Driving at 80

I gave up driving 2 years ago, I didn't renew my license. I hated driving at night, if I want to go into town,I get a taxi, but I don't go very often, I feel that now I've no car to upkeep that when I have to get a taxi I can afford it, I get all my groceries delivered.
I do all my shopping online, I do miss my car for going to garden centres and antique fairs, but other than that no. I don't miss taking it for mot's services and repairs. and it was always me who had to do that ,as my husband didn't drive. I was 78 when I gave it up.

DH still drives, he is 79. He doesn't drive at night, and only short distances.

I have just had an application form to renew my licence but I don't think I'll bother.

We both use Uber a lot and sometimes taxis. If not, there is a bus to town every 10 minutes, and a railway station in town.

I worry about women who let their/
DH /DP drive and rarely drive themselves. What will they do if their DH /DP can’t drive ?

I think we all appreciate that.

I worry about those who say they can’t give up driving because of a lack of public transport. If their eyesight or other faculties deteriorate, they will have no choice.

InnocentBystander
My 79 year old partner still does time trails at SantaPot.

Some people are bad drivers others are good, safe and competent all independent of age. To tar all octogenarians with the same brush is barmy.
I am eighty and whilst not boasting about skills - I'm not qualified to do that - I have driven more than a million miles in my driving lifetime doing 50,000 miles per annum for a decade. I have only just sold my track day car - a Westfield replica of a Lotus Seven. Abilities vary widely.

Some people are excellent drivers at 80 and better than younger drivers, my OH being one of them.
We're in SW France and there's a really tricky bit of the motorway where a stream of large lorries join the four or five lanes of the motorway via a slip road.
One huge lorry joined too fast and too close to our car. It was all over in a moment. Massive wheel up against the left front window: OH kept his head and moved quickly , quietly and efficiently into a gap in the adjoining lane. Luckily there was one.
I didn't have time to be afraid. I call it his "Lewis Hamilton moment".
It could otherwise have been a terrible accident.
So no-one should say that 80 year olds can't drive safely.

I gave up driving about 18 months ago, I'm 77. I'm fitter than I've been in a while because I walk a lot more. If I don't walk I catch a bus (or train) and if I don't feel like using public transport, I Uber or use a minicab service, both are cheaper than running a car because of the handful of times I do pay for a cab.
Apart from walking fitness, I feel I have benefitted from carrying two heavy shopping bags home - strength training (I can gauge perfectly how much I can manage to carry and I shop daily or every other day - supermarket is not very far).

I very occasionally miss driving e.g. for getting somewhere I can't get to otherwise, but my OH or DD will drive me if I ask.

I don't miss the stress of driving at 20mph as is required in my area. I don't miss trying to park our car in a tiny space at the supermarket. I don't miss being hooted at for sticking to the speed limit! Overall, I don't miss driving.

Greenfinch

What sodapop says.

Ditto.

What sodapop says.

It does seem that the 80 year old people who have given up driving all live in areas where there is good public transport. Not so easy for those of us who live in rural areas. I would however give up if I thought I wasn't coping as well as I should.

Seems that you did make a good decision based on all things considered.
A lot of ageist comments here as all of us are very different and pig headedness apart we should all be prepared to quit whilst we are ahead and not wait for something awful to happen to someone else. It would be down to the drivers who are aware of their own limitations.
My personal weakness is allowing my oh to drive me too often, how many of us do that ?

Thank you. I really only wanted about one more year. Just hate decisions been made for me especially when, seemingly, based on age.

Agree, an arbitrary age isn’t helpful. Everyone is different in both attitude and ability.

devorgilla Don’t give up hope. A friend was referred to the medical department (aged 82), enquiries were made to her GP, she was told she could drive while enquiries were finished. The outcome? Carry on driving. Mr C last renewed at 81. He has a declarable medical condition. As it’s well controlled his new licence came quickly. Perhaps check again next week. If you get the same answer I’d ask how to contact the medical department, things can and do get misplaced. Hope all ends as you’d wish.

Taking an arbtrary age in this context is meaningless, how people fuction as to reflexes etc. can be vastly different. I really only do short journeys around my local town. I hate driving in low winter sun, I've always found it horribly dazzling, so I don't. Although I've a good few years before I hit 80,I'd like to think I'd be my own judge and jury and would certainly give up if I felt it was time to.

Dash cams are a good idea for us older drivers. I find it's the younger ones who think they are rally drivers and never in the wrong. Females as well males.

I applied for my driving licence to be renewed mid November., 2025 I am 82 today, so 81 then. Last time I applied it was renewed in a week. I was, of course, a mere 78 then. So far no licence in sight and it ended yesterday as is the norm. I had phoned them early December and was told it was with the medical department. There have been no changes in my medical history, physical or sight/hearing-wise in the last 6-10 years. I had an eye test 2 days before applying online and specifically asked if I was still fit to drive. I now have a sinking feeling that they are not going to renew and I know there is a move to stop 80+ driving as their accident rate increases. I have a clean record. My daughters tell me that they haven't cancelled it yet and closures over Christmas and New Year slow things down. I am not holding out much hope. I can appeal, but doubt it will help. I now have a defunct piece of metal on four wheels outside and a distinct loss of independence.

Even if our reflexes do slow down a bit, that has to be seen in the general poor level of driving by people of all ages.

I am not talking about dangerous driving I am just talking about poor driving skills, bad placement approaching rundabouts, unable to back accurately, consistent failure to signal, hogging the centre of the road . Taking ages to turn out at junctions, even when the road is clear.

I am not suggesting I am a perfect driver I know I am not, I too, no doubtnhave bad habits and I think our own bad drivig habits put ourselves and other road users for amore at risk, then a one or two seconds delay in responding to events.

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.

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.

Very sensible post Sarnia.

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.

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.

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.