Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by wiseowl, Jan 1, 2025.

  1. gks

    gks Total Gardener

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    Exactly, there is over 6 million people over the age of 70 that has a valid driving license in the UK, how long would it take for all those to take a vision test and how often would it need to be repeated going forward.
     
  2. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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    Can't wait for the driverless vehicles like the trolley bus, won't need to do test then :biggrin: but will we get one in the very very rural countryside
     
  3. Philippa

    Philippa Gardener

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    Speaking of trolleys, some SM trolley users could do with passing a test of some kind too. A lot of them don't realise we drive on the left here :biggrin:
     
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    • ViewAhead

      ViewAhead Head Gardener

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      Indeed! And over Xmas, some inexperienced male SM trolley users were let loose in the aisles (allegedly there to assist (loosely speaking) with the festive food shop), creating all sorts of log jams! ;)
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      During the normal eye test they tell you if your vision is ok to drive, presumably it would just be a case of getting them to add it to your prescription.
       
    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      Of course, it is not as simple as just the 6 million (if that is the number) as the licence at the moment needs to be renewed every three years. Therefore those 6 million tests need to be done in just three years - or 2 million a year.

      Assuming that a test only takes half an hour then that is roughly 42,000 hours for the testing - not including admin time. So, taking a guess that admin time is half an hour per person we now have 84,000 person hours. If a civil servant working week is 35 hours (haven't the faintest idea if that is correct) then it is 2,400 weeks assuming someone works seven days a week with no holidays.

      So, taking into account holidays, sickness, the need for eye tests, premises for all the extra staff, N.I. and pension payments, issuing of documents etc. then we're talking about many tens of millions of pounds to be found. What about people with driving licences but don't currently own a car? How do they take the test unless the testing stations have vehicles?

      I'm sure I can think of many other cost and logistical problems - but can't be bothered!

      Is it going to happen? I don't think we need to worry about it. :blue thumb:
       
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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        What about the people that don't normally have eye tests - or need them? :heehee:
         
      • ViewAhead

        ViewAhead Head Gardener

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        I’d say eye tests should be compulsory for over 80s. You don’t necessarily notice your vision changing if this happens slowly. Maybe a check every 2 yrs.
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          Everyone over 70 should be having eye tests, if you want to drive, but also for your own benefit as they can find different health issues by looking at your eyes.
           
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          • simone_in_wiltshire

            simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

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            Sorry for disappointing you :) I read every opinion and analyse the comments (not all).
             
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            I went in morrisons this morning and it was bedlam, they have those stupid child trollies, so you have kids running around with them aimlessly, other kids on scooters they got for Christmas and its like the whole family is on a day out, blocking aisles chatting, pallets of stuff all over the place as well, it really is a ****hole.
            Then trying to get out at the self serve tills there was a queue of people, and spare checkouts, I pushed through some to say there were spare ones and they said, We only want cash ones, not card.:mad:
            The place has gone mad.
             
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            • Jiffy

              Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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              What about the people that worry about worrying like me, i worry over nowt, can i worry about it
               
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              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                Although I have my eyes tested every year - it's free :noidea: - I know people who don't and appear to have excellent vision without needing glasses. If you go to renew your licence currently you only need to say your sight is OK even if you have an annual test. If they bring in the rules they're hinting at you would have to have had your test within a short time before the renewal. I'm not sure the opticians would cope with the extra tests and the time frame.

                If we all went to have checks for everything that could be wrong (heart tests, cancer tests etc.) the NHS would be overwhelmed. Whoops! I forgot, it is already overwhelmed. :sad:
                 
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                Ahh! You're a lost cause. :whistle: But don't worry about it :heehee:
                 
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                I think eyesight is the one thing that would always be a yes or no regarding renewing the licence, other problems like heart or cancer are more difficult to say one way or tother, they always used to ask if you could read a number plate at a set distance before you took your test, after that you never have to do it again.
                Seems odd that you could be nearly blind but not have to own up to it when re applying, it really should apply to everyone not just over 70s.
                 
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