Older drivers to be kept on the road for longer...
Discussion
Apologies if this is the wrong forum, mods feel free to move.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17785033
I haven't ever felt the need to post a new story here before, but... really?! Essentially a system is being developed that will allow older drivers to stay on the road, who would otherwise struggle to cope with driving.
I'm not usually one to b
h and moan about stuff like this, maybe it's because I'm tired, but this has got under my skin a bit... Surely the focus should be on either improving the standard of driving of people who struggle to cope through tuition, or removing them from the road. Not, as the article suggests, masking their poor ability by trying to avoid particularly stressful situations (like turning right).
Sooner or later, they will encounter a situation that does require the ability to well, drive, and no fancy satnav is going to help them then...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17785033
I haven't ever felt the need to post a new story here before, but... really?! Essentially a system is being developed that will allow older drivers to stay on the road, who would otherwise struggle to cope with driving.
Article said:
Many give up because their reaction times have slowed down - but this means they become more isolated and inactive.
...
The team looked at developing a bespoke sat-nav because the elderly drivers they spoke to said finding a route they were comfortable with was a major factor in making them feel comfortable driving.
Many avoid turning right because they do not feel confident about judging the speed of oncoming traffic.
...
"For example, most of us would expect older drivers always go slower than everyone else but surprisingly, we found that in 30mph zones they struggled to keep at a constant speed and so were more likely to break the speed limit and be at risk of getting fined.
Does anybody else think if you need a system like this to be able to drive safely, you really shouldn't be driving... The article points out that older people who give up driving typically become isolated and stop going out, but given the circumstances, surely they could take a bus and leave everyone better off for it......
The team looked at developing a bespoke sat-nav because the elderly drivers they spoke to said finding a route they were comfortable with was a major factor in making them feel comfortable driving.
Many avoid turning right because they do not feel confident about judging the speed of oncoming traffic.
...
"For example, most of us would expect older drivers always go slower than everyone else but surprisingly, we found that in 30mph zones they struggled to keep at a constant speed and so were more likely to break the speed limit and be at risk of getting fined.
I'm not usually one to b
h and moan about stuff like this, maybe it's because I'm tired, but this has got under my skin a bit... Surely the focus should be on either improving the standard of driving of people who struggle to cope through tuition, or removing them from the road. Not, as the article suggests, masking their poor ability by trying to avoid particularly stressful situations (like turning right). Sooner or later, they will encounter a situation that does require the ability to well, drive, and no fancy satnav is going to help them then...
Bing o said:
If it gives you any comfort, they are on about increasing the retirement age of Taxi drivers in Singapore from 73 to 75. Imagine a load of 75 year olds doing 12 hour shifts in a cab in a busy city.....
I think I'd take my chances with slow and dangerous over fast and dangerous (i.e. Italian taxis...) any day. 
mx5tom said:
Bing o said:
If it gives you any comfort, they are on about increasing the retirement age of Taxi drivers in Singapore from 73 to 75. Imagine a load of 75 year olds doing 12 hour shifts in a cab in a busy city.....
I think I'd take my chances with slow and dangerous over fast and dangerous (i.e. Italian taxis...) any day. 
mx5tom said:
Does anybody else think if you need a system like this to be able to drive safely, you really shouldn't be driving... The article points out that older people who give up driving typically become isolated and stop going out, but given the circumstances, surely they could take a bus and leave everyone better off for it...
I'm not usually one to bh and moan about stuff like this, maybe it's because I'm tired, but this has got under my skin a bit... Surely the focus should be on either improving the standard of driving of people who struggle to cope through tuition, or removing them from the road. Not, as the article suggests, masking their poor ability by trying to avoid particularly stressful situations (like turning right).
Sooner or later, they will encounter a situation that does require the ability to well, drive, and no fancy satnav is going to help them then...
Well, the UK provides few realistic alternatives to the motor car, the elderly are unlikely to be able to use public transport anyway, and yes we can take the slow and dangerous off the roads but that still leaves us with the fast and dangerous.I'm not usually one to b
h and moan about stuff like this, maybe it's because I'm tired, but this has got under my skin a bit... Surely the focus should be on either improving the standard of driving of people who struggle to cope through tuition, or removing them from the road. Not, as the article suggests, masking their poor ability by trying to avoid particularly stressful situations (like turning right). Sooner or later, they will encounter a situation that does require the ability to well, drive, and no fancy satnav is going to help them then...
I'm happy to take my chances with the elderly. There is no real alternative to the motor car in the UK imo, especially if you're not active.
If you don't have a car, and you don't have a job, and public transport is free, what's the problem?
If you need these aid's to make your self safe on the road then you shouldn't be on the road imo.
I like the idea of mobility cars though, They'll do much less damage in one of those. I'd get mine pimped with a high performance motor and uprated battery.
If you need these aid's to make your self safe on the road then you shouldn't be on the road imo.
I like the idea of mobility cars though, They'll do much less damage in one of those. I'd get mine pimped with a high performance motor and uprated battery.
mx5tom said:
Bing o said:
If it gives you any comfort, they are on about increasing the retirement age of Taxi drivers in Singapore from 73 to 75. Imagine a load of 75 year olds doing 12 hour shifts in a cab in a busy city.....
I think I'd take my chances with slow and dangerous over fast and dangerous (i.e. Italian taxis...) any day. BBC said:
"For example, most of us would expect older drivers always go slower than everyone else but surprisingly, we found that in 30mph zones they struggled to keep at a constant speed and so were more likely to break the speed limit and be at risk of getting fined.
I doubt many PHers are surprised by that. The 40mph everywhere crowd have just been officially identified.IF the technology allows them to drive a car safely. I see no problem with it. It's no different in that aspect to indicators. We all rely on that bit of technology to make driving safe.
It does beg the question about right now though. If they need the tech, but don't have it....
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