Research reveals that one in 20 Britons believe that drivers should automatically lose their licence upon reaching the age of 50 due to concerns about "old age." A recent poll indicates that over a third of UK adults support the idea of age-based licence revocation. The survey highlighted diverse opinions on the appropriate age for this measure, with 5% advocating for 50, 8% for 60, and 11% for 70. The increasing number of older drivers is evident, as the DVLA reports that over 40 million people hold a licence in the UK.

Regional variations are notable, with nearly half of respondents in Greater London supporting licence revocation at 50, compared to just 28% in Scotland. Northern Ireland displayed the strongest opposition, with 78% against the idea of age-based licence removal. The survey also revealed significant support for regular retesting, with 70% of Britons in favour. Many suggested retesting every decade, while others preferred intervals of 20 or 30 years.

Aidan Rushby, founder and CEO of Carmoola, noted that public sentiment indicates a desire for older drivers to retake their tests to ensure road safety. The survey showed that attitudes shifted significantly when considering the future of autonomous vehicles, with over a third of respondents who initially supported revoking licences for those over 70 changing their views if older drivers had access to self-driving cars.

Younger adults showed more enthusiasm for older drivers using autonomous vehicles, with 46% of those aged 25-34 supporting the idea, while only 24% of individuals aged 55 and above felt the same. Currently, drivers must renew their licence every three years after turning 70 to maintain their eligibility to drive on UK roads.