way I'm going for an eye test   

If your eyes are that bad you probably wouldn't be able to find your way there.