Another call for compulsory re-testing of elderly drivers!

[gregpot2000]

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshir...

I find it hard to see how you can "mis-judge" traffic lights, they are either one bright colour or another surely?

12 plate car as well, what a waste!

[Riley Blue]

I think few will disagree but at what age?

[shandyboy]

What I can't understand is how it looks like he's not even going to be prosecuted?! "Police said no arrests had been made."

If that had been a 21 year old lad, he'd have been looking at a ban/retest/prosecution surely?

[robinessex]

Everyone should have to re-sit the driving test every 5yrs.

[Boydie88]

shandyboy said:

What I can't understand is how it looks like he's not even going to be prosecuted?! "Police said no arrests had been made."

If that had been a 21 year old lad, he'd have been looking at a ban/retest/prosecution surely?

This is what fks me off most with these stories.

[Laurel Green]

I'd say every driver over the age of sixty five should at least have an eyesight test. Sunshine (low in the sky at this time of year) can be detrimental to the older person as age progresses and, might well have been a contributing factor in the above posted accident.

[Durzel]

robinessex said:

Everyone should have to re-sit the driving test every 5yrs.

+1

[Herbs]

Yep retest at 65. Then annually from the age of 70.

[AnimalMkIV]

We had one round the corner from us a few weeks ago - an old bloke parked outside a restaurant managed to reverse across a dual carriageway, over the centre island and into a Samaritans' shop on the opposide side. That's a fair distance to "accidentally" travel and, not sure exactly where he was parked, but the shop he hit would have meant he had to veer right whilst reversing too.

[Clivey]

Herbs said:

Yep retest at 65. Then annually from the age of 70.

Annually? Good luck organising that.

I think motorists should be retested every 5 years, however the cost of doing so would be astronomical (try convincing the great unwashed to pay for it). - The waiting time for a test is several months as things stand now.

[carinaman]

robinessex said:

Everyone should have to re-sit the driving test every 5yrs.

This.

RoSPA RoADAR members have a test every three years, it's not that difficult.

The trouble is there's no money or votes in periodic retests for all.

[mrmr96]

Boydie88 said:

shandyboy said:

What I can't understand is how it looks like he's not even going to be prosecuted?! "Police said no arrests had been made."

If that had been a 21 year old lad, he'd have been looking at a ban/retest/prosecution surely?

This is what fks me off most with these stories.

Indeed. Why is it that a driver can get 3pts and £60 fine for going through a red light and NOT causing a crash, and yet when they DO cause a crash there is No Further Action from police. Makes no sense to me.

Clivey said:

Herbs said:

Yep retest at 65. Then annually from the age of 70.

Annually? Good luck organising that.

I think motorists should be retested every 5 years, however the cost of doing so would be astronomical (try convincing the great unwashed to pay for it). - The waiting time for a test is several months as things stand now.

I would imagine that we'd get more examiners genius. But yes, I also agree with compulsory and periodic re-testing for ALL drivers licensed in the UK. Some have not been tested for decades and believe there is nothing wrong with all their bad habits.

Getting bad drivers off the road (and letting them back when they're better) will save MANY more lives than the current fashion for "cracking down" on speeding. It will also reduce congestion (less drivers AND fewer accidents) as well as reduce pollution as a result. Win Win Win.

So why don't they do it? Because unlike Scameras it would cost money, not make money.

[robinessex]

Wouldn't cost the government any money at all. Just like the annual car MOT. You pay.

[gregpot2000]

It just annoys me when people talk about young male drivers, I'm 24 and have been driving for 6 years, without any accidents, and still got a clean licence, but because I am young and male, I must be reckless!
Most of the problems I have on the road seem to be from older drivers as well, A few occasions I have had them pull of out of junctions without looking and nearly hit me side on, when I look at them as if to say what are you doing, they just look ahead like they haven't even realised!!

[Captain Muppet]

Clivey said:

Herbs said:

Yep retest at 65. Then annually from the age of 70.

Annually? Good luck organising that.

I think motorists should be retested every 5 years, however the cost of doing so would be astronomical (try convincing the great unwashed to pay for it). - The waiting time for a test is several months as things stand now.

If the cost of petrol has taught us nothing else it's that drivers will pay huge amounts of money to be allowed to keep driving.

Would I pay £100 every 5 years to have an instructor sit next to me for half an hour and tell me if I'm good enough? Yes. It's peanuts.

[Plank]

Yes I agree an eyesight test every few years. I often come across an elderly driver in the local lanes who is very steady. Fine, a bit irritating but no problem, however when ever a car come from the other direction she brakes. which to be polically correct is off putting for those following. Root cause - Poor eyesight?

[Krikkit]

mrmr96 said:

Boydie88 said:

shandyboy said:

What I can't understand is how it looks like he's not even going to be prosecuted?! "Police said no arrests had been made."

If that had been a 21 year old lad, he'd have been looking at a ban/retest/prosecution surely?

This is what fks me off most with these stories.

Indeed. Why is it that a driver can get 3pts and £60 fine for going through a red light and NOT causing a crash, and yet when they DO cause a crash there is No Further Action from police. Makes no sense to me.

Why does no arrest = no conviction? I wasn't aware you had to be arrested to be charged with DWDCA etc?

[14-7]

Just because no arrests were made doesn't mean anything.

It would be very very rare for a driver to be arrested for jumping a red light and crashing. I imagine more likely the police would either prosecute or get the chap to surrender his driving licence.

But this being PH because 'no arrests' have been made it must mean the police can't be arsed and if it were a young driver they would arrest him, keep him in custody until the next available court and waterboard him till they get a confession.

[browna]

Durzel said:

+1

+2

[Gazzas86]

I agree to the retest, ever since i was driving around a big roundabout a couple of years ago and and old lady (70+ Yrs) came tooting around the wrong way resulting in me to having to swerve to avoid hitting head on, very scary moment, and she probably didnt realise what she was doing wrong.