Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Andy B on 02 November 2010, 22:44:48
-
there's a programme on telly asking whether OLD drivers should still be driving.
Coincidently ........ :-? :-? I wonder if Lizzie has met him .... or about to? ;D ;D ;D
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/8489573.Pensioner_overturns_car_in_Kendal/
-
its "one of them issues" at the moment.
if it was you, would you want your freedom?
once was given the number of an 85 year old lady who reqd help with her vehicle.
had it serviced by "someone" and since had running problems on a 89 fiesta.
air pipes had been left off the air filter which had caused the basic problems.
a quick £20 was the bill, to which the reply was a bundle of notes.
one of the notes was taken and any further problems, please ring me first.
back tom the topic..
a week later the old girl got out of the motor forgetting the handbrake a subsequently wrote the motor off into a wall.
as much as i wouldnt want anyone to make the decision for me later on, its a tough one.
thankfully she hung up her keys..
-
There's a simple answer to your question-
a resounding YES!!
-
To be honest as soon as anyone starts commenting on my driving being bad, and me agreeing with them I shall give up driving, I won't get to the stage where I'm going to wind people up on the road, I've got two sons so I'll be fine :y
-
got a feeling del, the kids will be the first to comment, and the last to help! ::) ;D
-
There are far too many old people on the road that really are not up to it and shouldn't be there. I remember about 6 months ago I was waiting at a roundabout and a very elderly looking lady was doing about 5mph around it, the wrong way.... she just looked completely confused and you have to wonder why they put themselves and other road users through it.
All too often you see old people revving the guts out of their cars when parking, it's not surprising to read that they've overturned their car when their foot slips, it's bloody dangerous to be anywhere near one when that's happening!
They should know when they've had their day and their reactions are not up to it anymore, I certainly don't intend to carry on driving when it becomes a chore to be able to keep up with the traffic, I'll hang up my keys without a second thought...and I like driving :P
-
There are far too many old people on the road that really are not up to it and shouldn't be there. I remember about 6 months ago I was waiting at a roundabout and a very elderly looking lady was doing about 5mph around it, the wrong way.... she just looked completely confused and you have to wonder why they put themselves and other road users through it.
All too often you see old people revving the guts out of their cars when parking, it's not surprising to read that they've overturned their car when their foot slips, it's bloody dangerous to be anywhere near one when that's happening!
They should know when they've had their day and their reactions are not up to it anymore, I certainly don't intend to carry on driving when it becomes a chore to be able to keep up with the traffic, I'll hang up my keys without a second thought...and I like driving :P
Very common.... :-/
-
There are far too many old people on the road that really are not up to it and shouldn't be there. I remember about 6 months ago I was waiting at a roundabout and a very elderly looking lady was doing about 5mph around it, the wrong way.... she just looked completely confused and you have to wonder why they put themselves and other road users through it.
All too often you see old people revving the guts out of their cars when parking, it's not surprising to read that they've overturned their car when their foot slips, it's bloody dangerous to be anywhere near one when that's happening!
They should know when they've had their day and their reactions are not up to it anymore, I certainly don't intend to carry on driving when it becomes a chore to be able to keep up with the traffic, I'll hang up my keys without a second thought...and I like driving :P
How old are you now? cos if you are under 70 then I do not believe you.....
I had to get my Mum (73) to take me to the doctors last week, not happy with driving myself, she was OK but on the line that made me think about the time I will have to tell her she should not be driving, Dad first though... ::) ::)
-
There are far too many old people on the road that really are not up to it and shouldn't be there. I remember about 6 months ago I was waiting at a roundabout and a very elderly looking lady was doing about 5mph around it, the wrong way.... she just looked completely confused and you have to wonder why they put themselves and other road users through it.
All too often you see old people revving the guts out of their cars when parking, it's not surprising to read that they've overturned their car when their foot slips, it's bloody dangerous to be anywhere near one when that's happening!
They should know when they've had their day and their reactions are not up to it anymore, I certainly don't intend to carry on driving when it becomes a chore to be able to keep up with the traffic, I'll hang up my keys without a second thought...and I like driving :P
How old are you now? cos if you are under 70 then I do not believe you.....
I had to get my Mum (73) to take me to the doctors last week, not happy with driving myself, she was OK but on the line that made me think about the time I will have to tell her she should not be driving, Dad first though... ::) ::)
Yeah, maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit, I'm only 38 - but if I don't feel up to driving anymore and feel out of my depth on the road, I'll give it up. I wish more old people would admit this to themselves. Some of them need to know that they're dangerous
-
There are far too many old people on the road that really are not up to it and shouldn't be there. I remember about 6 months ago I was waiting at a roundabout and a very elderly looking lady was doing about 5mph around it, the wrong way.... she just looked completely confused and you have to wonder why they put themselves and other road users through it.
All too often you see old people revving the guts out of their cars when parking, it's not surprising to read that they've overturned their car when their foot slips, it's bloody dangerous to be anywhere near one when that's happening!
They should know when they've had their day and their reactions are not up to it anymore, I certainly don't intend to carry on driving when it becomes a chore to be able to keep up with the traffic, I'll hang up my keys without a second thought...and I like driving :P
thats the problem, when you get there, will you feel the same way.
my grand father retired to majorca, entered the world of lhd.
being deaf, he could not hear the horns of fustration that me and my brother could hear aged 15-17 in the back.
they drive mad and furious anyway, but according to g pops, they were all wrong?!
-
got a feeling del, the kids will be the first to comment, and the last to help! ::) ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Lets not get to goody goody, until you have experienced your licence removed then you have no idea.. :)
I lost my PSV and HGV because of health, after a 3 year wait I had to fight to get them back, DVLA said they were checking with medical people, a clear lie as no records on my very regular check ups of them asking..... >:(
I now have them both back, I do not see a situation where I will use the but it is the principal..., i have them so if I want to use them I can.... :y
-
we have just been through this with parents and it is upsetting for them - loss of independence etc. Replaced the car with 2 mobility scooters which has been helpful. Trouble is they do not plan for these things and just go on about more things we cannot do etc.
As was said on programme tonight pensioners are the highest accident stats (I think on a per mile driven basis however they work that out). Trouble is that the decision is a tough one/family influenced - very personal and no correct answers
-
Bit of a chestnut this one. Some :- YES, others :-NO you can't tar them all with the same brush. The fairest way to deal with this is after a given age they should sit an annual driving assessment. Not as stringent as the full test just a buzz around town for half an hour to make sure all is still ok.
Before you all sit in judgement we're all going to have to hang our keys up one day.
-
we have just been through this with parents and it is upsetting for them - loss of independence etc. Replaced the car with 2 mobility scooters which has been helpful. Trouble is they do not plan for these things and just go on about more things we cannot do etc.
As was said on programme tonight pensioners are the highest accident stats (I think on a per mile driven basis however they work that out). Trouble is that the decision is a tough one/family influenced - very personal and no correct answers
if that were true (as my 17 year old nip) £3200 insurance.
would not that on a reduced income be an incentive to hang up the keys??
-
When I was a youngster I used to think that they should have their licences revoked at about 60 ! ::) ::)
Now Im in my fifties, I think it should be somwhat later. ::) ;D
I think peoples driving should be monitored in some way when they become "elderly" and if they are obviously not up to it, then take the keys off them. Some people of 80+ are no doubt still excellent drivers and some people in their 20,s couldnt drive a pig with a stick.
This reminds me of my poor old dad. He always loved cars - driving them , working on them etc. but he had his licenece revoked about 10 years ago (he is 79) due to the aftwer affects of heart attacks and strokes - eyesight was the biggest problem.
Every week when I speak to him on the phone , he still sounds heartbroken by the fact that he cant drive anymore. He still thinks he could "drive better than most of the eejits they let lose in cars these days". The fact is he has no peripheral vision, poor forward vision and the reactions of a quadraplegic tortoise - its never going to happen, but its hard to tell him that. :(
-
When I was a youngster I used to think that they should have their licences revoked at about 60 ! ::) ::)
Now Im in my fifties, I think it should be somwhat later. ::) ;D
I think peoples driving should be monitored in some way when they become "elderly" and if they are obviously not up to it, then take the keys off them. Some people of 80+ are no doubt still excellent drivers and some people in their 20,s couldnt drive a pig with a stick.
This reminds me of my poor old dad. He always loved cars - driving them , working on them etc. but he had his licenece revoked about 10 years ago (he is 79) due to the aftwer affects of heart attacks and strokes - eyesight was the biggest problem.
Every week when I speak to him on the phone , he still sounds heartbroken by the fact that he cant drive anymore. He still thinks he could "drive better than most of the eejits they let lose in cars these days". The fact is he has no peripheral vision, poor forward vision and the reactions of a quadraplegic tortoise - its never going to happen, but its hard to tell him that. :(
It was the same with my father before he died, his vision was deteriorating badly due to diabetes-related glaucoma, but he kept on driving, foolishly so, because he didn't want to give up the independence that he had had for so long. There came a time however, when he recognised that he just couldn't risk it anymore and my mother took driving lessons at the age of 60 and passed first time!
I do realise that it's a huge wrench for someone to give up driving, but as I said, there becomes a point that they become a danger to themselves and others on the road. I think an annual test after a certain age is a good idea
-
When I was a youngster I used to think that they should have their licences revoked at about 60 ! ::) ::)
Now Im in my fifties, I think it should be somwhat later. ::) ;D
I think peoples driving should be monitored in some way when they become "elderly" and if they are obviously not up to it, then take the keys off them. Some people of 80+ are no doubt still excellent drivers and some people in their 20,s couldnt drive a pig with a stick.
This reminds me of my poor old dad. He always loved cars - driving them , working on them etc. but he had his licenece revoked about 10 years ago (he is 79) due to the aftwer affects of heart attacks and strokes - eyesight was the biggest problem.
Every week when I speak to him on the phone , he still sounds heartbroken by the fact that he cant drive anymore. He still thinks he could "drive better than most of the eejits they let lose in cars these days". The fact is he has no peripheral vision, poor forward vision and the reactions of a quadraplegic tortoise - its never going to happen, but its hard to tell him that. :(
(http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b460/tapper888/550w_reality_tv_maureen_rees_1.jpg)
what happens when you was not the best in the first place, let alone when your faculties start to disappear!!
-
Bit of a chestnut this one. Some :- YES, others :-NO you can't tar them all with the same brush. The fairest way to deal with this is after a given age they should sit an annual driving assessment. Not as stringent as the full test just a buzz around town for half an hour to make sure all is still ok.
Before you all sit in judgement we're all going to have to hang our keys up one day.
absolutely Amigo, they have this in New Zealand and my grandmother had her licence pulled at 83 (although the tester gave reason as she didn't check her rear mirror enough?) and yes it was a loss of independence and a life changer for her but i must say i would rather that than have her roll her car over in a car park like my other grandmother!! naturally that was her last day driving!
-
I agree with Amigo,lets face it on my daily 50 mile round trip commute on the M4 you have only got to watch what goes on in lane 3 (not many geriatric drivers out there methinks)and it's the same at most intersections,a red light means speed up! Having spent 20 years in the London Ambulance service I can tell you and as most police officers will also say the same it's the general population that have the most accidents so who are they to pass judgement when they are in the majority! I have yet hear anyone own up to being a rubbish driver because as we know everyone thinks they are the best driver on the road,statistics will say not!
-
When you're young, speed is what matters to most, and you can't understand why some drivers observe speed limits.
When you're old, you understand why drivers observe speed limits.
One question, when was the last time you studied the highway code, and the traffic signs?
Has anyone read the police driving manual, Road Craft?
I joined RoSPA a couple of years ago and took their advanced driving test (passed), doesn't make me the worlds best driver, but they teach you defensive driving, i.e. how to recognise, and avoid other pratts on the road, amongst other things, and make you a safer driver.
I agree, to a point, there should be a re-test, but it should apply to everyone!
-
there's a programme on telly asking whether OLD drivers should still be driving.
Coincidently ........ :-? :-? I wonder if Lizzie has met him .... or about to? ;D ;D ;D
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/8489573.Pensioner_overturns_car_in_Kendal/
Yes I have met him!! >:( >:( >:( >:(
No, seriously there will be a time for all of us when we will know when it is time to hang up the car keys. :'( :'( :'(
The problem is judging yourself when that should be, and for everyone else's sake we hope it is not too late! ::) ::)
My 80+ year old parents are a good example of how you can leave it too late. Following 3 strokes he was still classed as fit to drive, but then after about 15 years he had a series of small low speed accidents, and one other where he didn't see a lorry alongside him on a motorway and he wondered out into his lane!! Offside of his Volvo was reshaped!! ::) ::) ::)
My mum then took over driving duties, but she had a small accident that required the car to go in for repair. She hired a replacement car, and on the forecourt of the garage managed to "shoot" forward, hit a ramp, take off and land on three cars bonnets!!! ::) ::) ::) ::)
Both surrendered their licences!!
As for me I am a insulin dependant diabetic, and have informed in the past both my insurance company and the DVLA. The latter have put me on a short 3 year licence which, after a doctors report, will (hopefully) be renewed every 3 years thereafter. But after seeing my parents and other elderly folk at the wheel too long, I will be extra careful that I take the decision to say "that's it, no more driving" when the time is right. ;) ;)
-
.....The fact is he has no peripheral vision, poor forward vision and the reactions of a quadraplegic tortoise.....
You`ve just described my 83year old Father; whom still IS driving!.......He can pass the driving eye test (which is a simple number-plate read) but only has one eye, and his vision in the other is severely limited.....despite my protests he will not stop driving. :'(
-
My mother, who is 102.3/4 still drives......
Me bonkers at times.... ::)
-
My father and mother are both 73, my father is an excellant driver, but dislikes driving far, my mother is a "to the book" driver that WILL NOT go 1 mile an hour over the speed limit.
BOTH of them have said that as soon as they reach 80 (when they next have to take an assessment incidentally...) they will stop driving.
Neither of them say they enjoy it any more, its just essential for shopping and visiting, and neither are bad drivers, or incompetant. They just feel that the traffic goes too fast on motorways, and the "fun" for them has gone.
-
The only crash i have been in is when i was Test driving a Citroen Saxo back in 2003 with a lady in her 80's. Been driving a Citroen AX for 10 years so i took her out first to a quiet part of Kidderminster (where i worked) and swopped over. Ran through the basic controls and made sure her seat was comfortable and set correctly. Throughout the testdrive she drove very near the kerb but never hitting it, so we carried on....Approaching a roundabout she got confused, hit the accelerator, we ploughed straight over the roundabout hitting a tree in the process. She was a complete wreck as was i. A few days later she came in to the dealership saying how sorry she was and that she would no longer be driving.
I do wonder if she had made it through the test drive and bought the car from me that something worse could have happened.
-
Bit of a chestnut this one. Some :- YES, others :-NO you can't tar them all with the same brush. The fairest way to deal with this is after a given age they should sit an annual driving assessment. Not as stringent as the full test just a buzz around town for half an hour to make sure all is still ok.
Before you all sit in judgement we're all going to have to hang our keys up one day.
Nail on the head there big fella ;)
-
It makes my blood boil when I hear all this business about aged drivers. As was stated earlier just look at lane 3 on motorways.....watch Road Wars, etc, on the telly. How many cases affect the aged ???? >:(
I agree there ARE people out there who should give up their licence.....but the majority are below 50!!!!!!!! >:(
I left Brackley on Monday after being followed up the A43 by a women in a Zaphira, who followed me onto the M40....went out to the middle lane ...and stayed there, not overtaking me, whilst I used the almost empty nearside lane at 70. In the end I left her there as my speed was faster than hers...but saw the problems she was causing from my rear mirrors. Age about 30ish.
After Oxford another idiot.....middle lane, N reg puddle jumper, driver male about 21-25 years old. Heavier traffic and he had people undertaking, overtaking, light flashing, but still he stayed there. >:( (And I bet the undertaking lot were 'young generation')
Statistics can be manouvered in any direction, just by slighty altering the question, so are imho a load of rubbish :y
-
.....The fact is he has no peripheral vision, poor forward vision and the reactions of a quadraplegic tortoise.....
You`ve just described my 83year old Father; whom still IS driving!.......He can pass the driving eye test (which is a simple number-plate read) but only has one eye, and his vision in the other is severely limited.....despite my protests he will not stop driving. :'(
What I didn't say about my parents Debs was that when my father became dangerous, my mother under some pressure from me, my sister and brothers went to her GP and he agreed to contact the DVLA after he had seen my father.
Pressure can be brought into the situation once it becomes obvious they are a danger to others.
Coincidentally a friend of mine has a father the same age as my father, and he is now at that stage when he should stop driving. He's reversed out of his driveway into a large white van ( ;D ;D ;D ;D :y) that he said he didn't see! He has apparently ignored red traffic lights so his daughter states, and at the scene of an accident, driven past the queue being held by a policeman, whilst ignoring the stationary police car with it flashing lights, which he said afterwards he didn't see!! Minor bumbs and scuffs are starting to appear all over his car, so this can only end in one thing. Him being taken off the road one way or another! ::) ::)
-
When you're young, speed is what matters to most, and you can't understand why some drivers observe speed limits.
When you're old, you understand why drivers observe speed limits.
All except my Grandad, who was a total maniac. As soon as the rev limiter (My Nan) passed away there was no stopping him. The worse his cataracts got, the faster he drove. :o
I still remember an occasion as his passenger a few months before he voluntarily hung up his car keys. There we were, belting down the outside lane of the M2 at something approaching 3 figure speeds (In a Volvo 340GL - so flat out!) and I'm wondering if he's seen the lane closure and row of cones about 600 yds ahead. :o Turned out he hadn't. ::)
I agree, to a point, there should be a re-test, but it should apply to everyone!
Agreed. Pilots don't fly without a regular check on their competence. No reason it should be any different for drivers. Bad habits develop and, without someone to pull you up on them, you will never realise it.
The problem with drivers who really ought to hang up their keys, whether through old age or simply because they aren't much good at it, is that they lose their freedom. In most places there's no viable alternative to getting about by car, unfortunately.
Kevin
-
When you're young, speed is what matters to most, and you can't understand why some drivers observe speed limits.
When you're old, you understand why drivers observe speed limits.
All except my Grandad, who was a total maniac. As soon as the rev limiter (My Nan) passed away there was no stopping him. The worse his cataracts got, the faster he drove. :o
I still remember an occasion as his passenger a few months before he voluntarily hung up his car keys. There we were, belting down the outside lane of the M2 at something approaching 3 figure speeds (In a Volvo 340GL - so flat out!) and I'm wondering if he's seen the lane closure and row of cones about 600 yds ahead. :o Turned out he hadn't. ::)
I agree, to a point, there should be a re-test, but it should apply to everyone!
Agreed. Pilots don't fly without a regular check on their competence. No reason it should be any different for drivers. Bad habits develop and, without someone to pull you up on them, you will never realise it.
The problem with drivers who really ought to hang up their keys, whether through old age or simply because they aren't much good at it, is that they lose their freedom. In most places there's no viable alternative to getting about by car, unfortunately.
Kevin
Well i'm blowed Keven!! Is there a connection?? :D :D :D
That is the exact type of Volvo my dad also drove until he wanded in his lane into the side of a lorry!! :P :P :P
-
Well i'm blowed Keven!! Is there a connection?? :D :D :D
That is the exact type of Volvo my dad also drove until he wanded in his lane into the side of a lorry!! :P :P :P
Don't suppose he lived in Faversham too? ;)
Kevin
-
I remember about 19 years ago on the Somerset Levels M5 lots of spray but VERY little traffic. I was maintaining about 70 on the L/H lane.
On the far right lane there was a car doing 60 - just passed it without changing lane
-
When you're young, speed is what matters to most, and you can't understand why some drivers observe speed limits.
When you're old, you understand why drivers observe speed limits.
All except my Grandad, who was a total maniac. As soon as the rev limiter (My Nan) passed away there was no stopping him. The worse his cataracts got, the faster he drove. :o
I still remember an occasion as his passenger a few months before he voluntarily hung up his car keys. There we were, belting down the outside lane of the M2 at something approaching 3 figure speeds (In a Volvo 340GL - so flat out!) and I'm wondering if he's seen the lane closure and row of cones about 600 yds ahead. :o Turned out he hadn't. ::)
I agree, to a point, there should be a re-test, but it should apply to everyone!
Agreed. Pilots don't fly without a regular check on their competence. No reason it should be any different for drivers. Bad habits develop and, without someone to pull you up on them, you will never realise it.
The problem with drivers who really ought to hang up their keys, whether through old age or simply because they aren't much good at it, is that they lose their freedom. In most places there's no viable alternative to getting about by car, unfortunately.
Kevin
Mini-cabs are an option in urban areas and they can work out cheaper than running a car yourself I'm told.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. There needs to be a system of removing licences from all incompetent drivers and then there would be no need to pick on young, old or ginger drivers. It would all come out in the wash and we could afford to run a public transport system too. :y
-
I certainly feel that after a certain age there should be a safety assessment, net necessarily carried out by an Examiner, but, a suitably qualified instructor. This should also be backed up with a medical and a reaction test...
Both of my parents drive and in my opinion both are still safe at the moment, that said, I know that they will do the right thing when the time comes....
-
my dad still drives having just turned 84,he also still tows a 16 foot caravan with his c5 and having followed him recently without his knowledge can vouch for the fact that he can still cope very well.he certainly does not crawl around and unlike many so called competent caravanners he can reverse the van anywhere that he wants to much to the surprise of fellow campers when on site :y.
-
I certainly feel that after a certain age there should be a safety assessment, net necessarily carried out by an Examiner, but, a suitably qualified instructor. This should also be backed up with a medical and a reaction test...
Both of my parents drive and in my opinion both are still safe at the moment, that said, I know that they will do the right thing when the time comes....
That's where I cannot agree. Self-assessment is seriously flawed in the case of driving impairments.
-
Well i'm blowed Keven!! Is there a connection?? :D :D :D
That is the exact type of Volvo my dad also drove until he wanded in his lane into the side of a lorry!! :P :P :P
Don't suppose he lived in Faversham too? ;)
Kevin
No Kevin, Southam, so he was troubling everyone around Warwickshire :D :D :D :D ;)
-
Very difficult question to answer IMO. Everyone is different and has different capabilities as they age. My father was always an awful driver even in his 40's and steadily became worse. I suggested once that he give up driving and really got my head bitten off. However at the end he had two small accidents with no one else involved and this brought it home to him that it was time to cease his driving career. It should not have got to that however.
With another hat on I regularly see drivers of all different ages who have transgressed the road traffic acts ( I leave it up to members to speculate what hat that might be!!). Every single one is different. I have seen in the same morning a 60 year old and a 94 year old both having had very minor accidents and with previously clean records. The 60 year old should definitely have not been driving as his reactions and mental faculties were evidently below par, whereas the 94 year old was as bright as a button and was completely alert and physically fit. My choice would be that when drivers reach a certain age, I would say perhaps 65, they should have to retake a test to ensure their fitness to continue to drive and thereafter a test every 5 years.
-
Very difficult question to answer IMO. Everyone is different and has different capabilities as they age. My father was always an awful driver even in his 40's and steadily became worse. I suggested once that he give up driving and really got my head bitten off. However at the end he had two small accidents with no one else involved and this brought it home to him that it was time to cease his driving career. It should not have got to that however.
With another hat on I regularly see drivers of all different ages who have transgressed the road traffic acts ( I leave it up to members to speculate what hat that might be!!). Every single one is different. I have seen in the same morning a 60 year old and a 94 year old both having had very minor accidents and with previously clean records. The 60 year old should definitely have not been driving as his reactions and mental faculties were evidently below par, whereas the 94 year old was as bright as a button and was completely alert and physically fit. My choice would be that when drivers reach a certain age, I would say perhaps 65, they should have to retake a test to ensure their fitness to continue to drive and thereafter a test every 5 years.
I know that some insurance companies used to ask for a medical certificate from a doctor after a certain age,I remember my grandfather had to produce one each year upon renewal,he drove until my dad stopped him after a minor skirmish with a hedge but he was 91
-
Very difficult question to answer IMO. Everyone is different and has different capabilities as they age. My father was always an awful driver even in his 40's and steadily became worse. I suggested once that he give up driving and really got my head bitten off. However at the end he had two small accidents with no one else involved and this brought it home to him that it was time to cease his driving career. It should not have got to that however.
With another hat on I regularly see drivers of all different ages who have transgressed the road traffic acts ( I leave it up to members to speculate what hat that might be!!). Every single one is different. I have seen in the same morning a 60 year old and a 94 year old both having had very minor accidents and with previously clean records. The 60 year old should definitely have not been driving as his reactions and mental faculties were evidently below par, whereas the 94 year old was as bright as a button and was completely alert and physically fit. My choice would be that when drivers reach a certain age, I would say perhaps 65, they should have to retake a test to ensure their fitness to continue to drive and thereafter a test every 5 years.[/quote]
Why single out 65 year olds, the way youngsters and especially mothers with a car load of kids (windows steamed up) drive around our estate, everyone should be re-tested periodicaly.
The driving test is too easy, in my opinion, and should be based on the advanced driving test.
Yes, everyone, at some time, has to hang up their keys, but if it was compulsory for everyone to take a re-test, hopefully, there would be a lot of better drivers on the road, young and old.
As Stirling Moss said on a recent interview, when asked how he drove now, compared with when he was younger, he replied 'Slower'.
-
There seems to be a trend here, quite a few of you have said that their elderly parents/friends only gave up driving when they'd had accidents, minor or otherwise. To get back to the OP's point, why do we let it get this far? Relying on self assessment will never work, there should be a regular test to prove your continued ability on the road.
Should this apply to everyone? Yes, but more frequently for people over 70, certainly
There are undoubtedly terrible drivers on the road, young and old. Ther would be a big outcry if regular tests came into being, but I think it's what we need to keep dangerous drivers off the road. Think how many bad habits drivers pick up over the years, there's nothing to get them back to some sort of standard.
I took extra advanced defensive driving lessons when my first child was born, because I wanted to make sure I knew all I could about the road and how the professionals keep themselves safe on the road, so I took nothing for granted, and I learned a lot in the process. And I thought I was a pretty good driver (as does everyone). There is nothing else to keep drivers on their toes
-
Why single out 65 year olds, the way youngsters and especially mothers with a car load of kids (windows steamed up) drive around our estate, everyone should be re-tested periodicaly.
Agreed. Sit on any business park round here and you'll see Van drivers and reps all driving round one-handed with a phone clamped to their ear. Even people leaving offices in the evening trying to get out of a car park onto a busy road one-handed. Why not make the phone call in safety before you drive off? >:(
A compulsory "refresher" say every 5 years would help, with the option, perhaps only exercised in extreme cases, for the examiner to revoke your license and send you back to driving school if your driving is dangerously sub-standard. I suspect it would be met with uproar that the rite of passage into driving can be reversed but why would any competent driver have anything to fear?
Enforcement is also part of the issue. The above goes on because it is tolerated by the authorities. As simple as that. Speeding appears to be the only motoring offence receiving significant attention at the moment.
Kevin
-
Why single out 65 year olds, the way youngsters and especially mothers with a car load of kids (windows steamed up) drive around our estate, everyone should be re-tested periodicaly.
Agreed. Sit on any business park round here and you'll see Van drivers and reps all driving round one-handed with a phone clamped to their ear. Even people leaving offices in the evening trying to get out of a car park onto a busy road one-handed. Why not make the phone call in safety before you drive off? >:(
A compulsory "refresher" say every 5 years would help, with the option, perhaps only exercised in extreme cases, for the examiner to revoke your license and send you back to driving school if your driving is dangerously sub-standard. I suspect it would be met with uproar that the rite of passage into driving can be reversed but why would any competent driver have anything to fear?
Enforcement is also part of the issue. The above goes on because it is tolerated by the authorities. As simple as that. Speeding appears to be the only motoring offence receiving significant attention at the moment.
Kevin
Enforcement is also part of the issue
It should play a significant part in my view.
Speeding appears to be the only motoring offence receiving significant attention at the moment
Rightly so as a lot of people use speed in inappropriate circumstances.
The mere fact that machines are left to do most of the work thereby accruing a positive revenue stream for the 'Safety Partnerships' is of course incidental - why pay Trafpol when you can site a box instead?
It doesn't really matter if a substantial number of offences other than excess speed are disregarded by the machines as the acquisition of easy money seems to be of the essence.
-
Don't you have medical checkups in UK for the drivers above certain age?
-
Don't you have medical checkups in UK for the drivers above certain age?
No, but you have to declare if you have a medical condition, can't remember the list, but if it's on the list, I believe you have to get clearance from your GP that you're fit to drive.
-
Don't you have medical checkups in UK for the drivers above certain age?
No, but you have to declare if you have a medical condition, can't remember the list, but if it's on the list, I believe you have to get clearance from your GP that you're fit to drive.
It's quite viable for relatives to tip off doctors about age-related or health-related impairments that might cause danger driving. The problem is that it is seen as dis-loyal and can cause enormous family frictions if discovered.
Doctors also need to maintain good relations with their patients and this conspires against realistic results.
Driving tests are an adversarial system where the examiners are stereotypically disliked. Perfect for regular assessments that mean something.
-
The mere fact that machines are left to do most of the work thereby accruing a positive revenue stream for the 'Safety Partnerships' is of course incidental - why pay Trafpol when you can site a box instead?
It doesn't really matter if a substantial number of offences other than excess speed are disregarded by the machines as the acquisition of easy money seems to be of the essence.
I passed two huddles of at least 3 officers on my way in to work yesterday. All on a stretch of road which has recently been reduced from 40 to 30, despite the previous 40 limit not, IMHO, being unreasonable.
Such a huge mass of hi-vis material must have been visible from 1/2 a mile for any driver paying even a token amount of attention to the road. Accordingly, they were doing very little business. Deploying them around the business park at 5:00pm pulling drivers on their phones would have been a better use of their time.
Kevin
-
The mere fact that machines are left to do most of the work thereby accruing a positive revenue stream for the 'Safety Partnerships' is of course incidental - why pay Trafpol when you can site a box instead?
It doesn't really matter if a substantial number of offences other than excess speed are disregarded by the machines as the acquisition of easy money seems to be of the essence.
I passed two huddles of at least 3 officers on my way in to work yesterday. All on a stretch of road which has recently been reduced from 40 to 30, despite the previous 40 limit not, IMHO, being unreasonable.
Such a huge mass of hi-vis material must have been visible from 1/2 a mile for any driver paying even a token amount of attention to the road. Accordingly, they were doing very little business. Deploying them around the business park at 5:00pm pulling drivers on their phones would have been a better use of their time.
Kevin
I agree, it seems that every other driver on the road has a phone glued to their ear >:(
-
The mere fact that machines are left to do most of the work thereby accruing a positive revenue stream for the 'Safety Partnerships' is of course incidental - why pay Trafpol when you can site a box instead?
It doesn't really matter if a substantial number of offences other than excess speed are disregarded by the machines as the acquisition of easy money seems to be of the essence.
I passed two huddles of at least 3 officers on my way in to work yesterday. All on a stretch of road which has recently been reduced from 40 to 30, despite the previous 40 limit not, IMHO, being unreasonable.
Such a huge mass of hi-vis material must have been visible from 1/2 a mile for any driver paying even a token amount of attention to the road. Accordingly, they were doing very little business. Deploying them around the business park at 5:00pm pulling drivers on their phones would have been a better use of their time.
Kevin
I agree, it seems that every other driver on the road has a phone glued to their ear >:(
I'm not agreeing with mobile phone use while driving but I can understand someone on a motorway taking an incoming call if only to say they'll ring back, but leaving a parking place on one is absolutely foolhardy, anti-social, lowest-of-the-low behaviour and all too common.
-
The mere fact that machines are left to do most of the work thereby accruing a positive revenue stream for the 'Safety Partnerships' is of course incidental - why pay Trafpol when you can site a box instead?
It doesn't really matter if a substantial number of offences other than excess speed are disregarded by the machines as the acquisition of easy money seems to be of the essence.
I passed two huddles of at least 3 officers on my way in to work yesterday. All on a stretch of road which has recently been reduced from 40 to 30, despite the previous 40 limit not, IMHO, being unreasonable.
Such a huge mass of hi-vis material must have been visible from 1/2 a mile for any driver paying even a token amount of attention to the road. Accordingly, they were doing very little business. Deploying them around the business park at 5:00pm pulling drivers on their phones would have been a better use of their time.
Kevin
I agree, it seems that every other driver on the road has a phone glued to their ear >:(
I'm not agreeing with mobile phone use while driving but I can understand someone on a motorway taking an incoming call if only to say they'll ring back, but leaving a parking place on one is absolutely foolhardy, anti-social, lowest-of-the-low behaviour and all too common.
I can't :o
...and they want us OAP's to re-test >:(
-
The mere fact that machines are left to do most of the work thereby accruing a positive revenue stream for the 'Safety Partnerships' is of course incidental - why pay Trafpol when you can site a box instead?
It doesn't really matter if a substantial number of offences other than excess speed are disregarded by the machines as the acquisition of easy money seems to be of the essence.
I passed two huddles of at least 3 officers on my way in to work yesterday. All on a stretch of road which has recently been reduced from 40 to 30, despite the previous 40 limit not, IMHO, being unreasonable.
Such a huge mass of hi-vis material must have been visible from 1/2 a mile for any driver paying even a token amount of attention to the road. Accordingly, they were doing very little business. Deploying them around the business park at 5:00pm pulling drivers on their phones would have been a better use of their time.
Kevin
Obviously I do not know precisely what you saw Kevin, but with Kent Police visibility is often the name of the game.
Frequently a form of road block is set up with many Traffic Division cars in use, including at least one well before each end of the approach to the mass of officers. At that point along with the police are representatives of the DVLA / VOSA, Immigration Control, and Customs and Excise. Most vehicles have no chance of escaping from the 'funnelling' employed and any vehicle or driver thought to be in contravention of the Road Traffic Act, or any other offence being looked for by the agencies, is directed off for inspection. Any that attempt rapid 'U' turns soon find a traffic car on their tail as officers are just waiting for that to transpire! It all works extremely well, with these often repeated operations taking many drivers and vehicles off the road, and with numerous prosecutions and vehicle crushings :D :D 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
-
Age, no. Ability, yes! Same with phones IMO, if...IF somebody is old, on the phone, young, blind, quadriplegic, whatever...can they drive to a level at the same time as whatever "disability" then fine.
As the number of drivers increases, the level of driving needs to rise as well in the correct way perhaps? Seems to me the opposite is true ATM.
To answer the question, YES. IF they drop below a level of competence and safety.(what ever that is :-/)
Now in my own case, I suffer badly from a heeeeYYOWGE level of impatience ESP in the car, which on it's own is dangerous enough, now add in old age later in life, I really worry what sort of driver I will become... :'(
Btw, my gramps hit a cyclist once, insurance company ordered him to take an eye test, and then refused to insure him from that point on :o. Really ort to be flagged up before it gets that far. We tried to tell him, but he just would not have it :(
-
If us OAP's are 'that bad'.....why is it my insurance on my Omega is only £300 odd, and thats with no NCB (as I have that on my other car).....and youngsters have to pay figures in excess of £1500 or more !!!!!! ::)
-
my dad is 80,given the all clear to drive last year. he shouldnt be driving now though in my opinion. but as others say no 2 persons are the same so theres a lot who definatly shouldnt be on the rd. take away there car and they no longer have the freedom to do as they please.
-
Lets not get to goody goody, until you have experienced your licence removed then you have no idea.. :)
I lost my PSV and HGV because of health, after a 3 year wait I had to fight to get them back, DVLA said they were checking with medical people, a clear lie as no records on my very regular check ups of them asking..... >:(
I now have them both back, I do not see a situation where I will use the but it is the principal..., i have them so if I want to use them I can.... :y
Carbon copy of my circumstances, except I am still battling to have the Obergruppenfuhrers at DVLA actually give my PCV and LGV entitlements back......
Because they took my PCV it cost me a job on the Patient Transfer Service on the ambulances that was already agreed and with starting date etc........
As said, once they are removed, its painfull so not too many folks will give up their licence to freedom and independance willingly.
How about resitting driving tests at XX years of age, similar to others (USA??).
-
I think the most sensable thing is for everyone aged 70 to re-sit the practical test to see if still competant to drive.
My main gripe with older drivers(70+) is motorway driving.
Forcing a HGV to over take you(use lane 2) in good driving conditions because your out peeing about at 50mph should result in 2 penalty points.
My wifes friends dad drove through a shop window whilst trying to park yet G.P. says hes fit to drive at 81.his exscuse my foot wouldn't move :o
-
My Dad is 73 and is perfectly safe & capable of driving, in fact he still works most days ...... taking people on one of their very last journeys ::) My Mum passed her test in her early 60's and was always bloody hopeless, far too hesitant and would go into blind panic whenever she heard a car horn just in case it was aimed at her. She doesn't now drive, nor has she for a while now.
Mother-in-law passed her test around the time when my Mum did. She was never happy behind the wheel, far too nervous, and no longer drives. My Father-in-law (72)had a stroke about 20 years ago and has become increasingly less steady on his feet in recent years. I will always pass on being a passenger in his car as I don't this he's safe. Due to the stroke he has almost no movement in his right arm & leg, he has a left foot accelerator, so while driving will often let go of the wheel completely to operate the switch gear on the right of the car/steering column :o :o :o Listening to some of the tales the Mother-in-law tells, I think he should give up driving, but as has been said several times, they would both loose independence ie they would have to get rid of their static caravan because they wouldn't be able to get there.
-
While we're all summarily banning various segments of the population .. can we just revoke the licenses of anyone who does 40mph down a clear, straight, NSL A-road?
Also anyone who can't park their car between the two white lines.
That'd probably take care of a fair chunk of the problem, I reckon.
-
...... can we just revoke the licenses of anyone who does 40mph down a clear, straight, NSL A-road? ....
...... and who will flash at you for the temerity of overtaking them and then continue at the same 40 mph when they get to the end of the NSL :-? :-?
-
I have said in other threads of a similar note.
We should ALL be tested at set intervals to ascertain our competence to drive correctly.
We drive around in machines that are very capable of killing people.
Infact i'm very suprized that a government hasn't realized the money they would make by testing drivers ::) ::)
-
...... can we just revoke the licenses of anyone who does 40mph down a clear, straight, NSL A-road? ....
...... and who will flash at you for the temperity of overtaking them and then continue at the same 40 mph when they get to the end of the NSL :-? :-?
Ah yes you mean the ones who've clearly had the accelerator pedal welded into position.. 40mph in a NSL, 40mph in a 40, 40mph in a 30, 40mph past a school, etc..
-
Bit of a chestnut this one. Some :- YES, others :-NO you can't tar them all with the same brush. The fairest way to deal with this is after a given age they should sit an annual driving assessment. Not as stringent as the full test just a buzz around town for half an hour to make sure all is still ok.
Before you all sit in judgement we're all going to have to hang our keys up one day.
A pretty fair assessment Guy, couldn't agree more. :y
Let's face it, not everyone become's useless once you're over 65!! I know some damn good drivers that are getting on a bit, and some pretty horrendous one's so as you say, you can't tar all with the same brush.
-
I wont pass comment on this; it speaks for itself..... :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11691703
-
He was banned for dangerous driving but said he would not drive again.
I'd hope not, considering he'd just been banned ::) ;D
-
I wont pass comment on this; it speaks for itself..... :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11691703
.....and another on the wrong carriageway; on the same road! :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11695454
-
I wont pass comment on this; it speaks for itself..... :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11691703
.....and another on the wrong carriageway; on the same road! :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11695454
Wonder if either of these were the weekend I was there.. when I saw a police car go steaming past me on the A55 only to turn around at Valley junction and go back up the other side - through the roadworks that had the road closed.. I figured that meant someone had gone through the roadblocks that had the eastbound carriageway cordoned off..
-
I wont pass comment on this; it speaks for itself..... :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11691703
.....and another on the wrong carriageway; on the same road! :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11695454
It all reminds me of the time Debs when I was coming off the M4 at Newbury and coming up towards me was this car! I managed to postion my car so the other one couldn't go any further, and then pulled alongside to speak to the driver......................an old boy of about 80 years at a guess, who I told he must not go any further but turn around immediately. He said "I'm trying to get to South Wales, so how do I get there?" !!!! :o :o :o
I obviously told him to turn round and go to the other slip road for the West bound carriageway!!
This though was far from being the only close call with an erderly driver facing me on a dual carriageway. One of the many came within inches of a head on crash with me whilst doing 70 mph! :o :o :o
-
Bit of a chestnut this one. Some :- YES, others :-NO you can't tar them all with the same brush. The fairest way to deal with this is after a given age they should sit an annual driving assessment. Not as stringent as the full test just a buzz around town for half an hour to make sure all is still ok.
Before you all sit in judgement we're all going to have to hang our keys up one day.
A pretty fair assessment Guy, couldn't agree more. :y
Let's face it, not everyone become's useless once you're over 65!! I know some damn good drivers that are getting on a bit, and some pretty horrendous one's so as you say, you can't tar all with the same brush.
Age has nothing to do with it - I see a lot younger people unable to drive safely !
-
Bit of a chestnut this one. Some :- YES, others :-NO you can't tar them all with the same brush. The fairest way to deal with this is after a given age they should sit an annual driving assessment. Not as stringent as the full test just a buzz around town for half an hour to make sure all is still ok.
Before you all sit in judgement we're all going to have to hang our keys up one day.
A pretty fair assessment Guy, couldn't agree more. :y
Let's face it, not everyone become's useless once you're over 65!! I know some damn good drivers that are getting on a bit, and some pretty horrendous one's so as you say, you can't tar all with the same brush.
Age has nothing to do with it - I see a lot younger people unable to drive safely !
Did you watch the programme? It was highlighting OLD people that were unsafe on the road. These were people well in their 80's. One woman who has appealed several times over having her license revoked had sleep apnoea and was completely oblivious to the fact that she was falling asleep. Under test conditions she was convinced that she'd been awake the whole time, when infact at one stage she'd been asleep for 12 mins! :o Others were just unsafe cos their reaction times just weren't up to the task in hand.