The elderly on the roads.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

I've started this thread on a local car enthusiast site I frequent, but I also wanted to opinions of people with a lot more maturity. So here we go...

What caused me to post this topic on the car enthusiast site was due to an old gentleman sat in his car by the kerb, suddenly pulling out on me, not checking his mirrors etc, no indicators, causing me no other option but to swerve out of the way, almost into the path of oncoming traffic (luckily I was in a low gear so I managed to pull it off.)

I've seen, before I had a license and during, some silly acts from old people, be it travelling 25 MPH in a 40 MPH zone, randomly braking at a disserted round-a-bout while the driver behind is looking to the right (to give way), and I've almost exchanged wing mirrors with a few due to them not knowing which lane to be in for the direction they wish to go.

In the other thread, it has been noticed by many aside from myself. And most believe we should introduce a testing system because as my grandad has told me many times, the test was very simple in those days, and also elderly peoples reactions are not as quick as those of a younger person.

What are your views on the matter?

[yamangman]

...with a lot more maturity...

Where are you posting next then?

[SiM]

And they get cheaper insurance

[timothius]

Statistically, an elderly driver is significantly less likely to be involved in an accident than a younger person. I've had far more problems with younger and middle age drivers tbh.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Where are you posting next then?

I never realised this was a car enthusiast site.

All those photographs of computers on the front page and the extremely large amounts of threads relating to PC's and technology within the forum led me to believe this is a computer enthusiast site.

Lied to, by the internet. Can things get any worse!?

[matty-hodgson]

my grandma is the worst driver i've ever seen!
i now actually refuse to get in a car with her..

she would stamp on the brake pedal if a blue-bottle merrily flew past the window (yes.. she would be going that slow) and she also revs the car to the limiter on several occasions because she just forgets to shift..

it's actually scary!

i'd feel safer driving the car myself, and i've only ever driven a car twice!

And they get cheaper insurance

there must be a reason for that though, insurance companies know every single trick in the book on saving money..

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Statistically, an elderly driver is significantly less likely to be involved in an accident than a younger person. I've had far more problems with younger and middle age drivers tbh.

That is statistically.

From my experience of being on the roads, statistics are wrong. Maybe it's just Blackpool, filled with the retired and the lost (tourists).

[G4Z]

Statistically, an elderly driver is significantly less likely to be involved in an accident than a younger person. I've had far more problems with younger and middle age drivers tbh.

Yeah I am sure that is the case because really the statistic is that old people are less likely to make a claim on insurance I would imagine. I think one possible thory is that this kind of driving doesn't often cause them to hit other cars but it causes others to hit them. I have seen some shocking driving from old people, but then my old man is in his 50's and he drives great. I think the solution is another test at 60 and then repeat tests every 5 years.

[JK Ferret]

Try old people racing down a country(ish) lane faster than 'boy racers'. Now THAT is unnerving. And yes, I have actually seen it (in Hemel Hempstead). Our group of 4 almost literally had to dive over a fence to get out of the way, because there was no pavement.

Anyway, I too think there should be re-tests, but rather than just when you're new and when you're old, testing at certain intervals, just to check you've not lost it.

[Parm]

I don't think it's possible to categorise old people so easily. I'm sure there are a fair amount of bad elderly drivers out there, but there are plenty of good elderly drivers too - the same as for all age groups.

As pointed out above, young drivers might have better reactions and so forth, but they can be so reckless they're perhaps more likely to be in fatal accidents.

In my opinion, a driving license should have an expiry. Each license should last 10 years or so, after which, you should be required by law to pass another test.

[SiM]

Statistically, an elderly driver is significantly less likely to be involved in an accident than a younger person. I've had far more problems with younger and middle age drivers tbh.

Correction: less likely to cause an expensive accident

[Clstrphbc_donut]

That is a fair point Parm, I mean, I'm 22, not had my license very long and driving a Mk4 Golf GTi Turbo. I know for a fact that sometimes, you itch to bury the loud pedal deep into the carpet. Which at that point, I will go onto country lanes and when there's no traffic, launch the car about as I like. It could be called wreckless, but at least I am only endangering myself, and not passengers and/or other road users.

I agree about the expiry on a test, although if it came into force I would be screwed as I have some really bad habits in the car (Hand on gearstick most of the time, don't always check mirrrors when slowing down.)

It wasn't really a catagorization, it's what I've witnessed whilst being on the road mostly. I wouldn't even consider classing myself as a good driver, but some of the manouvers I've seen elderly people attempt to the frustration of other road user is beyond belief.

[SiM]

In my opinion, a driving license should have an expiry. Each license should last 10 years or so, after which, you should be required by law to pass another test.

That would work if driving tests weren't so expensive. 10 years is too short though... every 20 years up to the age of 60, then every 3 years until fail would be more appropriate lol

[Clstrphbc_donut]

That would work if driving tests weren't so expensive. 10 years is too short though... every 20 years up to the age of 60, then every 3 years until fail would be more appropriate lol

Give the man a cookie. Double chocolate chip.

Never thought of that. My test only cost me close to £100.

There would definitely be overcrowded buses if it was £100 per test to be taken every 10 years.

[JK Ferret]

maybe give the first test free/ at a reduced cost?

[acrobat]

A lot of elderly are terrible drivers.

I've come across quite a few elderly drivers who are a complete nightmare. And about 4 of them I know well. Some of them were always rubbish drivers, and now they are old, they are rubbish and blind. They also seem to get worse at other things too, and it's just frightening. In the parking garage under the place I used to live, there was an old guy who used to drive in and had no idea how to judge the distance to the wall, so he would just drive into the wall and then pull his handbrake up. It was hilarious but also quite sad. Where it got frightening though, was when I saw him out on the actual road. You can pull out of the building and take a left onto the road and never change lane or cross a white line. I saw him coming out and he obviously couldn't turn the steering wheel fast enough, and he went right across the other lane of the road, and right up onto the pavement on the other side of the road, then drove down the pavement for a while.. picking up speed, and then managed to get back onto the road. I didn't see where he went from there, but I assumed he just makes his own path through town.