Britain’s Prince Philip still driving at 97

By AFP
January 19, 2019

LONDON: Britain’s lack of an upper age limit for driving was in the spotlight on Friday as 97-year-old Prince Philip recovered after being involved in an accident that flipped his car. An experienced pilot and carriage racer, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband has never been one for slowing down and still drives himself around despite retiring from public life. Once motorists reach 70 in Britain, they need to renew their licences every three years, though they do not need to retake their driving test. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) figures out in November showed 110,790 people aged 90 or over still held driving licences. There were 314 licence holders aged at least 100. The oldest were four people who were 107. Drivers must give up their licences if their doctor tells them to stop driving for three months or more, or if they do not meet the required standards for driving due to a medical condition. Drivers must also meet a minimum standard of vision. This includes being able to read a number plate from 20 metres.

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