Driving at 80

Where I live our local community centre runs several trips throughout the month. They go to many different places so there is something that’s suited to everyone.

No buses to speak of for miles around here.
People carry on driving until 90.

I would like to stop driving being nearly 80. I live in a rural area with infrequent buses and shops over 30 minutes walk and all uphill on the way back. I have to go everywhere in the car.

i am 82, still driving and I am happy to continue to do so. I make sure I drive regularly on motorways and dual carriage ways as well as in town and on familiar routes at night.

I'll be 80 next year. I do occasional silly things, but they are always things I have done ever since I started driving, and they happen less often now - perhaps I'm finally growing up. I do avoid driving in the dark now, and I try to adapt to not being as mobile as I was for looking over my shoulder.

What an ageist thread.

Some people of 80 are far better drivers than some who are far younger.

The public transport is very limited.

Allira

What an ageist thread.

Some people of 80 are far better drivers than some who are far younger.

The public transport is very limited.

I'm sure they are but I'm afraid of my arthritic hip seizing up on the accelerator and doing 90 down the dual carriageway.

I think it's good to recognise your limits and your weaknesses.

It's a pity a lot of younger drivers don't do that too.

At 81 I handed in my licence a few months ago. I never had an accident, and I wanted to decide before it was made for me.

Buses are every 5minutes but I have to get to the bus stop. I do online shopping because it would be a minicab back.

I sold my car last July and within 4 hours, somebody in a rented house a few doors away was knocking on my door, wanting my allocated car park space!. I have had bollards fitted.

I dread both of us being unable to drive. DH sometimes has trouble pushing the clutch pedal in (it IS a heavy car to drive) to the floor but otherwise is a good driver still at 79. I'm looking into getting a 2nd-hand automatic for us so no clutch pedal!

At 74 I'm still fine with driving apart from struggling at night which I try to avoid. We're both okay with motorways still, even though we only use them a couple of times a month.

But we live high up a hill in a very small country town where everything is at the bottom, and many services are in the next larger town with buses only hourly (from the bottom of the hill - so a walk up again afterwards). The hill has always been a challenge - 45 year ago I pushed my new baby down to the church to arrange her baptism and on arriving back home I declared "never again"! DH bought a moped to get to work and I had the car!

I AM preparing the house ready to be sold as and when needed cos it is too big for me to look after now, as well as to insure, heat and repair. So far DH refuses to consider moving.

My father's late godmother was still driving at the age of 100. (I am not exaggerating. She did make it to the triple digits.) She drove all of her friend to their doctor's appointments.

Mind you, we are in Canada and she lived in a rural area, so she wasn't driving in massive amounts of traffic. She lived in a lodge but still kept her car. She had moved to the lodge at the request of her sons, simply because she was widowed and lived alone on an isolated farm and they worried it could be hard for someone to get to her in case of an emergency.

I’m 80 in February, - haven’t given a thought to giving up driving.

We have not made a long journey recently - and I mean a minimum of 200 miles because we do get stiff and tired. So if we decide we want to go somewhere a distance, we will do it in chunks and make mini-breaks and enjoy it. I still drive on motorways including the M25 -although if I can I will avoid it simply because it is such a pain.

I shall continue to drive until I notice that my driving is deteriorating. Then make the decision.

Oh yes! Night time driving on strange country roads is now a no-no as my night time vision has deteriorated.

Allira

What an ageist thread.

Some people of 80 are far better drivers than some who are far younger.

The public transport is very limited.

I quite agree, but once you reach 80 there seems to be a belief that you are old disabled and have dementia or are, at least mentally dozy.

Just say '80' to someone and ask them to describe what someone that age will be like and it will be entirely in terms of failing health, failing mind, failing ability to cope, care homes and carers.

I agree you have to know your limitations and be wise in what you do when you drive. Things that people have mentioned already.

But folks, also take a look at your car. The one you’ve been driving for a few years. I got a new car last year, feeling a bit guilty, because there was nothing wrong with the old one really.

It has so many features that make driving easy. Stiff neck for turning to see. Cameras now tell me everything that’s around me, including a blind spot warning system.

Night driving? My lights make their own judgement, dip/full automatically, illuminate corners when turning, I’m seated just above others headlights.

What else? I can’t think. I’ve got so used to all these features now.

I think what I’m saying is consider that it’s the car that needs to give up, not you😬

My mother was still driving at 80 but at 84 I and my siblings noticed that her reactions were slower , she was slower to brake and struggled to comprehend the e speed distances of other cars . So she decided to give up her car . Thankfully at 80 she downsized and bought a flat minutes from a high street , with buses , shops , cafes etc .

Charleygirl5

At 81 I handed in my licence a few months ago. I never had an accident, and I wanted to decide before it was made for me.

Buses are every 5minutes but I have to get to the bus stop. I do online shopping because it would be a minicab back.

I sold my car last July and within 4 hours, somebody in a rented house a few doors away was knocking on my door, wanting my allocated car park space!. I have had bollards fitted.

A warning note indeed for people who have their own parking...but don't use it themselves. Safeguard it!

I have a pretty decent size front drive and I frequently caught neighbours at it - they'd even park right in front of me and must have known I even saw them do it sometimes!!!

I put up a gate to stop them - and that helped - until a new neighbour broke it and refused to put matters right (I still swear she did it deliberately). I replaced it with a gate that no-one/but no-one could pretend they hadn't seen and put up security cameras too (added reason being the neighbours were prone to trespassing into my garden on foot too). That did the trick finally.

You do need to ensure any parking your house has is safeguarded - so that it's always available for legitimate parkers (ie your own visitors) and to ensure there's no chance ever of anyone else acquiring any sort of legal rights to use your land.

Bollards are a good idea imo.

Bit random😄😄

Lathyrus3

I agree you have to know your limitations and be wise in what you do when you drive. Things that people have mentioned already.

But folks, also take a look at your car. The one you’ve been driving for a few years. I got a new car last year, feeling a bit guilty, because there was nothing wrong with the old one really.

It has so many features that make driving easy. Stiff neck for turning to see. Cameras now tell me everything that’s around me, including a blind spot warning system.

Night driving? My lights make their own judgement, dip/full automatically, illuminate corners when turning, I’m seated just above others headlights.

What else? I can’t think. I’ve got so used to all these features now.

I think what I’m saying is consider that it’s the car that needs to give up, not you😬

Mine has a device that keeps itself a safe distance from the car in front, very useful on motorways.
But then, of course, there are always usually younger idiots who weave in and out of the traffic or tailgate, overtake when they shouldn't and pull in right in front of you.

DH is 80 next year and I am 73. We changed to automatic cars a few years ago. Now we don't have gears to negotiate we can concentrate fully on the road. I had no choice because my left foot became to painful and weak to press down the clutch. We have no plans to stop driving but feel that we would be thinking about it if we lived in a city. I make sure I don't always rely on DH to drive - we share the driving on long distances and motorway. I have to confess to not enjoying night driving.

Drivers reaching 70 at least, have to be very honest with themselves as regards their driving.
I passed my test in 1966 and at almost 78 have been driving for 59 years. I love the independence it gives me but I have made some changes. I no longer drive on the motorway. I prefer to drive at 40mph or under, according to the speed limit, so I feel I would be a liability on a fast motorway. Night driving is fast losing its appeal, especially with the glaring searchlights on so many vehicles these days. I will be leaving 2 of my clubs in the New Year as they involve a longish journey there and back on poorly lit roads. We just need to be honest and sensible on how safe we are behind behind the wheel for our sakes and others.

Very sensible post Sarnia.

What I think is how I would feel if I hurt someone. I would be devastated.

Our reactions are slower the older we get and everyone should take that into account but many people believe they are safe drivers and that may be true if they drive a bit slower, concentrate and are aware always of what is going on around them.
An elderly man pulled out of a side road in front of me and I had to take avoiding action or I would have hit him. He was oblivious and should not be driving.
I am aware of my limitations and don't drive long distances as I used to or drive at night.

Public transport is nonexistent or useless here. Of course I shall continue driving my car. I'm 79 and never had an accident unlike many young drivers.