Anger as older driver rule which costs over 70s big freedom branded 'age discrimination'

Motorists have slammed a little-known driving licence rule which sees older drivers automatically lose one freedom when hitting 70 in a move branded "age discrimination".

Road users who reach the seventh decade, road users will "automatically lose” their C1 and D1 driving licence entitlements.

The C1 rule allows road users to drive vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg, a category which many bigger motorhomes will fall under, which could be a blow to summer holiday plans. The D1 entitlement is for minibuses, meaning road users who work in this sector could be punished on their birthday. The simple DVLA policy is likely to be unknown to road users who could find themselves caught out through no fault of their own.

However, angry readers suggested the move treated elderly people like "second class citizens" with calls for officials to leave older drivers alone.

Express reader @upright said: "This continual knocking, the elderly car driver, is wrong.!! I am 78 driven a car since 17 years of age , and driven on most continents, on the planet, no accidents, no parking tickets, never a problem, leave us alone!"

@yayad: "This is just another method of discrimination against people of 70+. We’ve paid and paid all of our lives only to be treated like second class citizens. Sad world we live in."

@DavidW6 said: "And yet people will be expected to work beyond 70."

Motorists above 70 can retain their freedoms behind the wheel if they write into the DVLA with the correct application form.

Road users must meet a certain medical threshold to keep hold of these abilities and could be required to take another exam to prove they are competent.

The Older Drivers Forum explained: “Once you renew your licence at 70 years of age you will automatically lose the C1 (Medium sized vehicles between 3500kg and 7500kg) and D1 (Minibuses) categories on your licence.

“If you wish to still hold these you will need to complete a D2 (Application Form) and a D4 (Medical Examination Report).

“Once you renew your licence at 70 years of age you will automatically lose the C category on your licence, if you wish to continue having this category on your licence you will need to do another test again.”

Rules state that road users must renew their driving licence at 70 years old and every three years after this point.

Licences can be renewed online at GOV.UK in just a matter of minutes with a new photocard arriving just weeks later

However, road users who are not interested in using the internet can also post off a completed D46P application form.