Isn't it age discrimination to accept the drivers' word that he's healthy when he's under 60, and not to when he's over 60?

Surely, if they were that concerned about public safety, Tachographs would be the first step and the health of the driver second. You can be as fit as a fiddle but as dead as a doornail along with your passengers, if you happen to fall asleep at the wheel.

What's the greatest threat to the public, health or tiredness?

So your driver passes his medical but then kills you or a member of your family because he's too knackered to keep his eyes open.

Something not quite right about this requirement, I'm not actually sure what they are trying to achieve.

I suppose it allows the driver to die healthy, if not a little exhausted.

Don't they have a medical before they're 60?

Isn't it age discrimination to accept the drivers' word that he's healthy when he's under 60, and not to when he's over 60?

Well it's a bit like any age limit for anything - they can be debated until the cows come home, but at the end of the day that's just the way things are done and have to be done.

I suppose they just think that 60 is the age when medical problems start coming to the fore. Of course, for many it may happen before that, or after, but where do you draw the line?

But whatever the precise age, things like blood pressure, cholestorol, blood sugar etc tend to increase with age, and eyesight deterioates, and there may be excess protein in your kidneys, suggesting that they're deteriorating. And that's just the basic markers of health.

Who knows, a compulsory medical could uncover something important, even if it doesn't stop you driving a taxi

I'm still under 50, never mind 60 so if my health was a risk to the public (which it isn't I might add), it would be well over a decade before the council found out.

I personally have no problem with medical checks but an arbitrary over 60 policy seems quite bizarre.
There are plenty under 60 who don't get checked so the question is how does such a policy protect the public?

The answer is it doesn't.

well i'm just over 40, ive had one heart attack and each time i get a pain in my chest i think im going to kill my passengers, i think we should all have medicals every quarter, just to protect the public from our bodies failing, obviously you can recieve a decent discount as cab drivers from my side business....quacks inc, instead of the standard £75 consultation, I'll charge you £50, but will insist on a full an*l check (its a little like an enhanced CRB, but involves a bunny), its got f*ck all to do with any medical ailment, but it makes me feel one hell of a lot better. .