Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
10 February 2010
10:4140181Logging on this morning on the yahoo page, the headline shows an 18 month old toddler killed, and his mother critically injured when a car mounted the pavement, and ran into the pushchair. The driver was also killed. He was 89 years old! Not the first time I`ve heard this sort of news. Whilst of the opinion that some 90 year old`s can drive better than some 20 year old`s, I have had frequent experience of some elderly who should NOT be on the road, full stop. A lovely elderly neighbour of ours, recently lost her licence after 60+ years driving. And none too soon bless her. Is there a special test for a certain age limit does anyone know?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
10 February 2010
13:0540183I believe there is a requirement for diabetic people beyond a certain age (and I don't know what age that is) to pass a test every two years; if so, it's not strict enough. My diabetic father is still driving at 81, and the truth is that he's dangerous on the road. Despite some straight talking from myself and my sister, he refuses to quit driving, and there's very little we can do about it............we don't even give him control of the TV remote, so why DVLA continue to let him have control of a 2.0 litre car is a question that I believe needs answering before he causes an accident.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
10 February 2010
18:1640210My father in law drove all his life but stopped driving when he realised that his reactions weren't as sharp as they should be. Even though he lived out in the sticks so had to rely on the very infrequent buses or taxis he didn't want to risk other motorists lives by continuing to drive. What a pity more drivers aren't like him. He was a lovely man and I do miss him.
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
10 February 2010
18:5540215this is something i feel very strongly about, my late neighbour was driving at the age of 84 and was a total menace.
my understanding is that everyone over 70 just needs a signature from their doctor every year to keep their licence.
i am afraid that jacquis father in law was a rarity, very few of our older citizens think that their reactions are any different to a 21 year old.
andy
grab the keys off of him with any copies and bury them in a field.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
10 February 2010
19:1740220While we still have one.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
10 February 2010
19:2540221Here's a true story about my father's driving:
About five years ago I flew to Manchester on business and arranged to meet my father there. We bought a load of fabric and Dad said he'd drive it down to Dover for me, it being far too heavy to take on the plane.
I flew to Gatwick approximately half an hour after he left by car. I picked up my car from the long term car park at Gatwick, stopped for fuel at Clacketts Lane services and drove straight back to Dover. The old man had beaten me home, dropped off the fabric and gone home to Hertfordshire. He'd beaten the plane! I dread to think of the speed he must have been doing..........
Jeremy Clarkson might have been proud of the feat, I was horrified!
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
10 February 2010
20:1440228Yes a really sad story about the toddler and the mother I always thought there was some sort of test after a certain age, my farther drove right up to his 70's and it use to make me cringe.
Some are just as dangerous as these boy racer's.
11 February 2010
12:3340280Actually, it is really hard to prevent anyone from driving - in my professional capacity in a previouslife I had this issue a few times. The rigmarole - as it potentially infringes human rights - is convoluted and GPs, for example, are reluctant to sign anything off for fear of legal action. Even when a serious illness or disease is involved, such as early dementia or others that potentially impact on perception and co-ordination medics are loathe to commit.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
11 February 2010
12:5040282Ah yes Bern, that great human rights thing again. Strange it doesn`t apply to driving trains, flying airliner`s or steering ships. All the fuss when people are killed in incident`s involving any of these, and yet the biggest killer of all, the road vehicle, doesn`t warrent a more thorough testing of a driver`s ability. P.S. What did you drive in your previous life?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
11 February 2010
13:0240285Colin, naughty boy, it wasn't me doing the dangerous driving!!But for the sake of interest, I have driven a Morris Oxford, an Austin Cambridge, a mini metro, a nissan micra, and my husband up the wall....
11 February 2010
13:4640290My father, who died at 90 was driving up to two weeks before his death and terrified me. In his latter years he had difficulty turning right at junctions.
When a new road was put through between his house and Sainsburys (where he drove with Mum for the weekly shop). He had to plan a new route which involved him spiralling his way to the shop in ever decreasing left turns.
11 February 2010
15:1440305If we took women drivers off the road there would be more room for the old boys. What?
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
11 February 2010
17:1740325Watch it! Old Boy
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
13 February 2010
01:1840462I'd be careful Sid. Saying things like that could land you in very hot water indeed. I know quite a number of very good lady drivers and riders - I've even coached a few in the art of Advanced Motorcycling - and, from a safety perspective they are probably better than a lot of men. I have been known to half-jokingly remark that there are two types of women driver - very good and damned awful - with very few in between.
There comes a time when a driver is too old to drive safely. Unfortunately everyone is different and "that time" can, and does, vary considerably. There are a few 80+ ladies and gents out there that are as safe as houses. Conversely there are a few 40-year-olds I wouldn't trust with a Dinky Toy.
I just hope, for the sake of other road users, that I will be wise enough to recognise the point when I am no longer safe on the road.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
Some older drivers are perfectly safe but some are not so their age is almost irrelevant.
I would prefer to see mandatory checks at a much younger age maybe every 10 years from the age of 50.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
As someone who drives professionally at what is considered an advanced age(73) and at my company's request will probably do so for a further 2 years, I find that if I come up behind someone who is driving considerably slower than the road conditions would allow the driver is invariably my age or older or a younger driver texting.
I had a full medical at 70 and recently had one for peace of mind and the safety of others at my own request. Drivers should have medicals as they advance with age with the frequency becoming more and more as the years mount up, it should not be optional.
Jan Higgins likes this
Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,938
Jan Higgins wrote:Some older drivers are perfectly safe but some are not so their age is almost irrelevant.
I would prefer to see mandatory checks at a much younger age maybe every 10 years from the age of 50.
I would concur with you on this one Jan but it could only be done at a cost......to who?
When driverless cars become the norm, what then?
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,938
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
Bob #18
Only fair that if someone wants to drive they have to pay, if they can afford the expense of a car there should be no problem assuming the cost was appropriate not a money making exercise.
Bob Whysman likes this
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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