Helped an elderly gentleman into his car..

[HannsG]

Got to petrol station, waiting behind a car which had to be moved before I could fill up. Elderly frail fella walks towards the car and he was shaking and did not have the strength to barely open the car door. Must have been in his eighties easily....

Was a sad sight to see and put things in perspective. Got out, opened his door for him and got him in. And off he drove perfectly fine!

So....should he be allowed to drive? He got off the forecourt fine and his mind was perfectly fine it seemed when it came to making decisions etc...

just got me thinking..

[nicanary]

HannsG said:

Got to petrol station, waiting behind a car which had to be moved before I could fill up. Elderly frail fella walks towards the car and he was shaking and did not have the strength to barely open the car door. Must have been in his eighties easily....

Was a sad sight to see and put things in perspective. Got out, opened his door for him and got him in. And off he drove perfectly fine!

So....should he be allowed to drive? He got off the forecourt fine and his mind was perfectly fine it seemed when it came to making decisions etc...

just got me thinking..

But how quickly would he react to an emergency whilst driving?

[Benbay001]

And would he be able to put enough pressure on the brake or wheels to stop/swerve in an emergency?

[Ari]

Would you have put your wife or children in the car with him?

This has been discussed before, but the fact that there are zero checks on anyone's ability to drive once past an age where most people's faculties are fading is insane.

[Rosscow]

I'm surprised you didn't just take a picture of him.

It's what most normal people would do.

[HOGEPH]

You should have addressed him as "Sir", and helped him in wearing white gloves.

It's what most formal people would do..

[Jasandjules]

It sounds like he shouldn't be driving then.

[Urban Sports]

I'd have just sat there beeping my horn at him until he got his arse in to gear.

[ArsE92]

Rosscow said:

I'm surprised you didn't just take a picture of him.

It's what most normal people would do.

HOGEPH said:

You should have addressed him as "Sir", and helped him in wearing white gloves.

It's what most formal people would do..

[Pit Pony]

My home town is full of these people.

If you don't treat everyone like they are blind and confused, sooner or later one will kill you.

My father in law is giving up driving because he really can't cope with the speed everything happens. I wish more people had this attitude.

[grumbledoak]

It sounds like he should be handing in his license, sad though that is for him. The alternative will be to hand it in after he's killed someone.

[si_xsi]

Urban Sports said:

I'd have just sat there beeping my horn at him until he got his arse in to gear.

Charming

[DanielSan]

Rosscow said:

I'm surprised you didn't just take a picture of him.

It's what most normal people would do.

He should be on Google streetview now.

[HaloGen8]

nicanary said:

But how quickly would he react to an emergency whilst driving?

Fair comment but on the flip side he's probably paying far more attention than those texting, eating, applying make up, drinking Costa coffee etc. so in reality probably no more a danger than those above.

[Fantuzzi]

It depends, most would say 'ah well he's only popping to the post office now and then, what's the harm' but as others have said, its when he needs to make a decision or manoeuvre that his condition would inhibit that he should have to think about it.

If he can brake and steer as he could when he was in his prime, no problem.

That said I'm sure there are many 30 year olds that are fking useless in any sort of 'think fast' situation.

[oOTomOo]

Urban Sports said:

I'd have just sat there beeping my horn at him until he got his arse in to gear.

And if he was you dad or grandad, would you do the same then?

Would you hope that someone else would provide the same motivation to a family member in a similar situation?

The attitude of some keyboard warriors really does amaze me.

[V8forweekends]

Urban Sports said:

I'd have just sat there beeping my horn at him until he got his arse in to gear.

I love this, mainly for the original humour, but also in large part for the fabulous sanctimonious responses it illicited :-)

[GAjon]

I was watching some old chaps driving this weekend, terrible, sawing at the wheel, screeching tyres, braking way to late, sliding the arse end around corners.

They were driving pre 66 touring cars around Cadwell very quickly however.

[V8forweekends]

DanielSan said:

Rosscow said:

I'm surprised you didn't just take a picture of him.

It's what most normal people would do.

He should be on Google streetview now.

[Who me ?]

nicanary said:

But how quickly would he react to an emergency whilst driving?

Strangely enough ,this is a question a lot of those who've had a licence for only a few years ask of the elder drivers. For those may I why you find your foot on or hovering over the brake pedal when you see a child near the edge of the pavement. And more importantly -did you realise that you'd done this. I suspect not. You will find that with age & experience part of the motoring brain is self programming and will set a safety program into action without the delay of the thought process. I have several old folks ( and to me that's in excess of 75 ,as I'm not young) and one mid -late 20's .The mid 20's has had his licence about eight years .In that time he's written off seven cars and rebuilt the front end on another twice. The old folks- not a scratch.
our road is narrow, with lots of parked cars, so visibility is poor. Who's well in excess of the limit, never mind a safe speed hoping the other driver will take fright and pull over, and which group will see a car from the opposite direction and give way ?