howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 September 2010
19:1071881#1
the subject has been brought up again, this time by a top traffic policeman about the suitability of people over 70 driving.
he has suggested that all drivers upon reaching the age should be tested annually.
the idea has brought hoots of derision from many quarters and accusations of agism, personally i am totally in favour.
the incidents of drivers trying to hit their brakes and finding the accelarator instead is becoming ever more common.
another problem mentioned by the police is lack of lane discipline resulting in many accidents on "a" roads and motorways.
at present doctors seem quite happy to sell their elderly patients letters connfirming that they are able to drive safely.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
21 September 2010
19:1471882#2
I think as you say HOWARD
once you get to 70 if theres an annual test and they pass then no prob.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
21 September 2010
19:2971884#3
I agree with this too, but even more I agree that the driving age should rise and the young (new) drivers should be banned from driving at night. I think 17 is far too young, especially with the lads, and I say this as someone who was a total moron in a car at 17 myself. If I was King of the World (TM) then the driving age would be 21, the test would be harder, and older drivers would have to do additional tests just like they do for some jobs and insurance policies.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
21 September 2010
19:4071890#4
A re-test for anyone convicted of a moving driving offence, whatever age, would get rid of a lot of bad driving.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
21 September 2010
19:4271891#5
I know a couple of elderly drivers I would not let drive me down the road, I do not think they would be alert enough. I believe eye tests should be compulsory every couple of years from the age of 60.
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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 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
21 September 2010
19:4371892#6
I am not in agreement with that the older driver is more carefull then the young ones,that is why our insurance is not so much,and you will be saying the same when you get older,most older ones know when driving gets to much for them and will pack up,and thats is what I will do, if you go down the Road of retesting then it should be done every five years by all,you could go one more step by saying if you are in a crash and it is down to you,then you should also have to be retested.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 September 2010
19:5171895#7
i have to agree with rick and jan on this one.
no licence until 21 and then only with restrictions, people take a test at 17 then it is assumed that their eyesight and reactions are the same at 80.
vic
how many times have you heard people in their seventies or older say that they take their time and then berate the "mad b*******s" that they have held up for half an hour?
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
21 September 2010
21:0971907#8
Not many ,how many crashs do you see when it is speed that does it and most of the drivers are young how many drivers do you see on their m/phones when driving again most are are young or middle age. Do you drive Howard?
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
21 September 2010
21:1871911#9
I am sure that 'slow' drivers cause accidents but are not involved in them so are not thought of as being responsible.
P plates are a good idea for the young, they do not have the experience that the long time driver has, to get themselves out of trouble.
I do not drive so I think I am coming at this in an impartial way.
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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 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
21 September 2010
21:3071918#10
So Mr HIggins you said it yourself you do not drive,slow drivers do not cause accidents it is the ones behind not waiting till it is safe to overtake. When I was young and had to get to london to work it was toe down at top speed but I was wrong to do it, now that I am older and have pulled out a young girl who died, it has open my eyes alot. We all have said other drivers are bad with out looking at our own driving.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 September 2010
21:5871928#11
vic
my understanding is that mr higgins is a lady of sorts.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
21 September 2010
22:0571930#12
Less of the the "of sorts" if you don't mind, Howard. Vic likes calling me MR, he obviously knows something I don't.
I never said I didn't drive, Vic.<smiley>
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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 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
21 September 2010
22:1671934#13
Again I am very sorry Mrs Higgins please put it now to old age,
.I would also just like to add that the blues are saying we can work up to 70+now so if the older ones are fit to work then we are fit to drive.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
22 September 2010
07:0971939#14
Are there any figures that suggest the over 70's cause or are involved in more accidents than, say, 17-25 year olds?
Perhaps this decision should be one based on evidence. That being the case I suspect that it is the 17-25 year olds who would seem to need annual testing...
maybe even the aged 26 to 65 as well.......
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
22 September 2010
07:1971940#15
Vic, with the elderly it is not always about the driving skills. Yes a good number are very good drivers, however there are also a great number who have medical problems or their reaction time to a situation could and should mean they do not drive.
I am 64 so I am getting there and I hope that I will know when the time comes for me to hang the car keys up for the last time but I certainly would have no objections to some sort of test to help make that decision for me.
There are good and bad drivers in all age groups, including the young it is just sorting the good out from the bad that is not easy. I certainly think that if a young driver is caught driving like an idiot there should be no second chance, but a ban for at least 3 years and a retest.
I am not sure but do the police have any powers if they come across some one elderly that may not have committed a driving offence but in their opinion should not be behind the wheel? I am thinking of a neighbour (sadly now passed away) who became very frail and should not have been driving, in the end his son had to prise the car keys from him by selling the car Had he not done so I am not sure how long he would have kept driving.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
22 September 2010
10:3671969#16
I wouldn't object to having another test. I think I will know when I am not safe on the road, after driving for over 50 years. But there are some elderly people who do not realise they are a hazard. I know someone (in her 80s) who has recently turned her car over and written it off, fortunately all she suffered were a few bruises. She did not know what had happened.
I assume (ref Harrys query) that the police CAN force someone to take another test ?? (or is that only if found guilty of bad driving?)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
23 September 2010
20:2772172#17
Well we could always go down the Spanish route that everyone has to take a driving medical every 10 yrs until a certain age then its annually
beer the food of the gods
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
23 September 2010
20:3472173#18
good lord... ok... so i was in a car with a person who isnt as old as that but has lost their nerve.. i have never been soooo petrified in my whole life... they were driving 50 mph on an A road...
so at the next service station i suggested i take over the driving... thank god for that..
no more lorries up my bottom and literally climbing into the boot, hestitation was a major problem , so we infact pulled out at several points when we shouldnt before i took over. it does come down to confidence and age sometimes... yelping and trying to make myself very small in the passenger side was quite hard to do without them noticing..
when the time eventually comes.. ( I hope its after I actually am allowed to draw a pension!! 41 years, 3 months and 10 days to go!! wohhoooo) i hope someone has decided for me effectively, but if i scare the person in the car next to me.. then i shall gladly hang them up , and let them drive me forever more..!!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
23 September 2010
21:1472183#19
I remember I was terrified being in the passenger seat with an awful driver, luckily it was a very short journey. I kept bracing myself or pushing my foot down trying to brake.
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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 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
23 September 2010
21:2772185#20
We all at times think we are the best drivers in the world and the other driver is always wrong.
Moving away from this I think the law should be that every car has a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher, lotsof the public have a first aid kit but not many have the fire extinguisher,as some of you already know some years ago I came across a 3car crash,there were about 6cars in front of me,with a man running up and down shouting" as any one got a fire extinguisher the car is on fire and a girl inside." I got out because not only was I a first aider but I also had a fire extinguisher in the car,What I am trying to say is that it is no good having a first aid kit with you if you can not get to the person because of a fire.
In this case I only had a small extinguisher but it put out the fire and I could get in to try and help the person,we have no need to go on with what happen next but the main point is please please get a fire extinguisher as well as your first aid kit,I carry a bigger one round with me now,like me it was in the back of the car some years before i had to use it but use it I did.
I was on the Town council at the time and I wrote letters to motor companys asking that they fit them in all new cars,but that did not happen,but I went round to Halfords and they put on very good deals for fire extinguishers for a time to try and get the public to buy one.