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After decades of hard graft, the prospect of being able to sit back and enjoy a long and healthy retirement keeps many workers going in the twilight oi their careers, But it looks like most of us will have to soldier on for longer before we can benefit from a state pension.
Plans drawn up by the former Labour government called for retirement ages for both men and women to initially be harmonised at 65, then increased further frc 2024. Now the coalition government has hinted that it wants to speed up that proces; following concerns that Britain's debt-ridde economy can ill-afford to pay for future pension needs.
Under the latest proposals, the state pension age will be increased to 66 for men 2016 at the earliest, and for women by 2020 After that, it could be increased even furtfic to 70 or beyond.
The pensions crisis has emerged because the country's enormous budget deficit and longer life expectancy. When the first
contributory state pension was introduced in 1926, only a third of men and 40% of women were expected to live to 65. Now life expectancy for people who reach retirement is 86 for men and 89 for women, which means many pensioners will spend almost a third of their lives in retirement and drawing a state pension.
But what does raising the retirement age mean for the haulage industry and are there road safety issues to be addressed if, one day, 70-year-olds are still on the road in charge of 40-tonne trucks?
Under current regulations. HCiV drivers must take a medical at every new licence application after the age of 45. Once they hit 65, these checks are annual. But is it safe to have drivers of advancing years navigating Britain's roads? Or would their experience and know-how be a major benefit to the industry?
CM's operator panel is divided on the issue. Some believe elderly drivers lack the perception and reaction times needed to he in charge of fully-laden HGVs. Others are convinced that, as long as they pass their annual health checks, there's no reason why industry veterans should not be allowed to remain behind the wheel. I