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[Auto Addict]

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.

[Chris_H]

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.

[Kevin Wood]

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

[jonnycool]

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 

[Chris_H]

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.

[Auto Addict]

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

...and they want us OAP's to re-test

[Lizzie_Zoom]

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 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

[feeutfo]

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  . Really ort to be flagged up before it gets that far. We tried to tell him, but he just would not have it

[Terbs]

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 !!!!!!

[Richie London]

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.

[hotel21]

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....

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??).

[hoofing it]

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

[Andy B]

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  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.

[aaronjb]

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.

[Andy B]

...... 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   :-? :-?