Lunacy on the M40
Discussion
Do I need to say it? Probably comes up each time something like this happens. Mandatory and regular re-tests need to be introduced.
Three people needlessly lost their lives, because one of them wasn't fit to be behind the wheel.
And no, I don't just mean for the elderly either. As highlighted a few posts back, it seems all age groups would benefit.
Three people needlessly lost their lives, because one of them wasn't fit to be behind the wheel.
And no, I don't just mean for the elderly either. As highlighted a few posts back, it seems all age groups would benefit.
Mafffew said:
Do I need to say it? Probably comes up each time something like this happens. Mandatory and regular re-tests need to be introduced.
Three people needlessly lost their lives, because one of them wasn't fit to be behind the wheel.
And no, I don't just mean for the elderly either. As highlighted a few posts back, it seems all age groups would benefit.
This. Three people needlessly lost their lives, because one of them wasn't fit to be behind the wheel.
And no, I don't just mean for the elderly either. As highlighted a few posts back, it seems all age groups would benefit.
For me this test needn’t be as stringent as the refusal test, eyes, general car control, understanding of Highway Code etc.
Don’t fail because eg you can’t remember the braking distance from 30mph or don’t shuffle the steering wheel through your hands
Problem is, half of the current driving population, of all ages, might not even be up to that.......
Age isn't always the problem. This happened not far from me a few years ago.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/m5-crash-fir...
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/m5-crash-fir...
REALIST123 said:
Mafffew said:
Do I need to say it? Probably comes up each time something like this happens. Mandatory and regular re-tests need to be introduced.
Three people needlessly lost their lives, because one of them wasn't fit to be behind the wheel.
And no, I don't just mean for the elderly either. As highlighted a few posts back, it seems all age groups would benefit.
This. Three people needlessly lost their lives, because one of them wasn't fit to be behind the wheel.
And no, I don't just mean for the elderly either. As highlighted a few posts back, it seems all age groups would benefit.
For me this test needn’t be as stringent as the refusal test, eyes, general car control, understanding of Highway Code etc.
Don’t fail because eg you can’t remember the braking distance from 30mph or don’t shuffle the steering wheel through your hands
Problem is, half of the current driving population, of all ages, might not even be up to that.......
Benni said:
Hello Nyxter,
I would like to see these reports, we have drivers going the wrong way
but most commonly they lost orientation entering the slip road, due to old age or stress.
Sadly, some cause bad crashes, head-on at Autobahn speeds,
despite warnings on traffic radio telling other drivers to keep in L1.
Some might be suicides.
The only time I read about "blackout drivers" ( properly equipped with old russian night vision goggles)
was in a 90s car mag story that was gonzo-journalism.
https://www.thelocal.de/20140818/warning-system-pl...I would like to see these reports, we have drivers going the wrong way
but most commonly they lost orientation entering the slip road, due to old age or stress.
Sadly, some cause bad crashes, head-on at Autobahn speeds,
despite warnings on traffic radio telling other drivers to keep in L1.
Some might be suicides.
The only time I read about "blackout drivers" ( properly equipped with old russian night vision goggles)
was in a 90s car mag story that was gonzo-journalism.
Regiment said:
Jonesy23 said:
That definitely doesn't look like someone turning the wrong way and missing a no entry sign or a foreign driver getting confused, that looks deliberate to me. Hopefully whoever was driving didn't kill anyone but presumably themselves.https://www.google.com/maps/@51.7243777,-1.0581528...
If thats what happened
nyxster said:
Benni said:
Hello Nyxter,
I would like to see these reports, we have drivers going the wrong way
but most commonly they lost orientation entering the slip road, due to old age or stress.
Sadly, some cause bad crashes, head-on at Autobahn speeds,
despite warnings on traffic radio telling other drivers to keep in L1.
Some might be suicides.
The only time I read about "blackout drivers" ( properly equipped with old russian night vision goggles)
was in a 90s car mag story that was gonzo-journalism.
https://www.thelocal.de/20140818/warning-system-pl...I would like to see these reports, we have drivers going the wrong way
but most commonly they lost orientation entering the slip road, due to old age or stress.
Sadly, some cause bad crashes, head-on at Autobahn speeds,
despite warnings on traffic radio telling other drivers to keep in L1.
Some might be suicides.
The only time I read about "blackout drivers" ( properly equipped with old russian night vision goggles)
was in a 90s car mag story that was gonzo-journalism.
TheLocal.de said:
18th August 2014
"Driver alert!", start the warnings broadcast daily on radio stations across Germany as another intoxicated, suicidal or just confused motorist drives the wrong way.
Last year, 2,200 Geisterfahrer (ghost drivers) did this, causing road accidents in which 22 people died, according to the German Automobile Association (ADAC).
So 2,200 people drove the wrong way on autobahns in 2013. A real number. Congrats..."Driver alert!", start the warnings broadcast daily on radio stations across Germany as another intoxicated, suicidal or just confused motorist drives the wrong way.
Last year, 2,200 Geisterfahrer (ghost drivers) did this, causing road accidents in which 22 people died, according to the German Automobile Association (ADAC).
That's more than a bit different to your actual claim...
nyxster said:
This is actually a ‘thing’ in Germany - Geisterfahrer (ghost drivers) who deliberately go the wrong way on the Autobahn at night with no lights on. Over 2200 incidents a year according to reports.
...don'cha think?I wonder what the UK stats are. Can't find any at a quick look, but there's a lot of press stories - mostly the elderly and bewildered, with a good smattering of the young and stupid.
REALIST123 said:
This.
For me this test needn’t be as stringent as the refusal test, eyes, general car control, understanding of Highway Code etc.
Don’t fail because eg you can’t remember the braking distance from 30mph or don’t shuffle the steering wheel through your hands
Problem is, half of the current driving population, of all ages, might not even be up to that.......
Which would be great, as the roads will be a lot less busy for the rest of us....For me this test needn’t be as stringent as the refusal test, eyes, general car control, understanding of Highway Code etc.
Don’t fail because eg you can’t remember the braking distance from 30mph or don’t shuffle the steering wheel through your hands
Problem is, half of the current driving population, of all ages, might not even be up to that.......
But, yes, I think intermediate tests should be introduced, which must include motorway driving.
Feel for the family of the 30 year old driver they hit
Despite their age, there surely must be something else going on. How can you continue to drive, at speed against that continual flow of oncoming traffic.
The poor third innocent person who died.
This or a loose truck tyre bouncing towards me at speed is probably my worst motorway nightmare.
The poor third innocent person who died.
This or a loose truck tyre bouncing towards me at speed is probably my worst motorway nightmare.
garyhun said:
CoolHands said:
It's clearly deliberate I don't know how anyone could imagine otherwise.
Or an 80 year old driver who’s just got himself so confused that he literally does not realise what he’s doing?otolith said:
Not sure that these old people going the wrong way down motorways need a driving test per se, so much as a check that they can see and are compos mentis.
Which could be established at the start of the test, before any driving done. Examiner should have power to temp suspend licence on the spot pending medical referral.This is the problem with the current system, unless something happens (too late in this case) its a voluntary situation where by the licence holder self certifies themselves fit for driving.
I saw this with my late mother as dementia set in, and was thinking about what I was going to have to do, but my Mum was a very unconfident driver anyway, even in her younger days, and while didn't know at the time that she had early stages of dementia, she made her own to decision based on her own nervousness that she reduced her driving to a point whereby I said, why not just stop. She happily agreed. But, like many that think they are still capable, she could have continued on forcing me to take action.
I was in the immediate aftermath, but fortunately for me I was heading south on the southbound carriageway.
On scene was the highest amount of emergency vehicles I've seen in one place during my 15 years of driving. An air ambulance was overhead, but I don't believe it ever landed.
I only now know that it was a Forester involved, at the time I couldn't have told you what it was, there was so little of the car left. I knew there'd be confirmed deaths eventually given the state of the vehicles involved. I suppose they were waiting for consulate involvement for the foreign couple, and to inform the family of the Mondeo driver.
My view point, but with no detail seen.
On scene was the highest amount of emergency vehicles I've seen in one place during my 15 years of driving. An air ambulance was overhead, but I don't believe it ever landed.
I only now know that it was a Forester involved, at the time I couldn't have told you what it was, there was so little of the car left. I knew there'd be confirmed deaths eventually given the state of the vehicles involved. I suppose they were waiting for consulate involvement for the foreign couple, and to inform the family of the Mondeo driver.
My view point, but with no detail seen.
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