Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

I see our glorious Government has launched a 'Commission' to look into long term social care. Good news? It's not set to report until 2028. Assuming it actually reports in the middle of the year, we will be 4 years into a maximum 5 year term. The Government will then require time to absorb the content, another year at least. By then there will have been another election. Somebody on the news this morning said the Government will use it as an excuse not to do anything in the meantime. I can hear the "We must wait for the findings of the Commission". Surely just more evidence that the Government doesn't care about the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. Presumably they are hoping, expecting, that most of them will have died of hypothermia by then.

 

There was many organisations calling for over 70's to retake the driving test. If they went down this route, organisations were wanting the government to reduce car insurance premiums. At the moment we are all hit with this, insurance premium tax which is 12%, this would of been reduced to zero for the over 70's after re-taking the driving test. I think the government were contemplating it but I doubt the over 70's would of seen a reduction in the insurance premium tax, I think they would charge more if they could get away with it.

 

Lots of older people didn't take a test in the first place so how are they going to retake a test if they didn't in the first place anyway because i'm thick and i can't do writing test's that's me failed before i start, i can do the driving bit but i can't do the reading & writing bit, so i will have to choose either drive illegaly or pack up driving all together, being that lots of young people are driving around with out a full licence, no L plates and nobody with them it make me think about driving illegaly chance's of being stopped is next to zero

 

How come when I walk into my surgery there are no patients
waiting to see the GP; and yet there are no appointments
available.

 

@Jiffy, it will probably be online and multiple choice so perhaps you will be able to do that?
I'm currently worried as my PIP is being reviewed, but the main thing I worry about is that I may not be able to afford to replace my elderly car if necessary. If I'm not going to be able to drive after 70 anyway I don't need to worry about that!

 

Driving tests became compulsory in 1935 - 90 years ago, so I very much doubt there are 'lots of older people out there who didn't take the test in the first place'. I will admit I don't know how many people above the age of about 106 are still driving.

 

It seems illogical that people are expected to be fit to work to age 67, possibly operating complex machinery, yet just 3 years later assumed to be ga-ga and unable to drive a car.

 

I know that my uncle learned to drive whilst in the army during WW2 and he never took a test.

 

How would they fit in all these extra driving tests or vision tests etc etc.

According to DVLA the number of people over 70 holding a driving license in the UK has roughly increased by 50% in the last decade, those over 90 and 100 with a valid driving license has increased even greater.

It would probably take close to 4 years for everyone over 70 to re-take their tests on it's own based on how many practical tests are taken annually.

With complex machinery and driving plant machinery is you have go on a fresher coarse, regarding health & safety, normally every 3 years. Imprisonment, fines and void insurance to companies who don't provide a safe working environment will be imposed when accidents occur.

 

That's all being good but if you can't get to see doc for medical you got no chance anyway

there is some people driving around with exspired provisional licence, 1 guy got stopped after 47 years on the road

 

Anyone who can read and respond to posts on this, or any other forum @Jiffy.

Anyone who has adequate vision plus common sense and a bit of swatting for newer rules and signs will pass their over 70s proficiency test and that's all to the good.

In France there is a special class of car that can be driven without a permit - small like a smart car and with a max speed of about 50kph and a lifeline for older folk in rural areas with no public transport.

 

Yes, that’s the one @NigelJ . One news headline stated new assessments, another stated “ exams” and have since found yet another site sounding that we face up to six changes.
Can of worms springs to mind bearing in mind all the other professional organisations this will impact on.

 

Perhaps it's time to bring in tests for all those who set foot or wheels on either roads or pavements. Once you step outside the confines of your own property you have a responsibility to safeguard yourself and others.

We could go one further and have a test to prove our suitability to vote tho I expect that would require one of our (in)famous Commissions to look into that one and report back next century

On another topic, has anyone ever tried the "exam" for those wishing to obtain UK citizenship ? Some of the questions on there are totally irrelevant to today's society not to say simply ridiculous. Time for a sensible update if it's not already been done.

 

That's the bit i don't like even if it's multiple choice i will get things wrong even when i know the right answer it's that sort of thing i hate even if it's paper & pen i get confused i read the question but in my mind i read it differenly, i hate term & condisions it all now is to much for my thick brain to comput that's why i don't bother with things now if it to much hasle i don't bother