Is it time to have an age limit for driving on the road?
Discussion
Jimmy Recard said:
We already have a complete ban on drunk drivers and drugged drivers and drivers under the age of 17 though. I'm not sure what more you think could be done to stop that from happening.
That's not really what I was getting at, I'm saying banning people over a certain age from driving would penalise a large number of people for the sake potentially avoiding a few crashes, when we still have much more (statistically) dangerous drivers and occurrences on the road.smithyithy said:
That's not really what I was getting at, I'm saying banning people over a certain age from driving would penalise a large number of people for the sake potentially avoiding a few crashes, when we still have much more (statistically) dangerous drivers and occurrences on the road.
For what it's worth, I actually entirely agree with you. I must have misunderstood the first time I read your comment.dcb said:
+1
Interestingly, older drivers (>= 70) have to *self* certify that
they are ok to drive.
No eye check, no reaction time check, no basic check of driving competency,
no basic check of anything, just trust that the driver will be honest.
Few drivers will voluntarily give up their driving freedom.
This self certify system seems wide open to abuse to me and needs
tightening up if the majority of drivers want reduced insurance premiums
anytime soon.
My Father-In-Law, in his mid seventies, had a TIA last month, told not to drive for a month, went to the doctor said he was feeling ok to drive, doc said fine carry on - now since his TIA he's had reduced mobility in his right arm and leg, gets very confused, struggles to operate a microwave, yet is still allowed to drive. Interestingly, older drivers (>= 70) have to *self* certify that
they are ok to drive.
No eye check, no reaction time check, no basic check of driving competency,
no basic check of anything, just trust that the driver will be honest.
Few drivers will voluntarily give up their driving freedom.
This self certify system seems wide open to abuse to me and needs
tightening up if the majority of drivers want reduced insurance premiums
anytime soon.
I have voiced my opinion to both him and the mother-in-law, that he shouldn't be driving, and they certainly won't be taking our daughter out in the car with him driving! I just got the "well the Dr said he's ok to drive".
Jimmy Recard said:
For what it's worth, I actually entirely agree with you. I must have misunderstood the first time I read your comment.
No worries, it does get a bit jumbled up with everyone quoting and replying 
I was trying to say that a ban would ostracise a lot of people, where the 'benefit' of doing so would really just be a drop in the ocean.
This thread could've been titled in many ways with a choice article about a recent accident included to emphasise the point.
I think in an ideal scenario, mandatory retests across the board would be worthwhile. I'd happily pay to retake my test every, say, 10 years, if it meant it helped to keep everyone on the road sharp. Maybe the risk of having one's license withdrawn would spur people on to actually remember what they learned on their driving lessons
LankyLegoHead said:
The problem is, whilst I passed my test on modern roads, they didn't. How can their driver training still be applicable if they don't even understand how a motorway works?
Umm, I hate to tell you this, but motorways have been around in this country for nearly 60 years... Not, of course, that they're in every part of the country even now, or that anybody has to use them as part of learning to drive.LankyLegoHead said:
The problem is, whilst I passed my test on modern roads, they didn't. How can their driver training still be applicable if they don't even understand how a motorway works? I totally understand it's only the "few" that do this. But you only have to get stuck behind an elderly driver to see some of their dangerous habits.
not sure many young people understand how they work either. it's the 'few' as you say, although it's a big minority...Problem with younger drivers is they have little idea of car control and their limits in an emergency as they've grown up with ESC and cars that are isolated from the outside conditions. Not that Morris Marinas made driving gods of everyone either. You can argue around this all day. I'd argue that driving standards and attention to the road are pretty poor for all segments of society.
I'd argue for autonomous cars and a Super Licence for driving hobbyists like me!
Impasse said:
Sir Stirling is 86. I'd ban a plethora of PHers based on their driving ability before banning him based solely on his age.
Indeed. I was going to post something similar but thought that I should read through the thread first to check if someone already did. Unless the OP is a driving god, I would hazard a guess that Sir Stirling Moss is a better driver than the OP is.
LankyLegoHead said:
How about this then. Some sort of Refresher course/test for EVERYONE every 5-10 years?
Great idea, often suggested on PH. Unfortunately difficult to sell to the general non-enthusiast public as they're all brilliant drivers anyway so why should they fork out for retests 
i.e. a vote-loser.
julian64 said:
CorvetteConvert said:
This is indeed my point, we ban drunk drivers, we ban drugged drivers and you instantly compared them to very old drivers. That is what i am saying, they are all high risk drivers!
Young drivers crash generally through inexperience or an excess of zeal!
Oh, thats okay then. When I get T boned on a roundabout it will make a hugh difference that the accident was caused by inexperience or an excess of zeal rather than they just didn't see me.Young drivers crash generally through inexperience or an excess of zeal!
Just out of interest who are the highest risk drivers on the road in your opinion, and why aren't you focussing your efforts at them?
Of course this will split opinion, but the old fella is a perfect example as is the dead 27 year old today minding his business driving the right way down the M1. RIP.
JonRB said:
Impasse said:
Sir Stirling is 86. I'd ban a plethora of PHers based on their driving ability before banning him based solely on his age.
Indeed. I was going to post something similar but thought that I should read through the thread first to check if someone already did. Unless the OP is a driving god, I would hazard a guess that Sir Stirling Moss is a better driver than the OP is.
Mr2Mike said:
CorvetteConvert said:
I disagree.
An 87 year old will have the problems i listed above and you cannot tell me that makes them safer than say, YOU. Does it? The statistics showing a 90 year old is safer than a 40/50 year old is patently flawed.
I know what my father in law drives like, now he is 89. He was a driver in the forces and a very good one indeed, driving everything from wagon and drags to jeeps to chauffeur cars. But i have been out with him a few times recently and i am afraid like most people his age, he is hesitant, he doesn't see like he used to, or hear the same, so he waits forever for a gap big enough to allow 6 cars out, never mind him and he is very apt to forgetting to signal, etc.
For my sins i think something should be done and i agree with the person above about retests.
So you'd have no qualms about removing your dads freedom? Nice. Also why have you suddenly jumped from discussing 80 year olds to 90 year olds? There can't be many 90 YOs on the road, I suspect the risk they pose will be in the noise compared to the rest of the driving population.An 87 year old will have the problems i listed above and you cannot tell me that makes them safer than say, YOU. Does it? The statistics showing a 90 year old is safer than a 40/50 year old is patently flawed.
I know what my father in law drives like, now he is 89. He was a driver in the forces and a very good one indeed, driving everything from wagon and drags to jeeps to chauffeur cars. But i have been out with him a few times recently and i am afraid like most people his age, he is hesitant, he doesn't see like he used to, or hear the same, so he waits forever for a gap big enough to allow 6 cars out, never mind him and he is very apt to forgetting to signal, etc.
For my sins i think something should be done and i agree with the person above about retests.
If you really want to remove a high risk group from the road then you need to take a look at young drivers.
TooMany2cvs said:
CorvetteConvert said:
I know what my father in law drives like, now he is 89. He was a driver in the forces and a very good one indeed, driving everything from wagon and drags to jeeps to chauffeur cars. But i have been out with him a few times recently and i am afraid like most people his age, he is hesitant, he doesn't see like he used to, or hear the same, so he waits forever for a gap big enough to allow 6 cars out, never mind him and he is very apt to forgetting to signal, etc.
For my sins i think something should be done
So what have you done to persuade your father to stop driving? Or have you just confiscated his keys, cancelled his insurance, and sent his licence back to DVLA without his consent?For my sins i think something should be done
Oh, what's that? He's still driving? Something must be done! Stop him!
At which of your future birthdays will you be voluntarily ceasing to drive, regardless of faculties or skill?
He and his friend he plays Bridge with are both indecisive and a constant pain to other road users because of their indecision and lack of awareness when they go out together, taking turns to do the driving each week. When we can't take him somewhere he goes alone and his wife says he is hopeless in traffic and she won't even go on the motorway with him.
What age? I have NO desire to drive after 80 years old whatsoever. Assuming my health holds good i will hang up my keys around the 80 mark.
But it's fine most people say no age ban, many say leave it as it is and many say retesting. That's why i asked, i wanted to know. One or two need to calm down and retrieve the toys tbh.
LankyLegoHead said:
I think more regular re-testing is needed. Whilst statistics may not favour me as a younger driver (I'm 23), I already have Sky high insurance to put me off driving. Not to mention the fact I can't even rent a car without paying silly money too!
The problem is, whilst I passed my test on modern roads, they didn't. How can their driver training still be applicable if they don't even understand how a motorway works? I totally understand it's only the "few" that do this. But you only have to get stuck behind an elderly driver to see some of their dangerous habits. It's not just that either, its the medical side of things.
And before anyone says it, I'm not siding with Younger drivers. 99% of them are t
ts too. But as said, there's already so much against us to start with (Expensive, increasingly difficult testing. Expensive cars, expensive insurance).
Good points. When 87 years olds passed their test it was VERY different.The problem is, whilst I passed my test on modern roads, they didn't. How can their driver training still be applicable if they don't even understand how a motorway works? I totally understand it's only the "few" that do this. But you only have to get stuck behind an elderly driver to see some of their dangerous habits. It's not just that either, its the medical side of things.
And before anyone says it, I'm not siding with Younger drivers. 99% of them are t
ts too. But as said, there's already so much against us to start with (Expensive, increasingly difficult testing. Expensive cars, expensive insurance).dcb said:
Vaud said:
Maybe every ten years to 60, then every 5 years, then every 2 years after 80.
+1Interestingly, older drivers (>= 70) have to *self* certify that
they are ok to drive.
No eye check, no reaction time check, no basic check of driving competency,
no basic check of anything, just trust that the driver will be honest.
Few drivers will voluntarily give up their driving freedom.
This self certify system seems wide open to abuse to me and needs
tightening up if the majority of drivers want reduced insurance premiums
anytime soon.
Pickled said:
dcb said:
+1
Interestingly, older drivers (>= 70) have to *self* certify that
they are ok to drive.
No eye check, no reaction time check, no basic check of driving competency,
no basic check of anything, just trust that the driver will be honest.
Few drivers will voluntarily give up their driving freedom.
This self certify system seems wide open to abuse to me and needs
tightening up if the majority of drivers want reduced insurance premiums
anytime soon.
My Father-In-Law, in his mid seventies, had a TIA last month, told not to drive for a month, went to the doctor said he was feeling ok to drive, doc said fine carry on - now since his TIA he's had reduced mobility in his right arm and leg, gets very confused, struggles to operate a microwave, yet is still allowed to drive. Interestingly, older drivers (>= 70) have to *self* certify that
they are ok to drive.
No eye check, no reaction time check, no basic check of driving competency,
no basic check of anything, just trust that the driver will be honest.
Few drivers will voluntarily give up their driving freedom.
This self certify system seems wide open to abuse to me and needs
tightening up if the majority of drivers want reduced insurance premiums
anytime soon.
I have voiced my opinion to both him and the mother-in-law, that he shouldn't be driving, and they certainly won't be taking our daughter out in the car with him driving! I just got the "well the Dr said he's ok to drive".
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