Driving licence renewal only for 7 years

Iceweasel

It's all down to medical fitness.

One of the questions on Form D46P which you are sent a few weeks before you reach 70 means you are self-certifying your continued fitness to drive.

You do not have to have a Doctor's Medical Certificate to continue driving a car or riding a motor-bike.

However if you want to retain your entitlement to drive over 3.5 tonnes you do need to have a medical.

I have to admit I'm unsure as to the situation regarding trailers and caravans, especially if you are towing with a van or motor-home which would mean that the train weight exceeded 3.5 tonne.

Older drivers have 'grandfather's rights to drive up to 7.5 tonne trucks -that is affected too.

The older one gets it's natural that one has an increased chance of one of medical issues that need to be notified to the DVLA.

Some of them would involve 'ceasing to drive' as the DVLA for a period of time or perhaps for good.

The problem is that many folk do not appreciate how much their eye-sight has deteriorated - especially those who have never been prescribed glasses in the past.

Also people are unaware of the ailments and conditions that the DVLA deem notifiable.

This may help understand some of the implications:

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/fitness-to-drive