williamalex1
Money List Winner
Are you free to take me to Tesco anytime this week :smirk:
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Should drivers over 70 be retested
- Thread starter Tashyboy
- Start date
Are you free to take me to Tesco anytime this week :smirk:
bobmac
Major Champion
While you're at it, can you teach the under 30s that texting should be quite low on the list of things to do whilst driving.
bobmac
Major Champion
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I've lost 2 good mates, (one was a policewoman who was a very good rider), due to motorbike accidents.
In both instances, the drivers concerned were elderly (over 70).
I don't like elderly drivers.
In both instances, the drivers concerned were elderly (over 70).
I don't like elderly drivers.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
As I work from home I see a lot of elderly drivers pottering around during the day. Some are fine, a bit steady but they mostly keep up. But some are pretty awful and seem to either go 37 mph no matter what speed limit they are in (anywhere from 30 to 70). Or they slow down/brake for everything and seem to think a car will not go round a bend over 20 mph.
I don't think retesting them on the same test you take to begin with is sensible. But there should be some kind of test regarding the things that are most likely to go once you get old and you need for driving. So eyesight, hearing and reaction speeds really. Fine having speed limits worked out on average stopping distances, but if there is such a difference in reaction/processing times then it doesn't work.
Also I think there should also be some kind of test to see if they can basically 'keep up' with the traffic in all the speed limits. I know the speed limits are just that, limits, but pithering along at 37 in a 60 and slowing down to 15 mph to go round a bend is not conducive to a smooth flow of traffic. And you then get people doing silly overtaking maneuvers leading to more chances of nasty accidents.
But I secretly feel the government do not mind all the old drivers on the roads. As all they do is bring the average speed down. Its been mentioned on here before that the speed limits seem to be coming down on a lot of roads. So they are no longer based on the ability of a middle aged driver in a modern car, but on what some coffin dodger in their Honda jazz thinks the limits should be. I suspect Saga have some kind of working party that comprises of Doris and Albert Jones, both aged 74, who advises the government on what the limits should be based on how fast they dare take their Jazz up to
I don't think retesting them on the same test you take to begin with is sensible. But there should be some kind of test regarding the things that are most likely to go once you get old and you need for driving. So eyesight, hearing and reaction speeds really. Fine having speed limits worked out on average stopping distances, but if there is such a difference in reaction/processing times then it doesn't work.
Also I think there should also be some kind of test to see if they can basically 'keep up' with the traffic in all the speed limits. I know the speed limits are just that, limits, but pithering along at 37 in a 60 and slowing down to 15 mph to go round a bend is not conducive to a smooth flow of traffic. And you then get people doing silly overtaking maneuvers leading to more chances of nasty accidents.
But I secretly feel the government do not mind all the old drivers on the roads. As all they do is bring the average speed down. Its been mentioned on here before that the speed limits seem to be coming down on a lot of roads. So they are no longer based on the ability of a middle aged driver in a modern car, but on what some coffin dodger in their Honda jazz thinks the limits should be. I suspect Saga have some kind of working party that comprises of Doris and Albert Jones, both aged 74, who advises the government on what the limits should be based on how fast they dare take their Jazz up to
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Depends where the Tesco is
When we convinced mum that she shouldn't drive the sums were easy. She could afford a short taxi journey just about every day for a couple of years for the cost of running her car and the money she'd get from selling it.
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Crazyface
Tour Winner
In SW Scotland maybe....but you have her drive in a busy town. the place would grind to a halt.
Crazyface
Tour Winner
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
Classic don't fix it if it ain't broke. There are always incidents that can be quoted to back up any argument like this but realistically, the current system works very well. As others have said, if we want to reduce road deaths significantly it's the other end of the age spectrum we need to be concentrating on. The test only proves that you are capable of driving from A to B safely.....if you choose not to there's no amount of testing that will alter that choice.
AMcC
Journeyman Pro
So they are no longer based on the ability of a middle aged driver in a modern car, but on what some coffin dodger in their Honda jazz thinks the limits should be. I suspect Saga have some kind of working party that comprises of Doris and Albert Jones, both aged 74, who advises the government on what the limits should be based on how fast they dare take their Jazz up to
I drive a Jazz !!
At least a generation away from that :ears:
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
If you want to have the fear of God put up you, come and spend a day driving around Bexhill on Sea, especially in the vicinity of the local Sainsburys store.
I have never seen so many old duffers that should not be on the road driving around with scant regard to what is going on around them.
Seriously, it's frightening.
I have never seen so many old duffers that should not be on the road driving around with scant regard to what is going on around them.
Seriously, it's frightening.
pbrown7582
Money List Winner
This its not just young and old drivers who cause accidents there are so many inconsiderate drivers on the roads, a regular refresher retest for everyone would be the way to go IMO too.
williamalex1
Money List Winner
I thought you were more of an Aldis man
I refuse nothing but blows :smirk:
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
Actually I think the easiest way is to just make drivers go over a mini roundabout every 5 years. If you can cope with the fact that it is just like a bigger one and the rules of who has priority are the same, it's just a bit smaller, then you are fine. If when you reach it, you just stay there looking all confused and not going, even though it is your right of way or the car approaching is still over 100 yards away, then time to get the bus.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
If when you reach it, you just stay there looking all confused and not going, even though it is your right of way or the car approaching is still over 100 yards away, then time to get the bus.
Ladies under 70 do this anyway, don't they????
Crazyface
Tour Winner
Actually I think the easiest way is to just make drivers go over a mini roundabout every 5 years. If you can cope with the fact that it is just like a bigger one and the rules of who has priority are the same, it's just a bit smaller, then you are fine. If when you reach it, you just stay there looking all confused and not going, even though it is your right of way or the car approaching is still over 100 yards away, then time to get the bus.
This !
The rules are the same, if your exit is not clear then you wait until it is. We have one that was put when some houses were built on the corner where the road used to go round a 90 deg bend. Most just sit in the middle of it in a morning blocking the exit to the new houses. (Nowt to do with the thread, i just need to get if off my chest :sbox
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
Actually I think the easiest way is to just make drivers go over a mini roundabout every 5 years. If you can cope with the fact that it is just like a bigger one and the rules of who has priority are the same, it's just a bit smaller, then you are fine. If when you reach it, you just stay there looking all confused and not going, even though it is your right of way or the car approaching is still over 100 yards away, then time to get the bus.
LOL. Absolutely correct, was behind one just like that this morning. Appraching mini roundabout and going to turn left. Car approaching from right about 50 yds away so car in front stopped. the car on the right slowed right down because there was a car from the left turning right across it. Still, the one in front didn't go while all that was going on. What makes me laugh is that if you get three at the same time they all give way to each other and nothing moves! Has to be a spacial awareness thing if you ask me.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
There is truth in this - the most dangerous aspect of my mum's driving was her loss of lane awareness when negotiating roundabouts,
dewsweeper
Tour Rookie
drdel
Tour Rookie
I don't know if anyone has noticed but if, as the underlying message suggests, you take the right to drive from those over 70 there will be a significant impact on spending as retirees have both the money and time and are an increasing proportion of the population.
There are numerous studies quoting how the 70 years olds of tomorrow will enjoy the health benefits of the 50 year olds. The NHS would incur more ambulance costs ferrying people to visits. The bus costs for local authorities would increase and spending in many local centres would fall.
The accident rates for the older driver are low as is the average severity of the accidents in which they are involved.
The odd serious accident is a tragedy but pretty rare and laws made in haste usually suffer from the 'law of unintended consequences'.
Nobody seems to have mentioned much about the impact on Golf Clubs if significant numbers of senior members are prevented from driving.
There are numerous studies quoting how the 70 years olds of tomorrow will enjoy the health benefits of the 50 year olds. The NHS would incur more ambulance costs ferrying people to visits. The bus costs for local authorities would increase and spending in many local centres would fall.
The accident rates for the older driver are low as is the average severity of the accidents in which they are involved.
The odd serious accident is a tragedy but pretty rare and laws made in haste usually suffer from the 'law of unintended consequences'.
Nobody seems to have mentioned much about the impact on Golf Clubs if significant numbers of senior members are prevented from driving.
