[Closed] Elderly drivers are plain scary!

I just don't see why it is acceptable to drive for 50 years without needing to prove you can cope in what are massively different driving conditions.

I would really like to see a requirement to re-certify every ten years, for all of us. Yes, even me.

Rachel

You have to fill in a self declaration form every 3 years to say your still fit to drive when you reach the age of 70...

Dont see a problem with that! 8)

Retests at 65+ every 5 years.

Just "Retests [s]at 65+[/s] every 5 years" would be my preferred option!

If you worked in a factory handling a heavy piece of fast, dangerous machinery that killed thousands every year then you'd be regularly trained, retested and certified to use it.

Can't really see why the car is any different.

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-19205192 ]linky[/url]There was a 90 year old doctor (I assume retired) who killed someone near me recently after driving the wrong way up a dual carriage way. Numerous people flashed him but he continued until he collided with someone.

The day before he had failed an eye test, but still deemed himself fit to drive.

He got a suspended sentence.

I despair 🙄

Edit - [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-19205192 ]linky[/url]

In Spain there's a compulsory medical test every 10 years for under 65s, and every 5 after (I think). If you fail you don't get to renew your license. Not sure why the UK doesn't do something similar.

No - what is scary if the state of old people in hospital who think that they will be safe to drive when they leave.

My grandad decided to hand in his licence after he had an absence seizure... But he found it surprisingly difficult, the DSA didn't really seem to understand why he wanted to stop driving, and kept telling him he didn't have to give up his licence unless he was medically disqualified. Crazy.

Thoroughly agree with GrahamS's comment. A car is exactly that: a dangerous piece of machinery. I think lots of people don't realise this because modern cars are so comfortable and quiet and are often just seen as a fashion acccessory.

What should happen is that the cost of motor insurance for old folk should reflect the relative danger they pose on the roads.

Oh.......

http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-accidents-and-safety-annual-report-2010

Page 157/9

What GrahamS said a million times

It is always someoen else who needs retesting and never actually me or them

mate of mine passed his test and did not drive for 20 years or go near a car until he bought one.
thankfully he kept stalling it when he tried to drive and actually listened to the advice of having lessons- he is still a crap driver.

Grahams is spot on.
I work as a truck driver and have to retake my hiab (fold up crane) test every 3 years, but nothing for my driving license. 😯

Not allowing anyone to drive until they reach the age of 30 would have a much bigger impact [ 8) ] on accident stats

Not letting anyone drive unles they can gain the RoSPA Gold standard would work.

Not allowing anyone to drive [s]until they reach the age of 30[/s] would have a much bigger impact on accident stats

A year on a moped to qualify for starters, would make a lot of difference to attitudes and perception

I'm all for retests full stop. Passed my test 5 years ago and wouldn't see any problem with compulsory resists every 10 years or until 60 then every 5.

Had the same thing happen a few times!

I have a theory that anyone who wears a hat / headgear whilst driving should automatically be banned. Seems to be a common denominator.

so thats anti helmet then cougar-- you know the stats, head injuries in cars account for a lot of damage

I passed my driving test 47yrs ago. Held HGV licence (now C+E) since 1970. Undergone four 5-yearly medicals. So medically I'm ok and I don't legally need to re-test (yet). For every old geezer who looses the plot there appears to be an awful lot of young uns who kill/maim themselves or others. Oops sterotyping all youngsters (how dare I) 👿

Couger: I don't wear a hat 😉

Founder of the company I work for is 95 and drives a big 4x4. Now that does makes me nervous.....

Founder of the company I work for is 95 and drives a big 4x4. Now that does makes me nervous.....

Nope

Can you imagine if cars had only just been invented? H&S would be all over it!

I used to work in a chemical lab and the PPE and training we had to go through to dispense chemicals was (rightly) very strict. Yet you can go to a petrol station and dispense flammable toxic liquid with no PPE or training, no facilities for washing your hands afterwards.

Then you can get into 2 tonnes of vehicle and mix it on the roads with thousands of others in a massive variety of vehicles, some of whom may not have been tested for 50+ years!

Look at it that way and it's insane but becasue it's "just evolved that way", we just put up with it, accepting 3500 deaths per year as part of the price of freedom to travel.
My grandfather became absolutely terrifying in his old age, he'd had cataracts (operated on), was awful at judging speed/distance but the doctor never stopped him driving. 😯

I have definitely seen a decline in my fathers driving standards. He is 70 now. In his 50s he was a model driver, smooth, considerate, and he also used to drive a fire engine for a living, so did lots of training.

Recently i have noticed he has difficulty judging distances, and speeds, particularly pulling out of junctions and roundabouts. I suspect he is also less mobile, so may not be able to look over his shoulder as well as he could.

I am absolutely in favour of some kind of retesting. A simple one would be if the person is unable to engage the clutch without dialling in at least 7500rpm, then they should be banned immediately! (why do some old people do that? hearing loss?)

If you go to buy a Hyundai Getz or similar that should equal a permenant disqualification as you clearly do not like driving.

I am all for compulsory retests - there are a lot of people who don't know the speeds for roads, have no lane discipline and can not judge distance. Never look in their blind spots, are blinded by the sun but still pull out but the government will never enforce this as it will reduce the number of revenue they receive and they will alienate some of their voters.

On the other hand......

Some young drivers are just plain scary.

It's not a race!
Don't we all want to get there safe?

Just cuz I'm old and slow, do you have more right on the road than me cuz you is young and fast????

Fully agree with comments above, of course i'm better than average driver (along with 85% of motorists) but would graciously submit to a retest and medical every 5 years, mandatory eye test every 2 years ( many people have terrible eyesight but don't realise).

Be political suicide though, the age concern lobby would cry discrimination against the elderly , many people would oppose it because they'd be scared of failure, the Left would cry discrimination of the poor (can't see the retests being free). Then we'd have the sob stories where people are allowed to continue driving because a ban would destroy their lives (like the people driving around with 20+ points on there licence). Good ideas though.

accepting 3500 deaths per year as part of the price of freedom to travel

Down to 1850 deaths these days, but still way to high. And over 208,000 injuries per year!

there are a lot of people who don't know the speeds for roads

Yep. I see a lot of people who quite clearly think that the speed limit on a dual carriageway is still 60 (the temporary 1973-1977 limit). Or who think a dual carriageway is a road with two lanes in each direction. 😯

This is one of the issues with the whole "pass a test at 17 and you're good for fifty+ years" system: speed limits change, road rules change, new signs are introduced, safety advice changes - plus of course, bad habits develop and driving gets sloppy.

We should ALL be retested every five years as a condition of driving.

I have a cheaper solution than making everybody take regular retests. You could just survey every registered driver and ask them if they think regular retests are a good idea. Only those who say "Yes" get to continue driving.

everyone should be restested every five years anyway. ****ing useless bastards. I hate the drivers on our roads. God they are terrible.

YOU DON'T OWN THE ROAD!

YOU DON'T HAVE A RIGHT OVER OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE YOUR VEHICLE IS BIGGER/FASTER/MORE EXPENSIVE.

PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY, ABOUT TEN OF THEM ON THE ROADS SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE IN A RUSH OR THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION. 40 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR DIE WHEN WALKING ALONG THE PAVEMENT. THIS IS DUE TO DICKHEAD DRIVERS.

OVERTAKING SLOWER ROAD USERS WILL GET YOU ABOUT TEN ****ING YARDS DOWN THE ROAD, THEN THE SLOWER ROAD USERS WILL PASS YOU AGAIN AT THE NEXT JUNCTION. GROW UP YOU PATHETIC IDIOTS. TRY ANTICIPATING STUFF

YAY LOOK AT ME, i'M WAVING A LOADED GUN ABOUT MY HEAD WHILE TEXTING SOMEONE AND MASTURBATING. THIS IS CRAZY ISN'T IT? YET PEOPLE DO IT EVERY DAY IN THEIR CARS. GROW UP YOU CHILDREN!!!!

and many more rants about cars. I like fast cars and that but IU'd happily see every single one of them rmeoved from our roads for the simple reason that out of the 60 million people in Britain I'd probably trust one or two of them to drive a car and not do some cockend stuff in it.

[i]I have a theory that anyone who wears a hat / headgear whilst driving should automatically be banned. Seems to be a common denominator. [/i]

+1 plus, anyone with a fish on the boot.

plus, anyone with a fish on the boot.

Generally, I take that to mean that they're following their god's example, and therefore expect them to start moving in mysterious ways.

stumpyjon - Member

Fully agree with comments above, of course i'm better than average driver (along with 85% of motorists) but would graciously submit to a retest and medical every 5 years, mandatory eye test every 2 years ( many people have terrible eyesight but don't realise).

Be political suicide though, the age concern lobby would cry discrimination against the elderly , many people would oppose it because they'd be scared of failure, the Left would cry discrimination of the poor (can't see the retests being free). Then we'd have the sob stories where people are allowed to continue driving because a ban would destroy their lives (like the people driving around with 20+ points on there licence). Good ideas though.

+100 (and saved me typing the same thing :D)

Unfortunately this will NEVER happen as it [i][b]is[/b][/i] political suicide. However I'm sure there has been research and costings on this very topic. For example, would you do the retests on the X anniversary of passing the test, or from a driver's date of birth?

I have a theory that anyone who wears a hat / headgear whilst driving should automatically be banned. Seems to be a common denominator.

Elderly drivers are plain scary

Not sure what the first one was doing he wasn't taking fuel or paying he was just standing by his car (occupying a pump) with the doors open. The other one had pulled up on the wrong side so the fuel line was stretched over his car and the nozzle didn't fit properly so it was pissing fuel everywhere.

We'll all be old one day 🙂

samuri - Member

OVERTAKING SLOWER ROAD USERS WILL GET YOU ABOUT TEN **** YARDS DOWN THE ROAD, THEN THE SLOWER ROAD USERS WILL PASS YOU AGAIN AT THE NEXT JUNCTION. GROW UP YOU PATHETIC IDIOTS. TRY ANTICIPATING STUFF

Not everyone who overtakes is doing so in the belief that they will get to their destination any more quickly. Overtaking is allowed, you do know that?

I'm all for more rigorous driving tests and frequent re-tests.

As for retesting the cost would be enormous

[url= http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022530 ]Current practical test costs £62[/url]

I don't think paying that every five years would be an outrageous burden - and in all likelihood the costs could be driven down by the increased demand anyway.

I hope the 80 year old woman that did this to 'restore' a classic fresco hasn't got a driving license.

[img] [/img]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19349921

After 3+ years driving 2 hours a day (minimum) I can say without fear of being wrong that nobody else knows how to drive as well as me.
It's clearly the fault of the doddery old pillock that pulls out of the t-junction when he expects me to be doing 30mph when in fact I'm doing 75 (all in a 40 zone...). Additionally, if you have to drive so freaking slow then expect me to come past so fast and close I'll send your car rocking.
However, if you're overtaking me, then clearly you are driving like a twunt and need a good shoeing as you're risking my life...

Sadly, if you could record my ranting at other road users, you'd find I do actually think like this. I'll be glad when I move and half the amount of commuting time I do...!

buy a faster more responsive car, that way you can avoid the biddy brigade when they inevitable do something stupid 😉

Vrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!

anyone with a fish on the boot.

Are we allowed to shout at them, "well you're God wasn't looking out for you" when they crash?

The world has moved on from square wheels, and horses and carts- roads are not the same places they were in the 'olden' days.

I propose that the elderly are only allowed to drive between 5am and 6am, when normal people are still in bed.
Alternatively, I would be equally happy if they were forced to take a retest every time they wish to get behind the wheel.

While we're on about limiting old folks time on the road. How about caravans? They shouldn't be allowed to drive 8am to 8pm either! Pain in the arse that they are!

If testing every 5/10 years is made compulsory, we might even find that insurance costs go down as people re-learn how to drive properly.
15 years to the day after passing my driving test I passed my motorbike test. During my 1st week on two wheels for a [i]long[/i] while, I found it very scary to realise how much I had forgotten/never knew/ thought I knew.

Never mind old people; the number of drivers I've seen texting recently is shocking. It should deserve a year's ban , at least.
And compulsory auction of their car, whoever it belongs to! 😛

[quote=suburbanreuben ]If testing every 5/10 years is made compulsory, we might even find that insurance costs go down as people re-learn how to drive properly. The problem is, most accidents, deaths and injuries are amongst/caused by the youngest drivers. If you re-tested every 10 years you would achieve very little amongst the most problem group.

Of course, while insurance costs might decrease, you'd also have to employ an army of testers, paid for by the drivers.
____________________________________

Hi GW - * waves *

Perhaps its better to target high risk groups say, 17-22 age group or those with say 9 points on their licence. To some extent the longer you drive within reason or if you do high mileage the better driver you become as you are more experienced.

If you hate old drivers don't drive in Devon. Throw in a bunch of lost caravans and angry blokes driving people carriers and it's bloody scary (I say this as someone who spent 15 years driving in London).

The simplest way to improve driving standards across the board would be to mount a twelve inch steel spike in the centre of every car's steering wheel and remove the seatbelts.

Of course, while insurance costs might decrease, you'd also have to employ an army of testers, paid for by the drivers

The worst drivers I see are 40 something blokes, particularly those in familymobiles or 10 year old bottom of the range BMW 3 Series with ridiculous aftermarket alloy wheels.

I would like to see those convicted for a second offence of drink driving given an automatic life ban. Unrelated, just throwing it out there.

The worst drivers I see are 40 something blokes

Though strangely the insurance companies seem to think otherwise. Any young folk on here who can beat the <£200 insurance renewal on my familymobile?

[quote=aracer ]> The worst drivers I see are 40 something blokes
Though strangely the insurance companies seem to think otherwise.And what would they know about it 🙄 Don't come in to this thread and start throwing factual data around!
____________________________________

Hi GW - * waves *

No but I have one of those 13 year old bottom of the range bmw's! No big alloys though, I'm safe.

Though I do quite often drive with a hat on... (habbit came from my landy where if I didn't I was frozen!)

I hve just come home via some local road works which force single lane traffic outside but across the road from the local shop. An old boy has parked outside the doorjust inside the traffic lit section. In the "shadow" of the lights if you like. Facing into the restricted area. Cars can barely squeeze by and the whopping big tractor with trailer can't. He had a 200 yard queue behind him but was now blocked. The parked car can't move as the tractor is up against him, he can reverse as he is jammed against the lights , the traffic waiting to come through can't, the 3 rd controlled entry is now trying to move and is already obstructing the other junctions.
All because so dozy old so and so wanted to park outside the shop. For his missus who looked fit and able to me to avoid walking 20 yards.
It's the lack of fast thinking and awareness that so worries me.

Not allowing anyone to drive until they reach the age of 30 would have a much bigger impact [ ] on accident stats

Yeah and it'd have a huge effect on the quality of public transport too. I'm in.

The other thing I'll do when I'm in power is to put up big signs on motorway sliproads saying SPEED UP! THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SLIP ROADS! Maybe an electronic one like the ones they have in 30 limits but set to trigger if you are trundling out into 70mph traffic at 40.

Mattsccm - there's a spot in the town centre of Ludlow where you can fit a car part on the pavement and part on the road, at a tight bend near the old market hall. If you park there cars can squeeze by but anything larger can't. So they get stuck, and this causes traffic to back up around the rest of the one way system which, if left long enough will gridlock the entire town 🙂