Elderly motorists risk losing ability to drive amid medical conditions review restricting vehicle usage

The current rules dictate that drivers above the age of 70 must renew their licence every three years, but with over 40 million licensed drivers in the country, the DVLA has highlighted how vital it is for older drivers to understand the renewal process and its implications.

There are two parts to the characters printed on a driving licence, the first part appear as letters or sometimes letters and numbers which show the kind of vehicles they are allowed to drive while the second part appears as numbers and show what kind of conditions motorists must meet to be able to drive.

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When a driver reaches 70, they automatically lose the C1 (medium-sized vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg) and D1 (minibuses) categories on their licence.

To retain these entitlements, motorists must complete a D2 application form and undergo a D4 medical examination. The C category, which permits driving larger vehicles, is also lost and requires retaking a test to maintain.

However, drivers holding a B+E licence before it expires when they turn 70 can continue to operate vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes with a trailer, within a “maximum combination weight” of 8.25 tonnes, once renewed.

The Older Drivers Forum explained: “When you are 70 years old, your ordinary driving licence will expire. As we get older, many of us take up voluntary work, like driving minibuses to help others get around. Your standard licence will not cover you to do this when you renew your licence at 70, unless you renew your minibus entitlement.”

Drivers who use other transport methods besides a car such as minibuses and motorhomes risk having further implications when they get older.

For minibus drivers, renewing the D1 entitlement which allows them to operate the vehicles, requires completing a D2 form and passing a full pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) medical examination with this process being repeated every three years.

Motorhome owners face similar challenges, drivers wishing to travel in vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg must retain their C1 entitlement by submitting a D2 form and undergo a medical examination.

According to the DVLA, using the standard D1 or online renewal procedure will result in the suspension of C1 entitlement until a medical is passed, with drivers urged to have medical exams completed first.

Drivers with only B licences can still operate minibuses after passing a PCV medical, but their licence will show B(120), which indicates they have met the higher medical standard while other B entitlement restrictions apply, the DVLA states.

But while elderly drivers can undergo medical requirements to reinstate their licence for heavy good vehicles, recent research revealed that more Britons believe drivers should be prevented from travelling the older they get.

A survey found that one in 20 Britons believe drivers should have their licences automatically revoked at age 50 due to "old age" with over a third of UK adults supporting the idea of revoking licences at a certain age.

Regional differences are stark, with nearly half of respondents supporting the licence ban at 50, compared to just 28 per cent of Scots.

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The majority of Britons, however, favour regular retesting with 75 per cent supporting this approach. Currently, drivers must renew their licence every three years once they reach 70. This process ensures ongoing fitness to drive.

Aidan Rushby, founder and CEO of Carmoola, said: “Our recent survey highlights that, despite no current laws mandating it, the majority of Brits believe drivers should be required to retake their tests after a certain number of years to maintain safety on UK roads.”