Driving ages.

I work from home thus do most of my driving during the day when the roads are mostly full of old people. Some are very scary as the reaction times seem to be on a geological time scale. Some come to a virtual halt when going round a bend or turning left into a road, and just stop in confusion when they get to a mini roundabout as they do not know who has right of way. And then you get those that seem to do about 36 mph no matter if they are in a 30, 40 or 60 limit. I always think some of them must have the same reactions as someone having drunk 4 pints.

I see some of them in Sainsburys hardly able to walk and they then hop into their cars to drive home. I know it's very harsh taking the mobility away from people, but some are just a liability to others on the road as you can not easily guess what they will do and they do not act in a normal manner. I'd say test them every year or so once they reach 65 and focus on reaction times.

I think the youngsters just seem to have an invincibility gene that makes them think it will not happen to them, coupled with the lack of experience and the need some of them have to show off to their mates once they get their own set of wheels. I am convinced that as a lot of them start off with crappy underpowered cars they try and make up for it by thrashing them to death. I'd be interested to know know many crashes are by youngsters driving too fast overtaking old people who are holding the traffic up.
 
chrisd said:
Me too. I'm usually overtaken on the motorway by young women driving small cars, with kids on board, doing clearly over 90 mph!
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I bet you are overtaken more by cocks in Audis driving 3 yards away from your rear end if you get in their way.
 
Classic experienced v inexperienced driver situation an hour ago.

On my country road I came up behind a tractor and low loader at the end of a straight.
I new that there would be no passing opportunity for another couple of miles.
Out of the blue this guy roars past at about 60mph to overtake on a blind ridge.
We are on a forestry route so the thought of hitting a log lorry full on at 60mph must never have entered his head.

That is the driver I would like to see tested every two years.
 
Imurg said:
Speed awareness courses simply don't work for the majority of drivers.

Anyone been on one?
Do you still break the limit?
Of course you do......

Youngsters are involved in most accidents simply because, in my view, they copy the illegal, dangerous and stupid actions that experienced drivers perform every day. The experienced drivers have that which cannot be taught - experience.
They have that split second more to react due to that experience. That split second gives them, or the other driver, enough time to get themselves out of trouble.
Youngsters don't have that split second.
Most crashes are caused by one or a combination of three things - Arrogance, Ignorance and Impatience...
Reassess EVERY driver periodically, not just for their skill but also their attitude
Click to expand...

thats a good idea but almost impossible to implement and manage effectively not to mention the cost impact.......

Bad driving is not strictly down to the older or younger generation its a combination of all ages and attitudes. The younger ones do have to past a test when some of the older generation havnt and if so when the roads were far different than they are now. I do think however that older people's reactions and understanding of the roads needs to be assessed at a certain age. Eye sight and reaction speeds are the main issues I would imagine and they can be assessed quite easily, cheaply and quickly. Pass a basic test you can drive - dont and you take a trip to spec savers.. :thup:
 
mikee247 said:
thats a good idea but almost impossible to implement and manage effectively not to mention the cost impact.......
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree and that's why it'll never happen.
I even put this to the Chief Exec of the Driving Standards Authority a few years ago.
With the relatively new photocard licences having to be renewed every 10 years they have the opportunity.
Make everyone "pass" an assessment or you don't get the form to send off to renew your licence.
BUt it would cost too much - unfortunately keeping idiots on the road and mopping up their messes is deemed more cost effective than keeping them off completely....
 
In this day of computer simulation it must be quite easy to set up some sort of realistic reaction driving test.
I had a look at the pre test test a couple of years ago and I would have struggled to pass without first swotting up.
At least the old boys/girls who NEVER sat a test must have all passed away now.
 
They have the Hazard Perception test as part of the Theory test.
It's a video game - kids these days play video games all the time and generally don't have trouble with it.
Personally I think it's useless but far greater minds than mine have determined that we need it so.....

As an example, I taught a Farm boy a few years back. Not the brightest spark but a decent driver. He'd already passed his Tractor test but struggled with this video game part of the Theory. On the road his hazard perception was pretty good, reacting well and early to most things. When he eventually passed it he took his practical and passed with 1 Minor fault - pretty good.

One Girl I taught had very average hazard perception on the road, I couldn't relax for a moment.
She passed the HPT first time dropping only 4 points out of 75 (pass mark about 48 I think)......
She took 3 tests to pass and then only by the skin of her teeth.

Says it all
 
[At least the old boys/girls who NEVER sat a test must have all passed away now.[/QUOTE]

If you are referring to the pre test, I never sat one.
What year was it introduced , anyone know ?
 
Compulsory Test began 1st June 1935
The test itself began in early 1935 but was voluntary to avoid a huge rush.
1st person to pass - Mr Beene!
 
Imurg said:
Should be "assessed" every 10 years until you're 70 and then every year or 2 after that.

The fact that we're not is, quite frankly, criminal.
Click to expand...

The only thing I'd disagree with is the 10 years; I'd make it every 5. But it will never happen. Even if there was the will the civil liberties groups would succeed in burying it.
 
Why not randomly select a certain number of drivers for reassessment in a year?

Choice of person could be narrowed down to those who

have had their licence for more than 1 year but less than 5 years
persons over a certain age (70?)
Persons with 6 or more points on their licence
any person who has caused an accident?
 
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