Is it time to have an age limit for driving on the road?
Discussion
ewenm said:
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.
Indeed. It's a sad fact that many drivers consider the fact that they passed their driving test to be all the training that they need. i.e. a vote-loser.By way of example I had one guy try to imply he was the better driver as he had passed his test first time and I hadn't. This was despite me having mentioned I'd done IAM and RideDrive courses, plus several handling courses. When I asked what further driver training he'd done, he just looked at me blankly and reiterated that he'd passed his test first time.
And that, in a nutshell, is the reaction that many drivers would have to the concept of re-testing.
Bennet said:
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.
One guy was taken apart last week by several people, for asking what car he should buy, in essence. LIGHTEN T F up!
Edited by CorvetteConvert on Monday 12th October 13:52
Not really?
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
CorvetteConvert said:
Bennet said:
Which would be a good point well made, except that the OP didn't actually demand we ban everyone over age x. He just mentioned it as a possibility and asked for other ideas.
Thank you. PHers really need to be less aggressive when someone posts a genuine question.I guy was taken apart last week by several people, for asking what car he should buy, in essence. LIGHTEN T F up!
Secondly, I apologise if I misinterpreted your initial post and got the wrong impression of what you are saying. It did appear to be implying that age is a factor in driving ability (the thread title certainly does).
And, finally, it's quite ironic that your manner in telling people to be less aggressive is so aggressive and abusive.
Edited by JonRB on Monday 12th October 14:21
JonRB said:
ewenm said:
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.
Indeed. It's a sad fact that many drivers consider the fact that they passed their driving test to be all the training that they need. i.e. a vote-loser.By way of example I had one guy try to imply he was the better driver as he had passed his test first time and I hadn't. This was despite me having mentioned I'd done IAM and RideDrive courses, plus several handling courses. When I asked what further driver training he'd done, he just looked at me blankly and reiterated that he'd passed his test first time.
And that, in a nutshell, is the reaction that many drivers would have to the concept of re-testing.
I think it's far too ageist to ban drivers over a certain age from driving - we need to judge on merit, not stereotypes. We need re-testing and if there are obstacles to it we need to overcome them. Driving standards are far too low in this country.
O/T: With regard to passing one's test first time, I've often thought that was more a matter of how one deals with nerves to be honest. As it happened I did pass first time, but I don't think that makes me a better driver than anyone else - I've become a better driver since I was 17 by further training, learning and experience. My ability to remain calm under pressure got me past the test on my first attempt, not any innate driving ability.
CorvetteConvert said:
We do his shopping for him so he doesn't have to.
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.
How old are you now?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.
CorvetteConvert said:
Not really?
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
It's the equivalent of saying.Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the cat owner going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a cat owner of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
I think there needs to be some sort of exam that must be passed before you're allowed access to the internet. I think efforts should be made here instead.
CorvetteConvert said:
Not really?
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
So we need to add age limits until there are no accidents left at all?Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
Thanks for telling me to think to think of my family, I'd totally forgotten about them and if they were killed on the motorway the thing I'd be most concerned about would definitely be how many birthday parties someone else had had.
LankyLegoHead said:
I think, whilst we are on the subject, not being allowed on Motorways as a learner is a bit dumb.
Completely agree, I find this ridiculous.I know sticking a learner on the M6 during rush hour would be daft, but there has to be some way it can be done.. Having a new driver pass their test then going onto a motorway with no practice doesn't make sense to me.
mygoldfishbowl said:
CorvetteConvert said:
We do his shopping for him so he doesn't have to.
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.
How old are you now?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.
Sump said:
CorvetteConvert said:
Not really?
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
It's the equivalent of saying.Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the cat owner going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a cat owner of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
I think there needs to be some sort of exam that must be passed before you're allowed access to the internet. I think efforts should be made here instead.
0000 said:
CorvetteConvert said:
Not really?
Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
So we need to add age limits until there are no accidents left at all?Tell that to the family of the 27 year old killed today, or the entire family wiped out by the 86 year old going the wrong way down the M6.
If YOUR wife or daughter or maybe both was/were wiped out by a guy of almost 90 driving north on the southbound M1 would you think differently? I say you would.
Thanks for telling me to think to think of my family, I'd totally forgotten about them and if they were killed on the motorway the thing I'd be most concerned about would definitely be how many birthday parties someone else had had.
Edited by CorvetteConvert on Monday 12th October 15:20
Edited by CorvetteConvert on Monday 12th October 15:21
smithyithy said:
Completely agree, I find this ridiculous.
I know sticking a learner on the M6 during rush hour would be daft, but there has to be some way it can be done.. Having a new driver pass their test then going onto a motorway with no practice doesn't make sense to me.
There is a way, which is to learn on multi-lane dual carriageways. I had a fair bit of instruction on these even before I passed my test. I know sticking a learner on the M6 during rush hour would be daft, but there has to be some way it can be done.. Having a new driver pass their test then going onto a motorway with no practice doesn't make sense to me.
Also, there is nothing to stop a recently-passed driver from getting instruction on motorway driving before going out on one solo. It's just another example of drivers thinking that tuition stops when you pass your test.
The main reason for motorways not being a requirement for the test, though, is that not every Test Centre is near a motorway - for some the nearest could be as much as 100 miles away which makes it impractical.
Anyway, thanks for the input, i personally feel the way forward is a test every year from 75, paid for by the person who wishes to drive after that age, testing basic road knowledge, eye sight, hearing, the ability to make judgements and a basic car handling assessment. Nothing complicated, just making sure they have a basic level of ability and awareness.
Then at 90, it's thank you and good night.
Then at 90, it's thank you and good night.
CorvetteConvert said:
Anyway, thanks for the input, i personally feel the way forward is a test every year from 75, paid for by the person who wishes to drive after that age, testing basic road knowledge, eye sight, hearing, the ability to make judgements and a basic car handling assessment. Nothing complicated, just making sure they have a basic level of ability and awareness.
Then at 90, it's thank you and good night.
Compulsory re-tests for ALL drivers every 5 years. More frequently after a certain age (perhaps 75), no maximum age IMO.Then at 90, it's thank you and good night.
ewenm said:
CorvetteConvert said:
Anyway, thanks for the input, i personally feel the way forward is a test every year from 75, paid for by the person who wishes to drive after that age, testing basic road knowledge, eye sight, hearing, the ability to make judgements and a basic car handling assessment. Nothing complicated, just making sure they have a basic level of ability and awareness.
Then at 90, it's thank you and good night.
Compulsory re-tests for ALL drivers every 5 years. More frequently after a certain age (perhaps 75), no maximum age IMO.Then at 90, it's thank you and good night.
Ideally these re-tests would be performed by driving a car on a real road, but at the very least the government could show some willing by introducing a written test - it could just be half an hour at one's local test centre every five years - surely that's not too much to ask? If it saves one life then it's worth it.
It's pretty clear that a huge proportion of drivers don't even know how to mirror signal manoeuvre or keep a safe distance from the car in front, which are basic theoretical things that could translate well to a written test, although obviously better demonstrated out on a real road, but something's better than nothing.
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