new driving licence rules for people over 70

[Thistle]

Im 50kg over weight.

My Iveco is plated at 6700 kg however when I uplated my Crafter I took it to 4230kg in anticipation of this and so I could keep within my existing tyres load rating.

 

[mark61]

My Iveco is plated at 6700 kg however when I uplated my Crafter I took it to 4230kg in anticipation of this and so I could keep within my existing tyres load rating.

Were any modifications required for the Crafter?
I'm assuming it was uprated from 3500kg.

 

[Thistle]

@mark61
Mine has been done two or possibly three times first by the ambulance service provider DHL via SVtech at 12,000 miles to 3850kg.
A VW main dealer changed the front spring and shocks to higher load versions, the work on the front was probably not strictly necessary but the tax payer was paying! They also added vb air assist to the rears which is usually all that is required and changed the tyres to a higher load rating.

Then a couple of years later the ambulance service provider (DHL) effectively applied a false SVtech sticker which effectively deceived the paramedics into thinking it had been further uprated to 4000kg so could carry an extra fat bloater or two!

DHL failed to send the relevant paperwork to the DVLA if it ever existed and when I bought it I noticed the discrepancy between V5 and the plated weight on the van. The V5 is always the source of truth! So I peeled the false one off.

The sods at SVtech refused to provide me with copies of the paperwork again if it even existed, it is very easy to produce fake SVtech stickers to trick people, I’ve seen several vans with false SVtech stickers on them since then, usually to down plate, applied by dishonest traders to fool gullible buyers a vans plated at 3500kg! I am pretty sure SVtech knows this goes on hence probably why they were so unhelpful to me!

The van at that time weighed 3620kg without passengers or full water tanks and we can carry up to 200kg of water so I took the opportunity to then uplate further to 4230kg using Dee Thorne at VWE. it didn’t need any further suspension modifications.

 

[Gummy]

I'm 77 and have a medical every 3 years to keep my 'Grandad rights" (C1 licence) to drive my truck. The medical is very simple and costs £54 through D4 Drivers but could cost a lot more through your own GP.
I feel that a simple driving test would be a better assessment of my safety on the road, especially in my own truck.

 

[trevskoda]

My Iveco is plated at 6700 kg however when I uplated my Crafter I took it to 4230kg in anticipation of this and so I could keep within my existing tyres load rating.

Mine is plated to 6.5 tons but on the bridge its in fact 4.3 ton, so i can pull a 2 ton trailer if i wish.

 

[Geek]

DHL failed to send the relevant paperwork to the DVLA if it ever existed and when I bought it I noticed the discrepancy between V5 and the plated weight on the van. The V5 is always the source of truth! So I peeled the false one off.

My motorhome is 4600KG on the V5 but it has the original 4600 plate and another plate/sticker from the Suffolk company (I forget their name) up-plating it to 4990KG. I also have the certificate, but I never bothered to get the V5 changed.
I don't think we ever run as heavy as 4600 in any case. Last time it was weighed it was 4180 but the water tank was empty.

 

[mark61]

I get people who buy used may have to up plate, but why DHL provide (or allowed to get away with it) vehicles to the Ambulance service that need up plating from new is just daft, when the correct GVW vehicle would be available from new.

 

[1807truckman]

I've just had an eye test at the opticians, first one in 30 years and only need glasses for reading, I'll need to apply for my three year licence next year.

 

[trevskoda]

I've just had an eye test at the opticians, first one in 30 years and only need glasses for reading, I'll need to apply for my three year licence next year.

In that case you will im sure see yourself able to lend me a tenner.

 

[gabby82]

Driving licence since age 17. Driven thousands of miles all over Europe and many other countries of the world. Now aged 85 with good health and vision (which I have checked annually). My licence renewal is in aprox 6 weeks, DVLA will not renew because I happened to be the son of military service parents who happened to be in Palestine at that time and it is written on my birth certificate and passport.!

 

[Rumour]

However there is also potential good news, the EU 4th directive on driving licences should be ratified into law soon and EU countries will then have up to four years to implement, it widely expected UK will take all the changes onboard as well.

One of the changes is to allow vans up to 4250kg to be driven on a B license which for many will remove the need to retain their C1

Isn't that just for electric motorhomes? I think I saw it on here or similar.

 

[Fazerloz]

Everybody has cataract. It isn't a thing, it's a growing cloudiness in your eyes. It happens gradually as you age, but gets bad fast for some people. Effectively it's like slightly dirty lenses in your glasses. Reduces contrast but doesn't always make vision poor.

Older people have worse eyesight and slower reactions, but better driving experience and they are more risk averse.

Insurance companies take risks into account when assessing premiums. Even though older people are more frail and more likely to be injured in an accident, they pay lower premiums than average. Far, far lower premiums than teenagers.
Go figure.

Premiums rise in 70s / 80s + age groups.

 

[trixie88]

radio said this morning...... any one taking driving test now now will be required to answer question on how to do CPR on theory test,,,

 

[Boris7]

radio said this morning...... any one taking driving test now now will be required to answer question on how to do CPR on theory test,,,

That’s not become law yet, but it won’t stop anyone, a cpr course is now free on the internet and only takes 30 minutes

 

[Geek]

Mine is plated to 6.5 tons but on the bridge its in fact 4.3 ton, so i can pull a 2 ton trailer if i wish.

There should be a separate train weight figure, which is normally more than the max gross weight figure.
Mine is something like 1700KG front axle, 3200KG back axle, 4600 Gross, 6600 train, which would allow me to tow 2 tons when fully loaded.
However, it was up-plated to 1700 front 3200 rear 4900 total 6600 train

 

[Bigshug]

radio said this morning...... any one taking driving test now now will be required to answer question on how to do CPR on theory test

There is already a question on CPR in the bank of questions, this is just the DVSA trying to draw attention away from their unbelievably bad running of the driving test situation. It is virtually impossible to book a driving test without a six month wait!!

 

[Caz]

What needs to be addressed is regular eyesight tests for all drivers.

Many people just don't bother getting their eyes tested regularly and don't realise that they have defective vision or that it has declined.

Before I retired I met quite a number of potential drivers of all ages who simply couldn't meet the very basic quick measurement of reading a number plate at 20 metres and I had to send them away to see an optician and get some glasses for driving before I would let them have any lessons. I wouldn't mind betting that many who should be wearing glasses when driving don't do so.

 

[Geek]

... I met quite a number of potential drivers of all ages who simply couldn't meet the very basic quick measurement of reading a number plate at 20 metres

For the C1 medical, they use a scale model of a number plate at a shorter distance, in the rather dim light of a hotel meeting room.
I would have no difficulty reading a real number plate at 20 metres, but to read their test plate at a closer distance, I do need my glasses (which I always wear anyway)

 

[Geek]

.. and another plate/sticker from the Suffolk company (I forget their name) up-plating it to 4990KG.

Typo: it is up-plated to 4900 which is the front axle weight plus the rear axle weight. You'd need to load very carefully to be able to use it.

 

[Scotia]